Church of Scientology Celebrates its 35th Anniversary in Nashville, Tennessee

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre in Nashville, Tennessee is preparing for its 35th anniversary celebration, which will take place in its home – the remodeled Fall School building on 8th Avenue South.

“We go all-out to celebrate our anniversary, but this year will be particularly special,” says Pastor of the church, Rev. Brian Fesler.

Director of Community Affairs, Julie Brinker, is organizing the affair: “Our aim is to give our parishioners and community guests a wonderful time. From live music, to authentic Nashville fare, this will be a night to remember.” Each year the black tie soiree brings its parishioners together with dignitaries and community leaders to rejoice in a year of growth and achievement. Attendees delight in an evening of fine dining, inspirational speeches and exuberant entertainment.

“There is certainly a lot to celebrate,” Fesler continues, “since our 2009 opening in the Fall School, our parishioners have been more active than ever in reaching out into the community with our social betterment programs.”

Among the church’s community initiatives are The Truth About Drugs, a campaign to enlighten youth and teens on the dangers of street drugs. Another is a human rights program which educates about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights signed into existence in 1948 just after World War II. Each of these campaigns has booklets for general distribution and enlightenment, along with public service announcements. “It’s all about education and improving the world we live in,” says Fesler.

Parishioners have gone straight to schools in Tennessee to teach kids about the dangers of drugs. They have visited more than 30 counties and delivered over 230 seminars. Fesler described the church’s involvement in the annual celebration of International Human Rights Day in Tennessee. “We work with agencies to put together the event, which includes an education portion about the Universal Declaration’s list of rights, speeches and an award ceremony for those who have demonstrated a life-long commitment to human rights.”

The church plans to have its private 35th anniversary celebration in May. Located at 1130 8th Avenue South, the church is open 9am-9pm Monday through Friday and 9am-6pm on the weekend for tours of its public information center. For more information, visit http://www.scientology-ccnashville.org.

Nashville Church of Scientology To Hold Event Commemorating World Humanitarian Day

The World Humanitarian Day open house at the Nashville Church of Scientology will acknowledge volunteers and inspire others to take action, exemplifying the spirit of the day.

The Nashville Church of Scientology will host an open house on World Humanitarian Day to acknowledge volunteers, while also lifting up others to help people in times of need. “Helping others is an incredible virtue, and one that should be recognized more often,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Nashville Church of Scientology.

Last year, volunteers were recognized for their work over the past year, including those who have shown exemplary volunteer spirit and those who contributed to volunteer work in other ways.

The Church of Scientology’s Volunteer Minister program is a religious social service created in the mid 1970s by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard who said, "The Volunteer Minister helps 'on a volunteer basis by restoring purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others.'"

To make this technology broadly available, the Church has a Volunteer Minister tent that is set up at fairs and other community events to offer help freely to anyone. The Church also provides free online training at the Volunteer Ministers website. Anyone of any culture or creed may train as a Volunteer Minister and use these tools to help their families and communities.

The Volunteer Minister program was expressly intended for use by Scientologists and non- Scientologists alike. Transcending all ethnic, cultural and religious boundaries, the Volunteer Ministers program is there for anyone in need of help. Volunteer Minister training is available free of charge through the Scientology Volunteer Minister website to anyone who wishes to help others, at www.volunteerministers.org.

Church of Scientology Nashville Hosts Disaster Response Conference

Churches of Scientology Disaster Response teams from seven states converged at the Church of Scientology Nashville for an annual conference on disaster response.

The Church of Scientology Nashville hosted a Disaster Response Conference in early May for its national disaster response team. Led by Sue Taylor and Joava Good, Director and Deputy Director for the National Churches of Scientology Disaster Response, the conference was an all-weekend affair to update response teams from seven states on the latest in disaster response and cover all kinds of ground.

The conference was held in anticipation of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) Conference, also held in Nashville this year. VOAD  is an “association of organizations that mitigate and alleviate the impact of disasters, provides a forum promoting cooperation, communication, coordination and collaboration; and fosters more effective delivery of services to communities affected by disaster,” according to its website. The National VOAD coalition includes more than 100 member organizations, which represent national members, State VOADs, Local/Regional VOADs and hundreds of other member organizations throughout the country.

