Monday, June 30, 2014

Church of Scientology Hosts One of Many 4th of July Celebrations in Nashville

The Nashville Church of Scientology joins the celebration of Independence Day.

The 4th of July is the Nation’s day to reflect on our freedom. It was a long time coming, and took a concerted effort of many dedicated men and women to bring it to fruition.  Rev. Brian Fesler of the Church of Scientology says, “This day brings the entire community together in solidarity, as we reflect on the freedoms we have and look at what it took to get here.” The Church of Scientology celebrates each year with a community barbecue.

Celebrations will take place all across the Nashville area, the largest gathering of course taking place along Riverfront Park with a free concert before the fireworks show.  Billy Currington, Ashley Monroe and Striking Matches, and the Nashville Symphony are set to headline outdoor performances, and Riverfront Park also boasts the South’s largest fireworks show. Festivities usually begin downtown at around noon and go on throughout the day, with the city's annual fireworks show normally beginning at around 9:30pm.

The Adventure Science Center offers tickets for guests to view the downtown fireworks display from its prime view, without having the hustle and bustle of downtown traffic.

Each Nashville community celebrates Independence Day. In Brentwood, there is a fireworks display after a concert at Crockett Park, and the city of Franklin does it with “Franklin on the Fourth,” which offers fun for all the family, children's activities, food, musical entertainment and a huge fireworks show, which is sponsored by the Franklin Lions Club.


For more information about 4th of July celebrations, go to nashville.about.com. 

Drug-Free South Aims Blow to Honky Tonk District in Nashville

The Tennessee chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World distributed information booklets in honor of United Nations Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in downtown Nashville.


According to AOL’s travel news site, “Downtown Nashville, like many downtown areas, is prone to crime. It is home to some of the greatest honky tonks and country music halls in the world. But the mix of tourists, alcohol, and poverty makes it a prime area for crime.” Since June of 2013, there have been more than 800 drug-related crimes within a one-mile radius of lower Broadway.

So to the Tennessee Chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, downtown Nashville seemed like a great place to distribute its educational booklets. Coordinator of the chapter, Rev. Brian Fesler, said, “Everyone can benefit from learning the truth about drugs, because everyone is affected by this drug epidemic – either because they themselves have become a victim to drug abuse or because they know someone who has.”

The Foundation distributed booklets on June 26th, which is known as the United Nation’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The day was created by the UN General Assembly in December 1987 to encourage all sectors of society to work together to tackle drug abuse and addiction.

Rev. Fesler says, “When youth know what they are really getting into, they have a chance to avoid a lot of pain and suffering.” Fesler says it can’t be done in a day and his organization is committed to working continuously to curb the drug epidemic.

The Foundation provides materials on the Truth About Drugs which cover all basic side effects of drugs, common street names, and how to recognize when you are being persuaded by a dealer. To learn more or order booklets, visit drugfreesouth.org.


Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Scientology Tools Applied to the Bike Racing World

Helping others in need is core to the Scientology religion.  Read how a man found answers at the Church of Scientology to help him help others.


At the Nashville Church of Scientology, it is routine to see parishioners arrive for spiritual counseling to help them in various areas of life—such as communication, how to resolve problems, how to resolve past upsets and so forth—but what isn’t always publicized are the incredible success stories which follow.

One such story comes from Steve Brubaker, a man who likes to roll up his sleeves and solve problems that plague humanity. But Brubaker says he wasn’t always able to handle problems that were right in front of him, and this caused him trouble. “I could be looking right at a mechanical issue with a bike and I couldn't see it.  It frustrated me, and I asked my boss why does that happen to me?” His boss pointed him in the direction of the Church of Scientology for a course in communication.

Brubaker says, “So I did a communication course and it really opened my eyes to the things I was missing with the people around me and life in general that I was not in communication with.  My life changed dramatically.”

Brubaker regularly crisscrosses the country to provide for professional bike races as a tire distributor. In his line of work, he has the opportunity to help others, and with Scientology tools, he often does. “Last year, a national professional racer who became a very good friend of mine was injured in a bad racing incident.  When I arrived to the hospital he was in a coma. I used some of the Scientology techniques I know, called Assists.  I also could teach his family members how to do them so they could easily learn how to help him.  I gave assists to my friends for four days, and frankly the doctors were not very optimistic. However, he came out of the coma.”

For more information on the Church of Scientology’s beliefs and practices, including Scientology Assists, visit www.scientology.org.


Thursday, June 19, 2014

The Way to Happiness Chapter Distributes Booklets to North Nashville

The Tennessee chapter of The Way to Happiness Foundation distributed booklets to neighborhoods in North Nashville this week.


Rev. Brian Fesler who serves as regional coordinator for The Way to Happiness Foundation’s Tennessee Chapter says, “We distribute this booklet which has simple guidelines on how to be happy. It is easy to follow and puts a person on the right path.”

Just this past weekend, members of the chapter were in North Nashville neighborhoods distributing the booklet.

