Scientology Volunteers

People helping people all over the world.

 

Scientology Volunteer Ministers Restoring a Hope and Salvaging a Family

There's a great story on the Scientology News web site.

It's about a Russian woman who helped her son with LRH technology from the Scientology Handbook on drug withdrawal.

posted by: jbasoon at 04:10 | link | |

Graffiti Paint-Outs

I noticed when I was traveling through Europe last summer that graffiti was an even worse problem there than at home.

The worst I saw was in Northern Italy and Hungary (especially Budapest).

It was actually pretty shocking. Because in Budapest they whole of the downtown area business district was covered in the typical sprawling, illegible letters and symbols I see at home.

It is a deliberate destruction, not only of the property but of the pride people can have in their cities.

I volunteer to do graffiti paint outs, because I think it's important to keep the neighborhood intact and if we just let gangs get away with destroying the place we've given up.

posted by: jbasoon at 06:54 | link | |

Feeling Good

I noticed something interesting the other day.

I had just helped someone resolve a problem that had really been bothering her. She was very relieved.

I had to go out of my way to do this, and I missed out on seeing a movie I was really looking forward to.

Then I suddenly noticed that despite missing out on the "fun" I felt great.

So I concluded that helping is about the must fun you can have!

posted by: jbasoon at 06:46 | link | |

Scientologists for Peace

Many Scientologists volunteer in human rights and community programs to promote peace.

There's a great article on this in ScientologyToday - on the work that Israeli Scientologists did to promote peace during the recent conflict with Lebanon.

They used The Way to Happiness which is a non-religious, common sense moral code that helps bring out the best in people and establishes communication and understanding among people of different ethnics, religions and beliefs by establishing the values all of us hold to be important.

Here's an excerpt from the story.

Despite bombs dropping around them, members of the Association for Prosperity and Security in the Middle East continued their work to promote peace in the streets and shelters of their war-torn region last month.

During the recent Israel-Lebanon conflict, with Association members traveling back and forth, helping in the shelters in the North and visiting evacuees in Central Israel every day, one of the Israeli volunteers had an idea. He thought of a way to turn the fear and anger of those personally affected by the conflict into a new understanding between the people of Israel and Lebanon — a way to break down the barriers between the people on opposite sides of the war.

The plan was a simple one: encourage those whose lives were disrupted to write letters and draw pictures and send them to someone just like them — in Lebanon. >> Continued

I think it is such a brilliant idea - to help resolve the conflict on a person-by-person basis by getting the people of the two countries into communication with one another!

posted by: jbasoon at 04:44 | link | |
scientology, volunteering

Tutoring

Tutoring is a great thing to do as a volunteer.

I remember when I was in 9th grade and I was flunking out of my algebra class, and my dad, who was an English teacher, got one of his friends to come over to our house to tutor me one afternoon. That one day helped me so much.

Now that I know the study technology L. Ron Hubbard developed I know I can help anyone learn any subject. It's remarkable how effective this technology is.

There's a very simple tutorial on a few of the most basic concepts of student technology at www.studytechnology.org It's in cartoon form, so if you have a child you want to help, you can do the tutorial together, learn how to use study tech, and then help the child with what you've learned there.

posted by: jbasoon at 04:32 | link | |
volunteering, scientology

David Miscavige Acknowledged the Scientology Volunteer Ministers

In a speech he gave called "This is Scientology", David Miscavige made it very clear what he thought about Scientology Volunteer Ministers.

David Miscavige is the Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center.

He said "They have become internationally known and recognized for what has been described as spiritual first aid, and to that end they are ready and organized to respond to any disaster — 'man-made' or by force of nature."

And Mr. Miscavige went on to say:

"Everything — from logistical work on the bucket lines, to caring for the rescue workers so deeply affected in the aftermath, our Volunteer Ministers were there for the duration. As for the help they provided, they were the only civilian group invited to participate in the Police Service, in memory of rescue efforts on the one-year anniversary of September 11th."

But this was two years ago.

Since that time there has been a dramatic acceleration in the activities of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program, with Continental Cavalcades in each major zone where there are Scientology churches, and Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tours in Africa, South America, India, Central Europe, Russia Eastern Asia and the South Pacific.

Hundreds of thousands of people were helped after the Dec 2004 South East Asia tsunamis.

Hundreds of thousands more last year, after Katrina

As a Scientology Volunteer Minister, the fact that at ever International Scientology for the past several years, David Miscavige has acknowledged the work of our teams means so much to me.

posted by: jbasoon at 19:08 | link | |
volunteering, scientology, david miscavige

I thought the derivation of the word "volunteer" was interesting and sheds some light on human nature.

This is from the American Heritage Dictionary.

"Middle English, from Latin voluntarius, from voluntas, choice, from velle, vol-, to wish"

In other words, being a volunteer intimately involves a personal desire. IT is not just doing something for free. It is doing something with the wish to do something. And it usually involves -- with the wish to help.

posted by: jbasoon at 02:48 | link | |
scientology

Impressive

About 65.4 million people volunteered through or for an organization at least once between September 2004 and September 2005, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported. The proportion of the population who volunteered was 28.8 percent.

posted by: jbasoon at 09:11 | link | |

Scientology Volunteer Ministers Covered in the Fiji Times

A group of volunteers who believe in the religion of Scientology are in the country to help combat the social ills that plague today's world.

Co-ordinator of volunteer programme, Donovan Reed, said the volunteer programme was established in response to rising crime and violence in society.

Scientology, a religion founded by L.Ron Hubbard, is centred on the belief in the power of a person's spirit to clear itself of past painful experiences through self-knowledge and spiritual fulfilment.

