The Way to Happiness Brings Moral Precepts to Neighborhood Association

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee recently worked with a local neighborhood association to bring them all of the concepts of the common sense moral code.

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee is always working to bring calm to neighborhoods by distributing copies of the booklet of the same name. Recently, volunteers took things a step further by speaking with community leaders, showing them each of the award winning 30 second public service announcements that illustrate the concepts in the book, and encouraging residents to take on the program themselves for their own neighborhood.

"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 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.

Prior to showing the public service announcements, the neighborhood association was asked to share problems they face in the community. Many responses were about parenting skills, communication, and taking care of one’s own area, but still there were others who were more concerned with violence in the community. After the videos were played, the room was energized to spread these messages as they give so much hope for handling these troubles. Each resident was asked to take at least 10 booklets to share with their neighbors, and materials were soon being passed hand-to-hand, each person taking up the responsibility to share positivity.

The community plans to come together for a follow up event in March, 2020. For more information on The Way to Happiness, visit twthtn.org.

Volunteer Ministers at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds Flea Market

Church of Scientology Volunteer Ministers offered practical help to the people of Tennessee at the monthly flea market at the fairgrounds.

With so many people curious about Scientology, visitors came to the tent where volunteers offered simple technology to address situations in their lives.

One of the most popular services offered was Scientology assists—techniques developed by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard based on his discoveries about the mental and spiritual aspects of a person’s physical difficulties. Visitors felt relief from tension, stress and unwanted aches and pains and would often come back with friends to share the experience with them. One visitor of the tent was someone who had worked alongside Scientology Volunteer Ministers to help the community in California recover after the wild fires last year.

It all happened at the flea market at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. The Nashville Flea Market at The Fairgrounds Nashville is considered one of the top ten flea markets in the country. Approximately 800 to 1200 dealers and vendors from 30 states offer their wares to the buying public every month. With an average of 2000 booths, The Tennessee Magazine and Busy Bee Trader continue to vote the Nashville Flea Market as the #1 flea market in Tennessee.

Volunteer Ministers Cavalcades and Goodwill Tours set up their bright yellow tents in cities, towns, and villages across the globe to make the spiritual technology of the Volunteer Ministers broadly available.

Best known for their work in times of disaster, where they provide relief while also supporting the work of first responders, Volunteer Ministers are always on call in their communities to help with any crisis, great or small.

In the mid-1970s, Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard launched the Scientology Volunteer Ministers as part of a broad humanitarian effort to address declining spiritual values and the consequent rise in drug use, crime and violence.

“If one does not like the crime, cruelty, injustice and violence of this society,” he wrote, “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 technology is freely available to people of any faith or belief or none. And the Continental Cavalcades set up their tents in prominent locations in major cities, welcoming thousands of visitors, and providing one-on-one help, seminars and training.

Church of Scientology Volunteer Minister program is a religious social service. Anyone of any culture or creed may train as a Volunteer Minister and use these tools to help their families and communities.

Watch the Scientology Tools for Life video on the Scientology Network.

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 Holds Earth Day Cleanup

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee had a community cleanup for Earth Day this April and successfully cleaned up a Hermitage neighborhood.

According to Nashville.gov, $11 million in taxpayer dollars are spent picking up the trash that Tennesseans throw on the ground. To help keep Nashville beautiful, The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee (TWTH-TN) had a neighborhood cleanup event for Earth Day. The cleanup was dubbed “Green It Up,” as part of an ongoing campaign by the organization to make the city of Nashville greener with less litter.

Volunteers took to a street in Hermitage that has seen better days. They were able to collect several trash bags of litter including many alcoholic bottles, among other odds and ends.

The Way To Happiness book was written by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard and has a total of twenty-one precepts based on the fact that one’s survival depends on the survival of others. One such precept is “Safeguard and Improve Your Environment,” and it is with this at heart that volunteers took to the street to help pick up litter. The chapter states, in part: “There are many things one can do to help take care of the planet. They begin with the idea that one should.”

Earth Day began on April 22, 1970, when millions of people took to the streets to protest the negative impacts of 150 years of industrial development. The day is now celebrated each year with events to commemorate care for the environment.

For more information on “Green It Up,” or if you would like to participate in future events, visit twthtn.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.

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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.

Drug-Free Tennessee Reminds Youth to Stay Healthy this Holiday Season

Drug-Free Tennessee recently participated in community events to remind young people to be safe and healthy by distributing the Truth About Drugs booklets.

Drug-Free Tennessee is committed to making neighborhoods drug and crime-free. So it was that volunteers joined community partners, neighbors and police for local neighborhood health fairs and community events recently to remind kids to make good choices.

