Scientology moving on


Scientology Volunteer Ministers–A Global Force for Help
September 2, 2009, 3:21 am
Filed under: Scientology, l. ron hubbard, volunteer ministers | Tags: , ,

A third of a century since its creation by L. Ron Hubbard, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program has indeed become a force for good

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers program was launched in 1976 with the following challenge by L. Ron Hubbard: “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.”

In a third of a century since Mr. Hubbard created this program, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers have grown to an international force for help.

There has been remarkable growth of the program in the first decade of the 21st Century. Today there are 196,000 Scientology Volunteer Ministers worldwide, compared to 45,000 in 2005 and 6,000 in 2001.

Volunteer Ministers have helped over 1.4 million people in the last year, a 300 percent increase over the 2004 figure of 550,000 people. Volunteer Ministers have helped 10.8 million people since 9/11.

Over 750,000 people have visited the Volunteer Ministers Internet site in the last year alone, with thousands starting free online Volunteer Minister Courses in the last months.

18 Continental Volunteer Ministers traveling centers have toured through 116 countries covering over 300,000 miles (more than 140,000 miles within the past year).

The 135 regional Volunteer Ministers traveling centers—the signature yellow tents attached to Churches of Scientology in major cultural centers—have toured throughout their cities or towns helping hundreds of thousands yearly.

Volunteer Ministers have been involved in disaster relief efforts in 126 major disaster sites—42 locations in the last year alone.

Volunteer Ministers have trained and partnered with more than 500 different organizations and agencies including the Red Cross, FEMA, National Guard, and local police and fire departments.

More information: David Miscavige, L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology

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Scientology everywhere
June 27, 2009, 4:41 pm
Filed under: Scientology, volunteer ministers | Tags: ,

Orlando Florida—In preparation for the 2009 hurricane season, members of the Churches of Scientology Disaster Response of Tampa joined members of other faith-based disaster response organizations in a special two-day Points of Distribution (POD) training session conducted by the Florida National Guard in Orlando.

A retired National Guard major instructed the volunteers in the various aspects of setting up and running a central location to care for the needs of those affected by a disaster, from how to establish a POD, to how to organize the distribution of the supplies and direct and control the traffic into and out of the unit.

Points of Distribution or PODs are locations selected where the public can pick up emergency supplies following a disaster. The need for a POD is based on lack of infrastructure to support normal distribution of food, water, or other supplies after a disaster.

According FEMA, the success of a POD is directly proportional to the planning done beforehand. “With a developed strategy and coordinated effort,” FEMA training materials state, “your community will get those lifesaving commodities they need quickly and efficiently.”

Under the calm and orderly conditions of a training session, the volunteers drilled carrying out the various functions they will need to perform at the POD when disaster strikes.

In addition to the training they receive at sessions like this one, members of the Churches of Scientology Disaster Response also train as Scientology Volunteer Ministers, where they learn techniques developed by Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard, that enable them to help people with their emotional and spiritual needs during times of crisis.  These courses are available through local Scientology churches such as the Church of Scientology of Tampa which sponsors this particular team. The Scientology Volunteer Ministers program also offers free online courses and disaster response seminars.  For more information, visit their web site at www.volunteerministers.org.

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