The Churches of Scientology Disaster Response is part of National VOAD and its teams are comprised of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers.

Whether serving in their communities or on the other side of the world, the motto of the Scientology Volunteer Minister is “Something can be done about it.” The program, created in the mid 1970s by L. Ron Hubbard and sponsored by the Church of Scientology International as a religious social service, constitutes one of the world’s largest and most visible international independent relief forces.

The Volunteer Minister “helps his fellow man on a volunteer basis by restoring purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others.”

A global network of Volunteer Ministers mobilizes in times of manmade and natural disasters, answering the call wherever needed. Collaborating with some 1,000 organizations and agencies, they have utilized their skill and experience in providing physical support and spiritual aid at hundreds of disaster sites. For more information, visit volunteerministers.org.

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee Calms Troubled Neighborhoods

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee has long helped people by spreading calm through The Way to Happiness booklet.

"True joy and happiness are valuable," begins the common sense guide, The Way to Happiness, written by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1980s. Since then, the book has sparked a movement and has been reprinted and passed hand to hand to a wide variety of cultures and peoples.

In Tennessee, The Way to Happiness Association works with communities and neighborhoods to spread the booklet to as many people as possible. Organizers say that when the booklet is passed from hand to hand, it is like oil spread upon a raging sea, the calm flows outward and outward.

The Tennessee Association launched its campaign to distribute the booklet in 2009. Since that time, the group has visited local health fairs, festivals and community gatherings. It is currently planning for events throughout the summer. Recently, the organization has distributed hundreds of booklets at a neighborhood event hosted by the police at Midtown Hills in Nashville. Coming up this weekend is the Peace Festival hosted by Unity Church, where people of various races, ethnicities and religions will gather to form a human made peace symbol. This is the third year in a row that TWTH-TN has participated at this event.

"This book spreads a calmness that is unparalleled by anything else. It contains common sense moral messages that anyone can agree with and apply," says Rev. Brian Fesler, the regional coordinator for the program.

The Way to Happiness booklet details 21 precepts predicated on the fact that one's survival depends on the survival of others. 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 three decades since it was authored, some 80 million copies of the book passed hand to hand.

For more information, visit thewaytohappiness.org.

Church of Scientology Nashville Recognizes Top Volunteers

Volunteer Recognition Day at the Church of Scientology Nashville acknowledged volunteers and inspired others to take action, exemplifying the spirit of the day.

The Church of Scientology Nashville held an open house for International Volunteer Recognition Day in April to acknowledge volunteers, while also lifting up others to help people in times of need. “Helping others is an incredible virtue, and one that should be recognized more often,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Nashville Church.

Volunteers recognized for their work over the past year included those who have shown exemplary volunteer spirit and those who contributed to volunteer work in other ways.

The Church of Scientology’s Volunteer Minister program is a religious social service created in the mid 1970s by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard who said, "The Volunteer Minister helps 'on a volunteer basis by restoring purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others.'"

To make this technology broadly available, the Church has a Volunteer Minister tent that is set up at fairs and other community events to offer help freely to anyone. The Church also provides free online training at the Volunteer Ministers website. Anyone of any culture or creed may train as a Volunteer Minister and use these tools to help their families and communities.

###

The Volunteer Minister program was expressly intended for use by Scientologists and non- Scientologists alike. Transcending all ethnic, cultural and religious boundaries, the Volunteer Ministers program is there for anyone in need of help. Volunteer Minister training is available free of charge through the Scientology Volunteer Minister website to anyone who wishes to help others, at www.volunteerministers.org.

Nashville Church of Scientology Recognizes Top Volunteers and Community Advocates

Volunteer Recognition Day at the Nashville Church of Scientology will acknowledge volunteers and inspire others to take action, exemplifying the spirit of the day.

The Nashville Church of Scientology will host an open house on Volunteer Recognition Day in April to acknowledge volunteers, while also lifting up others to help people in times of need. “Helping others is an incredible virtue, and one that should be recognized more often,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Nashville Church of Scientology.

