That first half-century of the Formative Age has seen the
Bahá'í Community grow from a few hundred centres in 35 countries in 1921, to
over 46,000 centres in 135 independent states and 182 significant territories
and islands at the present day, has been marked by the raising throughout the
world of the framework of the Administrative Order, which in its turn has
brought recognition of the Faith by many governments and civil authorities and
accreditation in consultative status to the Economic and Social Council of the
United Nations, and has witnessed the spread to many parts of the world of that
"entry by troops" promised by the Master and so long and so eagerly
anticipated by the friends. (The Universal House of Justice, Ridvan 1971
message to the Baha’i World; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice,
1963-1986’) (To read the entire message please visit Messages to the Baha’i WorldCommunity – by the Universal House of Justice)