“It’s important for us to reach as many people as possible,” says Rev. Fesler.

The Way to Happiness Foundation was formed around the book of the same name by L. Ron Hubbard. The Way To Happiness is comprised of 21 precepts, each one predicated on the fact that one’s survival depends on the survival of others—and that without the survival of others, neither joy nor happiness are attainable.

According to thewaytohappiness.org, “This code of conduct can be followed by anyone, of any race, color or creed and works to restore the bonds that unite humankind.” The Way to Happiness aims at giving people back a sense of what is right and wrong in a way that is easy to understand. In the two decades since it was authored, some 80 million copies of the book passed hand to hand.

The Tennessee Chapter launched a campaign to distribute copies of the booklet in 2009. Since that time, the group has volunteered in local health fairs, festivals and community gatherings. Thousands of booklets have been distributed. 

Rev. Fesler says, “Our goal is a crime-free, healthy, happy community.”  For more information, visit thewaytohappiness.org.


Hubbard Dianetics Seminar Helps Man Answer Key Questions About Life

The Hubbard Dianetics Foundation offers a weekly seminar to help people resolve problems, discover the source of unreasonable fears and insecurities, and overcome barriers in life.


Opening a newspaper, one might find a piece on human interest, but more often one will find this – horror stories – from murder to drug abuse to theft and assault. It happens so much we can become numb and feel these are “part of life” or “normal” occurrences. Are they? Or better yet, do they have to be? What makes people violate their wedding vows and drink themselves to oblivion? And what is the source of all our fears, nightmares and stress?

Since 2009, people from Nashville and Middle Tennessee have found answers to these questions and more. And what’s better, they have been trained in highly effective techniques to resolve those conditions. It’s all happened at the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation, a department within the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville.

Dianetics is defined as “what the soul is doing to the body through the mind,” and the subject explains how the mind contains a hidden influence that will cause individuals to perform the most insane acts. The techniques of Dianetics were developed by L. Ron Hubbard in the early part of the last century and presented to the world in 1950 in the bestselling self-help book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.

While Dianetics is over sixty years old, this Dianetics seminar is still new. It is based on the book and a video series, How to Use Dianetics, consisting of 18 short films which illustrate specific Dianetics principles and techniques. With these films, people new to the subject can easily learn what to expect from a Dianetics session and how to help another using this technology. “The seminar not only helps people become aware of the cause of their problems, but also the ability to handle it,” says the seminar director.

Following the presentation of the first of these films, those attending the seminar immediately put the materials to use, working with other attendees to apply the techniques right there on the spot.  Supervised by trained Dianetics specialists, the seminar participants gain first-hand experience with just how easy it is to resolve the difficulties and pain that life leaves in its wake. Church pastor Rev. Brian Fesler says, “Many people have finished this seminar, and I want everyone to experience the benefits of Dianetics.  It’s not just for members of my church—anyone can benefit from this.”

The two-day Dianetics seminar is offered every weekend at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville at 1130 8th Avenue South. For more information, visit www.dianetics.org or call the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation at 615-687-4600.


Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Church of Scientology Honored Father’s Day with Special Service

The Nashville Church of Scientology hosted a special Sunday Service in honor of Father’s Day this past weekend.

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville held a special service for Father’s Day on June 15th this year to celebrate and acknowledge all fathers, stepdads and grandpas. The reason behind this is Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard’s writings on “Honor and Help Your Parents” found in his common sense moral guide The Way to Happiness.

Hubbard wrote: “…one must remember that they are the only parents one has. And as such, no matter what, one should honor them and help them.”

“Sunday Service is a time to reflect on one’s actions and see how we can do better,” says Pastor of the Church, Rev. Brian Fesler. So the service focused on tools one can use to better relationships with others, with special note for family members.

After the service, guests and parishioners took part in a special bar-be-cue to ring in the occasion.

“Scientology means ‘knowing how to know,’” according to the church’s website, “Scientology is all about learning to do things to improve conditions in your own life and in particular in the lives of others. An active Scientologist is not only considered to be someone who attends a Scientology church or studies Scientology, but rather someone who actively uses the insights and knowledge that Scientology gives them to make a real, positive difference in the lives of others.”

For more information about Scientology, visit the website, scientology.org.


Thursday, June 12, 2014

Drug-Free South Building a Future for Kids Across Tennessee

Active in drug education and prevention throughout the year, the Tennessee chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World is planning a mass distribution effort in honor of United Nations Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.


The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is leading the global campaign to raise awareness about the major challenge that illicit drugs represent to society as a whole, and especially to the young. The goal of the campaign is to mobilize support and inspire people to act against drug use, according to unodc.org. The Foundation for a Drug-Free World has as a goal to educate children and youth across the world to effectively prevent the demand for drugs, so the two campaigns go hand in hand. Every year, the Foundation holds events that tie into the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking which occurs on June 26 and this year will be no different.