Volunteers will be recognized for their work over the past year, those who have shown exemplary volunteer spirit and those who contributed to volunteer work in other ways.

The Church of Scientology’s Volunteer Minister program is a religious social service created in the mid 1970s by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard who said, "The Volunteer Minister helps 'on a volunteer basis by restoring purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others.'"

To make this technology broadly available, the Church has a Volunteer Minister tent that is set up at fairs and other community events to offer help freely to anyone. The Church also provides free online training at the Volunteer Ministers website. Anyone of any culture or creed may train as a Volunteer Minister and use these tools to help their families and communities. During the open house, everyone was invited outside to see the tent where they could learn practical skills to help others.

The Volunteer Minister program was expressly intended for use by Scientologists and non- Scientologists alike. Transcending all ethnic, cultural and religious boundaries, the Volunteer Ministers program is there for anyone in need of help. Volunteer Minister training is available free of charge through the Scientology Volunteer Minister website to anyone who wishes to help others, at www.volunteerministers.org.

Church of Scientology Nashville Hosts Basic CPR and First Aid Workshop

The Church of Scientology Nashville observed World Civil Defense Day this year with a disaster preparedness workshop.

In the United States, more than 500,000 children and adults experience a cardiac arrest each year, and of those, less than 15% survive, according to the American Heart Association. Nearly 80% of all cardiac arrests occur in public settings or at home.

“That is why it is so important for us to be prepared by knowing CPR and basic first aid, so we can help those we love,” says Julie Brinker, Community Affairs Coordinator for the Church of Scientology Nashville, which recognized the United Nations World Civil Defense Day by hosting a workshop open to the community with experts on disaster preparedness, specifically training attendees how to perform basic CPR and first aid.

World Civil Defense Day was created by decision of the International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO) General Assembly in 1990, and is celebrated every year on the 1st of March. According to ICDO, “This Day… has two main purposes: that of bringing to the attention of the world public the vital importance of Civil Protection and of raising awareness of the preparedness for, and prevention and self-protection measures in the event of accidents or disasters; and that of paying tribute to the efforts, sacrifices and accomplishments of all the national services responsible for the fight against disasters.”

Brinker, who oversees community affairs for the Nashville Church, explained how the it becomes involved during times of disaster. “We have a program called Volunteer Ministers. Anyone of any culture or creed may train as a Volunteer Minister and use these tools to help their families and communities, and all are welcome to do so,” she said. Brinker said volunteerministers.org contains resources one would need to become trained in this technology.  

Equipped with effective technology to resolve virtually any difficulty, Volunteer Ministers live by the motto: “No matter the problem, something can be done about it.” Transcending all ethnic, cultural and religious boundaries, the Volunteer Ministers program is there for anyone in need of help.

In creating the Volunteer Ministers program, L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “If one does not like the crime, cruelty, injustice and violence of this society, he can do something about it. He can become a Volunteer Minister and help civilize it, bring it conscience and kindness and love and freedom from travail by instilling into it trust, decency, honesty and tolerance.”

To learn more about the Scientology Volunteer Minsiters, visit scientology-ccnashville.org. 

Church of Scientology Nashville to Hold ‘Survival Training: Be Prepared for Any Emergency’

The Nashville Church of Scientology is observing World Civil Defense Day on March 2^nd this year with a disaster preparedness workshop.

The Nashville Church of Scientology plans to recognize the United Nations World Civil Defense Day by hosting a workshop open to the community with experts on disaster preparedness, specifically training attendees how to perform basic CPR and first aid, along with spiritual assistance that can be used during disasters.

World Civil Defense Day was created by decision of the International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO) General Assembly in 1990, and is celebrated every year on the 1st of March. According to ICDO, “This Day… has two main purposes: that of bringing to the attention of the world public the vital importance of Civil Protection and of raising awareness of the preparedness for, and prevention and self-protection measures in the event of accidents or disasters; and that of paying tribute to the efforts, sacrifices and accomplishments of all the national services responsible for the fight against disasters.”