The final week of October is Red Ribbon Week. “Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country,” according to imdrugfree.com. This is the best time to educate young people and help prevent drug abuse. The Red Ribbon Campaign was started to commemorate DEA agent Kiki Camarena, who died in the line of duty in 1985. This began the continuing tradition of displaying red ribbons as a symbol of intolerance towards the use of drugs. The mission of the campaign is to present a unified and visible commitment towards the creation of a Drug-Free America, according to redribbon.org.

With Halloween falling during the same week, volunteers found several community events to participate in where they could help remind young people to make safe choices during the holiday.

Rev. Brian Fesler, regional coordinator for Drug-Free Tennessee, says, “Youth today make decisions about drugs at a younger age. We need to get them reliable information so they can make educated choices and lead healthier lives.”

Drug-Free Tennessee is the local chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, which provides booklets with information on how drugs affect the body and mind, what a dealer might say, and common street names to young people know how to avoid them. The materials are available free of charge, and can be obtained through drugfreeworld.org.

For more information on Drug-Free Tennessee or to order materials, visit drugfreetn.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.

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee Spreads Positivity on Night Out Against Crime

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee participated in National Night Out Against Crime by distributing the booklets at a neighborhood event.

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee volunteers joined community partners, neighbors and police for National Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday to help put an end to rampant crime.

"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.

National Night Out is meant to stop crime before it starts. It was designed to heighten awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back, according to natw.org.

This year marks the 36th annual event to combat drug use and prevent crime. Neighborhoods frequently celebrate with a mix of food, dancing, information booths and crime forums to help promote safer living.

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 twthtn.org.

Drug-Free Tennessee Working Against Crime on National Night Out

Drug-Free Tennessee participates each year in National Night Out Against Crime by distributing the Truth About Drugs booklets at neighborhood events.

Drug-Free Tennessee is committed to making neighborhoods drug and crime-free. So it was that volunteers joined community partners, neighbors and police for National Night Out Against Crime to help put an end to rampant crime and drug violations.

National Night Out is meant to stop crime before it starts. It was designed to heighten awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back, according to natw.org.

This year marks the 36th annual event to combat drug use and prevent crime, and the 10^th year that Drug-Free Tennessee has participated in the Nashville festivities. Neighborhoods frequently celebrate with a mix of food, dancing, information booths and crime forums to help promote safer living.

Rev. Brian Fesler, regional coordinator for Drug-Free Tennessee, says, “Youth today make decisions about drugs at a younger age. We need to get them reliable information so they can make educated choices and lead healthier lives.”

Drug-Free Tennessee is the local chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, which provides booklets with information on how drugs affect the body and mind, what a dealer might say, and common street names to young people know how to avoid them. The materials are available free of charge, and can be obtained through drugfreeworld.org.

For more information on National Night Out, visit natw.org.  For more information on Drug-Free Tennessee or to order materials, visit drugfreetn.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.

Drug-Free Tennessee Circulating Truth

Drug-Free Tennessee, the local chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, has been helping people across the state to learn the harmful effects of drugs before they are lured into taking them.

With drug-related crimes being a weekly occurrence, Drug-Free Tennessee (DFT) is working out ways to combat usage rates by spreading truth. “We need to spread a positive drug-free message and educate as many people as possible and as fast as possible,” says Brian Fesler, regional coordinator for Drug-Free Tennessee.

DFT uses The Truth About Drugs booklets, which empower youth and adults with factual information about drugs so they can make informed decisions to live drug-free.  

Volunteers are out in the community, handing out information and giving talks to students in schools. “This program works with anyone of any race or creed, as drugs don’t discriminate,” according to Fesler.

DFT is the local chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World (FDFW), an international organization based in Los Angeles, and has as its mission to educate people about the dangerous effects of drugs so they understand and can make informed choices on the subject. At the heart of the campaign are the Truth About Drugs booklets, 13 fact-filled booklets that, without scare tactics, inform about drugs, empowering young people to make their own decisions to live drug-free.

Fesler says, “There is a need in our communities to educate everyone on drugs—drugs impact all our lives in one way or another. That’s why it is important for all of us to work together to end this epidemic.” For more information on Drug-Free Tennessee, visit drugfreetn.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.

Drug-Free Tennessee Helping Kids Understand the Truth

Drug-Free Tennessee, the local chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, has been helping students across the state to learn the harmful effects of drugs before they are lured into taking them.

With drug-related crimes being a weekly occurrence, Drug-Free Tennessee (DFT) is working out ways to combat usage rates by spreading truth. “We need to spread a positive drug-free message and educate as many people as possible and as fast as possible,” says Brian Fesler, regional coordinator for Drug-Free Tennessee.

