Scientology Volunteer Ministers program inspired by David Miscavige

Nine years ago, after 9/11 the ecclesiastical leader of Scientology, David Miscavige, challenged Scientologists to take the terrorist attacks as a wake-up call and do something effective about changing things on this planet. Since then, Mr. Miscavige launched the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tours. Here is an article from the Scientology press office web site on the VMs in the South Pacific.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tour Targets Literacy in Papua New Guinea

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

_{The Conchoo Dance Group performs a traditional dance, welcoming the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tour to Papua New Guinea.}

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers South Pacific Goodwill Tour was officially welcomed by traditional dancers and local dignitaries at a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Murray Army Barracks in Papua New Guinea June 7. Tour members and officials spoke of working to tackle illiteracy and poverty through seminars and courses that the tour will provide at local level throughout the island.

The United Nations Millennium Development Goals include improving literacy as a pivotal target for eradicating poverty, increasing opportunity and guaranteeing other human rights. Of all Pacific island nations, Papua New Guinea ranks lowest in both literacy and standard of living, with some 30 percent of the population living on a dollar or less a day. To make inroads against this crucial problem, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tour is providing free seminars and courses to teachers and students across the island.

Established in 1976 by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program enables people to better cope with common problems and stresses of life and independently improve their situations. Scientology Churches and Missions provide training in Volunteer Ministers know-how and sponsor Volunteer Ministers activities in their areas.

In 2004, to extend the reach of the Volunteer Ministers program, ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige launched the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tours, enabling teams of volunteers to bring help to remote areas including South and West Africa, Southern Asia, India, the South Pacific, Eastern Europe, Siberia, the Australian Outback, and Latin America.

For more information, visit the Scientology Volunteer Ministers website.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers in action at the Scientology VM Blog

Scientology Volunteer Ministers in Haiti

Scientology Volunteer Ministers arrived in Haiti the first week after the earthquake in January, but new volunteers continue to arrive, and they are training Haitians in and around Port-au-Prince in Scientology technology who in turn are opening new groups all around the island.

The Church also sent a ship down with supplies, and this shows the arrival of the ship in P.A.P., being unloaded by a team of Scientologist VMs from about 15 nations including 100 Haitian nationals.

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers program was developed in 1976 by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard. In the wake of 9/11, David Miscavige greatly expanded the scope of the program, which now includes Goodwill Tours throughout the world.



Scientology Volunteer Ministers in action at the Scientology VM Blog

California Scientology Churches Back Fire Crews

Scientologists from throughout Southern California rally to support the firefighters battling blazes that threaten thousands of suburban homes

Acknowledging the many Scientologists volunteering on the LA fire lines, Ms. Eden Stein, President of the Church of Scientology of Pasadena said, “The firefighters are the true heroes. They are out there under the most trying conditions, literally putting their lives on the line. We have the finest fire crews in the world protecting us and they deserve our full support.”

Scientology volunteers are distributing food and water and providing security patrols in addition to giving Scientology assists, simple procedures developed by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard that help relieve the emotional and spiritual aspect of trauma from injury, stress or shock.

“We encourage anyone who wants to help to contact the Church,” said Ms. Stein. “Whether you are trained or not, if you want to assist the fire crews we welcome your contribution.”

The Los Angeles fire killed two firefighters, consumed nearly 20 per cent of the Angeles National Forest, damaged an estimated $13.6 million in property, caused thousands of evacuations and destroyed 50 structures in its first week, prompting Governor Schwarzenegger to declare a state of emergency for Los Angeles County.

The Church of Scientology of Pasadena is acting headquarters of the activities of the Scientology Disaster Response Team for the greater Los Angeles area during this crisis, coordinating the efforts of Scientologists with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and other civic and volunteer organizations to provide whatever help is needed.

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers program was created in 1976. Volunteer Ministers have given aid at 126 major disaster sites providing disaster relief services at 42 locations in the past year alone.

To contact the Volunteer Ministers Coordinator at the Church of Scientology of Pasadena, call (626) 792-7533. For more information on the Scientology Volunteer Ministers visit their web site at http://www.volunteerministers.org

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers program was created by L. Ron Hubbard to bring help everywhere. The huge expansion of the program in this past decade was inspired by Scientology ecclesiastical leader David Miscavige in his famous appeal to Scientologists to use 9/11 as a wake-up call and extend their help to their communities and society at a far greater level than ever before.

People Who Inspire the Volunteer Ministers Movement

Of course, L. Ron Hubbard, who created the movement in 1976, inspired it when he wrote an article called "Religious Influence in Society."

David Miscavige ,Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center (RTC), inspires Volunteer Ministers. At least twice yearly he presents an overview of the work of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers in his speeches at the Anniversary of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) (which funds many of the VM programs) and the mid-year IAS report which he presents on the Freewinds each summer.

And all the individual VMs who put themselves on the line to help, inspire others to do the same.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers Help Martial Arts Students in Zambia Gain New Skills

With workshops based on the Scientology Handbook, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers African Goodwill Tour gave martial arts students a new perspective on life.

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers Africa Goodwill Tour trained students at a national marital arts tournament in Kitwe, Zambia in technology developed by L. Ron Hubbard. As Church of Scientology leader, David Miscavige, described the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program: “The final word, as regards our front-line work bringing our help wherever and whenever needed is our corps of Scientology Volunteer Ministers — on call, 24 hours a day in scores of nations.”

The volunteers usually provide training at the big yellow tent they erect in the towns and villages they visit, but while stationed in Kabwe, in central Zambia, a young man who had trained at their tent invited them to come to the nearby city of Kitwe, to attend a martial arts tournament and hold workshops for students and their guests.

The workshops were based on chapters from the Scientology Handbook, a compilation of technology developed by L. Ron Hubbard to help people cope with the problems they encounter in life and improve conditions for themselves and others.

From the feedback received, the workshops were a great success.

“Doing this course has been a challenge to me,” said a graduate of the communication workshop. ” I will use the knowledge I have acquired from this course to make my world better to live in.”

“Doing this course has really helped me,” a graduate of the Integrity and Honesty workshop said. “I have attained self-worth and integrity and the ability to feel honest with myself and others.” Another young man who completed the same training said, “This course was challenging. I have benefited so much. It has helped me become honest in everything I am doing, which will help my friends and family as well.”

Scientology churches around the world provide workshops and seminars free of charge in these and other subjects. To arrange for a seminar for your own group or organization visit the Scientology Volunteer Ministers web site.