Julie Brinker, who oversees community affairs for the Church of Scientology, explained how the Church becomes involved during times of disaster. “We have a program called Volunteer Ministers. Anyone of any culture or creed may train as a Volunteer Minister and use these tools to help their families and communities, and all are welcome to do so,” she said. Brinker said volunteerministers.org contains resources one would need to become trained in this technology.  

Equipped with effective technology to resolve virtually any difficulty, Volunteer Ministers live by the motto: “No matter the problem, something can be done about it.” Transcending all ethnic, cultural and religious boundaries, the Volunteer Ministers program is there for anyone in need of help.

In creating the Volunteer Ministers program, L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “If one does not like the crime, cruelty, injustice and violence of this society, he can do something about it. He can become a Volunteer Minister and help civilize it, bring it conscience and kindness and love and freedom from travail by instilling into it trust, decency, honesty and tolerance.”

The event for World Civil Defense Day will take place March 2^nd at the Church of Scientology. To find out more, visit scientology-ccnashville.org. 

Church of Scientology Nashville to Celebrate 34th Anniversary

The Church of Scientology is preparing to celebrate its 34^th year in Nashville, TN. 

The Nashville Church of Scientology will celebrate its 34^th anniversary with a private event at the end of April. Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Church, says, “We’ve been in Nashville for 34 years, and ten in the historic Fall School building. We are celebrating our progress as well as the spirit of Nashville.”

On a global scale, the Church of Scientology has enjoyed greater expansion during the past decade than in the previous 50 years combined. All the while the Church’s ever-growing humanitarian programs in the fields of drug education, human rights, morals education and disaster relief have positively impacted hundreds of millions of lives.

In Nashville, the Church has seen thousands of people entering its doors for the first time over the last ten years. On a humanitarian mission, the Church has participated in numerous human rights awareness events and helped create such events as Human Rights Day and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. march and convocation.  Church members, volunteering in the area of drug education, have delivered more than 230 seminars in Tennessee and have distributed more than 60,000 booklets.

“Scientology is an active religion, where one seeks to know life and help people," says Fesler, "and we have the tools to accomplish that. We don’t ask our members to believe, we want them to act.” To learn more about the Church of Scientology, its programs and courses, visit www.scientology.org.  

Faith Communities to Unite Again for Nashville’s Multi-Faith Citywide MLK Service

It is not uncommon for pastors to work together. It is uncommon for various denominations to celebrate a service together. And In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, several faith leaders, communities and congregations are coming together for celebration in a joint service on Sunday, January 20, 2019, from 3-6pm.

This is the annual MLK Day celebration service taking place at the Church of Scientology on Sunday, Jan 20, 2019 and Rev. Brian Fesler feels this is a historic way to help make Dr. King’s dream a reality. “With so many congregations coming together to worship as one, choirs joining each other in song, people of different denominations sitting side by side, and each faith leader participating, it’s a beautiful way to honor Dr. King’s legacy.”

This is the second year the Church of Scientology will host the service.

Faith leaders and congregations scheduled to attend will represent Mount Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church, Corinthian Baptist Church and more. If your church or congregation would like to participate, email the event coordinator, Julie Brinker at media@nashvillehumanrights.org.

“Dr. King stood for diversity and a unity among all people. We are celebrating that in the best way possible –actually coming together in one place and celebrating our differences and similarities,” says Rev. Fesler of the Church of Scientology.

The MLK Celebration service will be held Sunday, Jan 20^th from 3-6pm and ending with a potluck at the Church of Scientology in Nashville. It is open to the public, and members of the media are welcome to attend. For more information or to RSVP, visit tnuhr.org.

Nashville Church of Scientology Honors Volunteers on World Humanitarian Day

The World Humanitarian Day open house at the Nashville Church of Scientology acknowledged volunteers and inspired others to take action, exemplifying the spirit of the day.

The Nashville Church of Scientology held an open house for World Humanitarian Day to acknowledge volunteers, while also lifting up others to help people in times of need.