Volunteers have been out in the community, handing out information and giving talks to students in schools. “It works with anyone of any race or creed, as drugs don’t discriminate,” according to Fesler.

Recently, the group visited schools in Davidson and Rutherford Counties where they delivered talks to students, showed educational videos and gave out the Truth About Drugs booklets.

DFT is the local chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World (FDFW), an international organization based in Los Angeles, and has as its mission to educate people about the dangerous effects of drugs so they understand and can make informed choices on the subject. At the heart of the campaign are the Truth About Drugs booklets, 13 fact-filled booklets that, without scare tactics, inform about drugs, empowering young people to make their own decisions to live drug-free.

Fesler says, “There is a need in our communities to educate everyone on drugs—drugs impact all our lives in one way or another. That’s why it is important for all of us to work together to end this epidemic.” For more information on Drug-Free Tennessee, visit drugfreetn.org. 

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.

Drug-Free Tennessee Spreading the Word for a Healthier Future

Drug-Free Tennessee is the local chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, and has been hitting the streets and parks to spread the word.

With drug-related crimes being a weekly occurrence, Drug-Free Tennessee (DFT) is working out ways to combat usage rates by spreading truth. “We need to spread a positive drug-free message and educate as many people as possible and as fast as possible,” says Brian Fesler, regional coordinator for Drug-Free Tennessee.

DFT has been out in the community, handing out information and spreading the word. “It works with anyone of any race or creed, as drugs don’t discriminate,” according to Fesler.

DFT is the local chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World (FDFW), an international organization based in Los Angeles, and has as its mission to educate people about the dangerous effects of drugs so they understand and can make informed choices on the subject. At the heart of the campaign are the Truth About Drugs booklets, 13 fact-filled booklets that, without scare tactics, inform about drugs, empowering young people to make their own decisions to live drug-free.

Fesler says, “There is a need in our communities to educate everyone on drugs—drugs impact all our lives in one way or another. That’s why it is important for all of us to work together to end this epidemic.” For more information on Drug-Free Tennessee, visit drugfreetn.org. 

Drug-Free Tennessee Wants Safe, Crime-Free Neighborhoods

Drug-Free Tennessee participates each year in National Night Out Against Crime by distributing the Truth About Drugs booklets to neighbors.

In the last month alone, there have been nearly one hundred crimes reported by the Nashville police department just in the Edgehill neighborhood. In response, Drug-Free Tennessee will join community partners, neighbors and police for National Night Out Against Crime to put an end to rampant crime and drug violations.

Night Out Against Crime is meant to stop crime before it starts. It was designed to heighten awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back, according to natw.org.

This year marks the 34th annual event held to combat drug use and prevent crime.  This is the 9^th year that Drug-Free Tennessee has participated in the Nashville festivities. Neighborhoods frequently celebrate with a mix of food, dancing, information booths and crime forums to help promote safer living.

Rev. Brian Fesler, regional coordinator for Drug-Free Tennessee, says, “Youth today are having to make decisions about drugs at a younger age. We need to get them reliable information so they can make educated choices.”

Drug-Free Tennessee is the local chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, which provides booklets with information on how drugs affect the body and mind, what a dealer might say, and common street names to young people know how to avoid them. The materials are available free of charge, and can be obtained through drugfreeworld.org.

For more information on National Night Out, visit natw.org.  For more information on Drug-Free Tennessee or to order materials, visit drugfreetn.org.

Drug-Free Tennessee Helps Fathers with Truth

Drug-Free Tennessee is the local chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World. Recently, volunteers were getting out information during a Father’s Day celebration.  

“When it comes to people’s lives being ruined by drugs and addiction, the news is just non-stop,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, regional coordinator for Drug-Free Tennessee. “We need to spread a positive drug-free message and educate as many people as possible and as fast as possible,” he says.

For this very reason, Drug-Free Tennessee (DFT) was out in the neighborhood for a Father’s Day celebration this past weekend distributing materials and spreading the word. “Fathers are an important role model and it’s incredibly important that they get the truth about drugs so they can pass this on to their children,” says Fesler.

During the event, volunteers were able to distribute dozens of pamphlets and informational brochures to parents and children.

DFT is the local chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World (FDFW), which is based in Los Angeles and has as its mission to educate people about the dangerous effects of drugs so they understand and can make informed choices on the subject. Fesler says, “There is a need in our communities to educate everyone on drugs, drugs impact all our lives in one way or another. That’s why we work with others so people can get a complete overview.”

For more information on Drug-Free Tennessee, visit drugfreetn.org.