In Tennessee, the Foundation plans to distribute booklets throughout North and South Nashville, with a focus on reaching young people. 

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was created by the UN General Assembly in December 1987 to encourage all sectors of society to work together to tackle drug abuse and addiction. Rev. Brian Fesler who coordinates the Tennessee chapter of the Foundation said, “We are committed to bringing the truth about drugs to everyone.  When youth know what they are really getting into, they have a chance to avoid a lot of pain and suffering.” Fesler says it can’t be done in a day and his organization is committed to working continuously to curb the drug epidemic. “We will go to anyone, anywhere in the region to spread the Truth About Drugs message,” he says, referring to the educational component of the program.

The Foundation for a Drug-Free World provides an educational curriculum for students designed to give all of the basic facts of how drugs affect the body and mind, common street names and more. In Tennessee, volunteers travel to schools and give lectures to students on these materials and provide more information for teachers to use after they’ve gone.

To learn more, order booklets or schedule a visit to your school, group or congregation, visit drugfreesouth.org.


Thursday, June 5, 2014

Church of Scientology Hosts Special Service for Father’s Day

The Nashville Church of Scientology will be hosting a special Sunday Service in honor of Father’s Day.


The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville is planning a special service for Father’s Day on June 15th this year to celebrate and acknowledge all fathers, stepdads and grandpas. The reason behind this is Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard’s writings on “Honor and Help Your Parents” found in his common sense moral guide The Way to Happiness. 

Hubbard wrote: “…one must remember that they are the only parents one has. And as such, no matter what, one should honor them and help them.”

“Sunday Service is a time to reflect on one’s actions and see how we can do better,” says Pastor of the Church, Rev. Brian Fesler. So the service will focus on tools one can use to better relationships with others, with special note for family members.

“Scientology means ‘knowing how to know,’” according to the church’s website, “Scientology is all about learning to do things to improve conditions in your own life and in particular in the lives of others.  An active Scientologist is not only considered to be someone who attends a Scientology church or studies Scientology, but rather someone who actively uses the insights and knowledge that Scientology gives them to make a real, positive difference in the lives of others.”

For more information about Scientology, visit the website, scientology.org. For more information about events and happenings, call the church at 615-687-4600.  


The Scientology Christening – A Magical Affair

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville recently welcomed one of its newest arrivals with a Scientology Christening ceremony this month.

Annalise Bella Brinker, affectionately known as “Anna” to her family, was born to Jesse and Julie Brinker in August of 2013. Both Jesse and Julie are religious volunteers at the Nashville Church of Scientology, where Jesse oversees personnel and Julie is the community relations director.

According to scientology.org, “The Scientology religion includes a ceremony to celebrate new parenthood and introduce a newborn to the world. The Scientology naming ceremony has a further importance for members of the religion. Scientologists recognize the immortality of the spiritual being as a fundamental belief and it follows that in starting a new life, a being can experience disorientation. It is therefore important to orient newborns to a new family and surroundings and bring them into communication with their family.”

In the Scientology naming ceremony, a child formally receives his or her new identity, is introduced to their parents and godparents and resoundingly welcomed to the congregation.

The naming ceremony also reminds parents and godparents of their responsibilities, not the least of which is to impart their own hard-won experience and to provide guidance, while allowing for the child to choose her own path in life.

The founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, wrote: “A good, stable adult with love and tolerance in his heart is about the best therapy a child can have.” 

The Brinkers will remain in Davidson county, and plan to continue answering their call to improve the world in which all denominations live.


For more information on Scientology practices, visit www.scientology.org

Church of Scientology Celebrates 29th Anniversary in Music City

The Church of Scientology had much to celebrate this past weekend at its 29th anniversary soiree. From work its members are doing in the fields of education, human rights, criminal reform and drug abuse education, the Nashville Scientologists have been busier than ever.

Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville, opened the anniversary event, “The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said ‘No one is free until we are all free.’ In this church, we consider that concept more than a good idea or clever phrase. Actually we take that concept so seriously it could be considered a technical fact.” He went on to discuss what is truly important to the church in its anniversary, “And that is why tonight we are celebrating the anniversary of our church, not in terms of how old we are, but in terms of ‘How effective can we be?’ and ‘How many more people can we help?’”

Rev. Fesler welcomed and acknowledged the many friends present from other churches, agencies, community organizations and the government, “Welcome everyone, welcome to your spiritual home away from home.”  Guest speakers discussed their experience with the church and its community programs on education, human rights and interfaith work.

Entertainment for the evening ranged from a string quartet to the 12 South Band getting everyone out of their seats and dancing, then to a performance by the Southern Academy of Irish Dance, then finally rounding off the evening with George Hawkins Jr. accompanying the Church’s own band in a series of songs that received standing ovation after standing ovation.


To learn more about the Church of Scientology, its programs and courses, visit www.scientology.org or call the Nashville church, 615-687-4600.