Three volunteers were recognized for their work over the past year. The first awarded was in the youth category and had clocked the most volunteer service hours among her peers. The second awarded had been active volunteering week in and week out on programs to rehabilitate and help those who have been released from jail and are looking to turn their life around. The third awardee spent the better part of a month full time helping in the recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey which devastated Texas last year.

“Helping others is an incredible virtue, and one that should be recognized more often,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Nashville Church of Scientology.

The Church of Scientology Volunteer Minister program is a religious social service created in the mid 1970s by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard who said, "The Volunteer Minister helps 'on a volunteer basis by restoring purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others.'"

To make this technology broadly available, the Church has a Volunteer Minister tent that is set up at fairs and other community events to offer help freely to anyone. The Church also provides free online training at the Volunteer Ministers website. Anyone of any culture or creed may train as a Volunteer Minister and use these tools to help their families and communities.

The Volunteer Minister program was expressly intended for use by Scientologists and non- Scientologists alike. Transcending all ethnic, cultural and religious boundaries, the Volunteer Ministers program is there for anyone in need of help. Volunteer Minister training is available free of charge through the Scientology Volunteer Minister website to anyone who wishes to help others, at www.volunteerministers.org.

Nashville Church of Scientology To Honor Volunteers on World Humanitarian Day

The World Humanitarian Day open house at the Nashville Church of Scientology will acknowledge volunteers and inspire others to take action, exemplifying the spirit of the day.

The Nashville Church of Scientology will host an open house on World Humanitarian Day to acknowledge volunteers, while also lifting up others to help people in times of need. “Helping others is an incredible virtue, and one that should be recognized more often,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Nashville Church of Scientology.

Volunteers will be recognized for their work over the past year, those who have shown exemplary volunteer spirit and those who contributed to volunteer work in other ways.

The Church of Scientology’s Volunteer Minister program is a religious social service created in the mid 1970s by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard who said, "The Volunteer Minister helps 'on a volunteer basis by restoring purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others.'"

To make this technology broadly available, the Church has a Volunteer Minister tent that is set up at fairs and other community events to offer help freely to anyone. The Church also provides free online training at the Volunteer Ministers website. Anyone of any culture or creed may train as a Volunteer Minister and use these tools to help their families and communities. During the open house, everyone was invited outside to see the tent where they could learn practical skills to help others.

The Volunteer Minister program was expressly intended for use by Scientologists and non- Scientologists alike. Transcending all ethnic, cultural and religious boundaries, the Volunteer Ministers program is there for anyone in need of help. Volunteer Minister training is available free of charge through the Scientology Volunteer Minister website to anyone who wishes to help others, at www.volunteerministers.org.

Nashville Church of Scientology Welcomes Community to an Open House Event on World Civil Defense Day

The Nashville Church of Scientology is observing World Civil Defense Day on March 1st with a church safety seminar.

The Nashville Church of Scientology plans to recognize the United Nations World Civil Defense Day by hosting a workshop open to the community with experts on church safety.

World Civil Defense Day was created by decision of the International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO) General Assembly in 1990, and is celebrated every year on the 1st of March. According to ICDO, “This Day… has two main purposes: that of bringing to the attention of the world public the vital importance of Civil Protection and of raising awareness of the preparedness for, and prevention and self-protection measures in the event of accidents or disasters; and that of paying tribute to the efforts, sacrifices and accomplishments of all the national services responsible for the fight against disasters.”

Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Church of Scientology, explained how the Church of Scientology becomes involved during times of disaster. “We have a program called Volunteer Ministers. Anyone of any culture or creed may train as a Volunteer Minister and use these tools to help their families and communities, and all are welcome to do so,” he said. Fesler encouraged people to look at the website volunteerministers.org which contains resources one would need to become trained in this technology.  

Equipped with effective technology to resolve virtually any difficulty, Volunteer Ministers live by the motto: “No matter the problem, something can be done about it.” Transcending all ethnic, cultural and religious boundaries, the Volunteer Ministers program is there for anyone in need of help.

