Although growing up, his community knew him as a musician, he went to college to study architectural engineering. However, music stayed with him throughout his life. In 1992 Van introduced the merging of the Gospel musical form and Bah#225;'#237; scripture at the Bah#225;'#237; World Congress in NYC. He is now the musical director at the Bah#225;'#237; House of Worship in Willmette, IL.

A Bahá'í Perspective:  Judy Soaring Hawk

A Bahá'í Perspective is a podcast of biographical interviews of people who have either chosen the Bahá'í Faith as a way of life or who have a relationship with the Bahá'í Faith.