In creating the Volunteer Ministers program, L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “If one does not like the crime, cruelty, injustice and violence of this society, he can do something about it. He can become a Volunteer Minister and help civilize it, bring it conscience and kindness and love and freedom from travail by instilling into it trust, decency, honesty and tolerance.”

World Civil Defense Day is March 1^st, and the Open House event takes place at the Church of Scientology. To find out more, visit scientology-ccnashville.org.

Over Ten Faith Communities Unite for Nashville’s Multi-Faith Citywide MLK Service

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, more than ten faith leaders, communities and congregations are coming together for celebration in a joint service on Sunday, January 14, from 3-6pm.

It is not uncommon for pastors to work together. It is uncommon for various denominations to celebrate a service together.

Over ten Nashville congregations are planning on celebrating a worship service together to honor Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy.  It is the annual MLK Day celebration service taking place at the Church of Scientology on Sunday, Jan 14^th and Rev. Brian Fesler feels this is a historic way to help make Dr. King’s dream a reality. “With more than ten congregations coming together to worship as one, choirs joining each other in song, people of different denominations sitting side by side, and each faith leader participating, it’s a beautiful way to honor Dr. King’s legacy.”

This year, faith leaders and congregations are scheduled to represent Brooks Memorial United Methodist Church, Northside Church of Christ, Mount Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church, Caravan Church, City of Grace Church, Congregation Sherith Israel, Unity of Music City and more.  Rev. Enoch Fuzz of Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church will deliver the sermon on “The Eyes of God.” Rev. David Shivers will present a rendition of the “I Have a Dream” speech.

“Dr. King stood for diversity and a unity among all people. We are celebrating that in the best way possible –actually coming together in one place and celebrating our differences and similarities,” says Rev. Fesler of the Church of Scientology.

The MLK Celebration service will be held Sunday, Jan 14^th from 3-6pm and ending with a potluck at the Church of Scientology in Nashville. It is open to the public, and members of the media are welcome to attend. For more information or to RSVP, visit tnuhr.org.

Scientology Nashville Red Ribbon Week Focuses on Opioid Crisis

More than 1,600 Tennesseans died in 2016 of drug overdose from opiates, illicit drugs and other medications such as benzodiazepines—a 12 percent increase over the year before.

Although state officials have taken steps to successfully curb opiate prescriptions, there has been an unintended consequence: As prescription pain pills become harder to access, addicts have turned to heroin.

To protect youth from the disastrous effects of abusing drugs, Scientologists partnered with Drug-Free Tennessee to bring the truth about drugs to local students. The Nashville Church of Scientology held a Red Ribbon Week program in its Public Information Center to reach local youth with their drug-free message and educational materials.

Red Ribbon Week is held the last week of October nationally to promote drug-free lifestyles. The Red Ribbon was adopted as a symbol in 1985 when undercover DEA Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was murdered by a Mexican drug cartel. His death has inspired parents and youth in communities across the country to take action. Their red ribbons signify their commitment to raising awareness of the death and destruction caused by drugs.

“It’s more important than ever to get the truth about drugs to Tennessee youth,” says Brian Fesler, regional coordinator for Drug-Free Tennessee. “We want students to think of drugs as a bad deal.”

The Foundation for a Drug-Free World (FDFW) is a secular nonprofit corporation that empowers youth and adults with factual information about drugs so they can make informed decisions to live drug-free.

The Church of Scientology and its members support the Foundation for a Drug-Free World whose Truth About Drugs campaign is one of the world’s largest nongovernmental drug education and prevention initiatives. Thanks to this support, the Foundation provides—free of charge—drug education booklets, videos and educator guides to teachers, mentors and civic and community leaders.

According to the United Nations Office on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, “Every dollar spent on prevention can save governments up to ten dollars in later costs.” For more information visit scientology.org.

Scientology Volunteer Minister Shares Experience Helping Texas after Tragedy

Scientology Volunteer Minister, Jennifer, recently returned home to Nashville after helping the disaster relief efforts in Texas.

“A Volunteer Minister is a person who helps his fellow man on a volunteer basis by restoring purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others,” wrote Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard. One such Volunteer Minister, Jennifer, recently recounted her experience helping the disaster relief efforts in Texas from Hurricane Harvey.

“I lived between Austin and San Antonio for 25 years.  When Hurricane Harvey happened I made the decision to go and help right away,” she says.

Jennifer was working with a group of Scientology Volunteer Ministers out of Austin at first, then Houston once roads were clear. Jennifer described her experience on the ground, “We first worked out of a community center, giving out supplies to those with flooded homes. Next, we went out to the houses that had flooded and were now a mess, where mold was growing quickly. Furniture had to be moved out of homes right away. Sheet rock had to be cut out ASAP.  Many elderly folks needed help moving refrigerators, washers and dryers out onto their lawns.”

She also said that she was giving assists on a daily basis to those affected by the hurricane. Assists are techniques developed by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard that help speed healing by addressing the spiritual and emotional factors in stress and trauma.

Jennifer said, “The experience taught me that every little bit helps. Any help is appreciated and everyone can find some way to help. I considered it an honor to be there giving my time and helping to ease another’s load in their time of need... It was a great experience for me and I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

The Church of Scientology’s Volunteer Minister program is a religious social service created in the mid 1970s by L. Ron Hubbard. To make this technology broadly available, the Church provides free online training at the Volunteer Ministers website www.volunteerministers.org. Anyone of any culture or creed may train as a Volunteer Minister and use these tools to help their families and communities.

Nashville Church of Scientology Fosters Hope on World Humanitarian Day

The World Humanitarian Day open house at the Nashville Church of Scientology inspired volunteers to take action and exemplify the spirit of the day.

The Nashville Church of Scientology hosted an open house on World Humanitarian Day to uplift volunteers to take up the mantle and help others in times of need. “Now more than ever it is important for all of us to work together to re-build our broken world,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Nashville Church of Scientology, “It will take fortitude and strength of character, but is a necessity nonetheless.”

Joining the Church for the event were local pastors and chaplains who were thrilled to hear about the church’s Volunteer Minister program and offered words of support and encouragement to those taking up the torch. 

The Church of Scientology’s Volunteer Minister program is a religious social service created in the mid 1970s by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard who said, "The Volunteer Minister helps 'on a volunteer basis by restoring purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others.'"

To make this technology broadly available, the Church has a Volunteer Minister tent that is set up at fairs and other community events to offer help freely to anyone. The Church also provides free online training at the Volunteer Ministers website. Anyone of any culture or creed may train as a Volunteer Minister and use these tools to help their families and communities. During the open house, everyone was invited outside to see the tent where they could learn practical skills to help others.

The Volunteer Minister program was expressly intended for use by Scientologists and non- Scientologists alike. Transcending all ethnic, cultural and religious boundaries, the Volunteer Ministers program is there for anyone in need of help. Volunteer Minister training is available free of charge through the Scientology Volunteer Minister website to anyone who wishes to help others, at www.volunteerministers.org.

Nashville Church of Scientology Celebrates 32nd Anniversary

The Church of Scientology held its 32^nd anniversary soiree celebration on April 22nd, 2017 with parishioners and friends from the community.

This past weekend, the Nashville Church of Scientology held a celebration of thirty-two years in Nashville.

Church pastor Rev. Brian Fesler began his speech for the evening with a message of hope, if we work hard in our own sector to make a difference, “The way you manage a global issue is, you team up with others from around the globe who want to handle it. You take responsibility for an area, and team up with others who are doing the same. Then you each clean up yourself, your community, your state, your region. And when you have reached the boundaries of your friends, and they have cleaned up to the borders of their friends, we will have peace and prosperity for all.”   

Community leaders spoke about the Church’s involvement in education initiatives for human rights and about the church’s commitment and involvement in the community.

Then, a special guest pastor from another church delivered a sermon on love, quoting parts of an article by Scientology Founder, L. Ron Hubbard, entitled ‘What is Greatness?’ which begins: “The hardest task one can have is to continue to love his fellows despite all reasons he should not.”  

On a global scale, the Church of Scientology has enjoyed greater expansion during the past decade than in the previous 50 years combined. All the while the Church’s ever-growing humanitarian programs have positively impacted hundreds of millions of lives.

In Nashville, the Church has seen thousands of people entering its doors for the first time since moving into the grand Fall School Building eight years ago. On a humanitarian mission, the Church has participated in numerous human rights awareness events and helped create such events as Human Rights Day and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. march and convocation.  Church members, volunteering in the area of drug education, have delivered more than 230 seminars in schools in Tennessee and have distributed more than 50,000 booklets.

“Scientology is an active religion, where one seeks to know life and help people," says Rev. Fesler, "and we have the tools to accomplish that. We don’t ask our members to believe, we want them to act.”

To learn more about the Church of Scientology, its programs and courses, visit www.scientology.org.   

Inspirational Birthday Celebration Features Past, Present and Future Legacy of L. Ron Hubbard

To celebrate his March 13, 1911 birthday, each year Scientologists from sixty countries gather at the religion’s spiritual nexus in Clearwater, Florida in a weekend celebration of their founder’s life. This gathering and speeches is videoed, then re-shown in churches around the world the following weekend.

In Nashville, the Church members came together with guests and friends to see the many accomplishments and cast their eyes toward a limitless future, inspired by the life and works of L. Ron Hubbard.

LRH, as his multitudinous followers know him, was a polymath—a person of wide-ranging knowledge and education. Beginning as the youngest Eagle Scout in American history (awarded just days after his thirteenth birthday), LRH explored the religious landscape of Asia by the time he was fifteen. Mr. Hubbard went on to become the Guinness Book’s most translated author, and also holds their record for most audio books by one author.

His work toward the salvation of mankind continues to inspire millions worldwide. This annual weekend celebration displays by turns, his research into man as a spiritual being, his technical legacy that allows others to identify, explore and realize their innate spiritual abilities—all this L. Ron Hubbard left to a troubled world.

The evening presented not just a sense of L. Ron Hubbard’s influence on the lives of individuals, but also a surge of real-life stories on how he touched others… if only for just a little while, but ultimately changed the outcome of their destiny.

The night’s spotlight continuously shone on the size and scope of Scientology today, spirited by L. Ron Hubbard’s legacy. His legacy was exquisitely personified in the unveiling of the newest Ideal Organization (Org) in Auckland, New Zealand. The Kiwi congregation formed the second Church of Scientology in the world in 1955. Attendees next witnessed the moving grand opening ceremony with local luminaries heralding the moment as a sea of change for their island nation.

The evening was a celebration of a life well lived—a life lived for the benefit of all mankind, and a life lived to help individuals without hesitation. Birthdays are traditionally a time to acknowledge what a person has done and how they influence the lives of others. But as LRH is transcendent, his birthday celebration ultimately captured what his life and work will continue to mean for the future.

In all, it was a celebration in the name of helping people honor their own potential—of making a world that mankind desires, that he deserves.

Church of Scientology Makes Plans to Celebrate 32nd Anniversary in Nashville

The Nashville Church of Scientology will celebrate its 32^nd anniversary with a private event at the end of April. Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Church, says, “We’ve been in Nashville for 32 years, and eight in the historic Fall School building. We are celebrating our progress as well as the spirit of Nashville.”

On a global scale, the Church of Scientology has enjoyed greater expansion during the past decade than in the previous 50 years combined. All the while the Church’s ever-growing humanitarian programs in the fields of drug education, human rights, morals education and disaster relief have positively impacted hundreds of millions of lives.

In Nashville, the Church has seen thousands of people entering its doors for the first time over the last eight years. On a humanitarian mission, the Church has participated in numerous human rights awareness events and helped create such events as Human Rights Day and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. march and convocation.  Church members, volunteering in the area of drug education, have delivered more than 230 seminars in Tennessee and have distributed more than 60,000 booklets.

“Scientology is an active religion, where one seeks to know life and help people," says Fesler, "and we have the tools to accomplish that. We don’t ask our members to believe, we want them to act.” To learn more about the Church of Scientology, its programs and courses, visit www.scientology.org.