Mr Reed said Mr Hubbard wanted to provide societies around the world with practical solutions and tools for helping people based on understanding and compassion.

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers movement has been taken all around the world, through Europe and Russia, Africa, South-East Asia and now the South Pacific.

posted by: jbasoon at 04:24 | link | |

Volunteers for Peace

Scientologists in Israel are working to break down the barriers between Israelis and Arabs.

I was so impressed to hear how they are doing this.

Here's there story:

Despite bombs dropping around them, members of the Association for Prosperity and Security in the Middle East continued their work to promote peace in the streets and shelters of their war-torn region last month.

During the recent Israel-Lebanon conflict, with Association members traveling back and forth, helping in the shelters in the North and visiting evacuees in Central Israel every day, one of the Israeli volunteers had an idea. He thought of a way to turn the fear and anger of those personally affected by the conflict into a new understanding between the people of Israel and Lebanon — a way to break down the barriers between the people on opposite sides of the war.

The plan was a simple one: encourage those whose lives were disrupted to write letters and draw pictures and send them to someone just like them — in Lebanon.

Isn't that a smart idea?

It's so hard to stay angry with someone you are in great communication with.

posted by: jbasoon at 08:02 | link | |

Scientology Volunteers in India

Have you been following the work of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers in India.

There's news on the Volunteer Ministers every day on the Scientology Press Office web site. I think the work they are doing is really brilliant.

posted by: jbasoon at 00:35 | link | |
volunteering, scientology

Random Acts of Kindness

The story today on the Scientology Press Office on a Scientology Volunteer Minister from Arizona is the classic kind of random act of kindness VMs are known for best.

For more information on what Scientology Volunteer Ministers do I recommend a browse through the Scientology Handbook (the text VMs are trained on).

posted by: jbasoon at 05:46 | link | |
volunteering, scientology

Volunteer Ministers in Fiji - Anti-Crime Initiative

L. Ron Hubbard discovered effective technology to rehabilitate criminals, which the Scientology Volunteer Ministers South Pacific Goodwill Tour is sharing with those responsible for handling crime in the nation of Fiji. The full story is online in the Scientology Press Office web site.

posted by: jbasoon at 05:50 | link | |
volunteering, scientology

Scientologists in Buffalo Team Up with Other Churches to Combat Crime

I saw this story on the Church of Scientology of Buffalo web site. It's great with the church is doing to work with other groups to rid the city of crime. If all groups joined in on such anti-crime initiatives, our cities would be much safer places. People working together is the answer. I believe that onerous regulations only come about when we each fail to take responsiblity for our own areas and work together as a team to do so.

posted by: jbasoon at 09:17 | link | |
volunteering, scientology

Wins from Botswana

"I know how to set goals and how to achieve them.... I have learned how to accomplish a goal and make it a reality. I now recommend Scientology Volunteer Ministers courses to any person of higher responsibility who wants to learn more about life so they may be more effective in their jobs. I thank God because this is in alignment with our country's vision of an informed and educated nation."

These are the words of Pastor Soloman of the village of Mochudi, Botswana, who is studying the Scientology Handbook and using it to help his congregation.

posted by: jbasoon at 17:04 | link | |
volunteering, scientology

This is a photo of the grand opening of the first stop of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers South Pacific Goodwill Tour. The South Pacific always sounded so romantic to me - what with Gaugan and co. But there are very real and pressing problems on these islands, and it is great that the VM Goodwill Tour is getting real and effective help to them.

posted by: jbasoon at 10:14 | link | |

Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tour Bringing Help to the People of Calcutta

I really love reading about the work of the Volunteer Ministers in Calcutta. I think that the value of their work can't be underestimated as they are changing the lives of so many people.

posted by: jbasoon at 10:11 | link | |

Volunteer Activities

I believe many more people would volunteer if they found the work they did was really helpful and useful, and if they could see people were benefitting from what they did. After all, why else would you volunteer rather than just get a job for pay? One of the best things about the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program is that by training on the Scientology Handbook you gain so much skill and competence that you can and do really help people with the volunteer work you do. It is so easy to help people when you have this technology. Mr. David Miscavige , Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center, described the in his speech titled "This is Scientology".

posted by: jbasoon at 10:09 | link | |
volunteering, scientology

Religious Influence in Society

I was just reading what Creative Expressions wrote in her blog about the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program.

The men and women who volunteer in this program are doing so much for their fellow man.

I love reading stories on the Scientology Volunteer Ministers web site.

Check out this one about the Trans-Siberian Goodwill Tour.

posted by: jbasoon at 05:41 | link | |

Netscape Tagging - Scientology Volunteers

I found this interesting page when I searched for "Scientology Volunteers" today: http://www.netscape.com/tag/scientology+volunteer+ministers/ Check it out!

posted by: jbasoon at 22:59 | link | |

Why Volunteer

I volunteer because I've had so much help from Scientology and I want to make sure others find out about it and get help too.

To a very large extent the Scientology religious movement is volunteer driven.

From the staff of our churches to the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, it is people donating their time to help others.

This is actually pretty consistent. Did you know that L. Ron Hubbard left almost his entire fortune, when he died, to the Church to preserve the technology for posterity?

If you have considered finding out about Scientology, now is a really great time to do so. The past few years have been a period of incredible expansion for the church.

On the Religious Technology Center web site there is some information on why this is the case:

Mr. David Miscavige has been the driving force behind the worldwide program to expand all of the churches of Scientology to better serve their communities — to not only become islands of sanity and succor where all are welcome, but to also serve as central points of emanation for the Church’s many social betterment programs aimed at eradicating the crippling plagues of illiteracy, immorality, drug abuse and intolerance.

To this end, Mr. David Miscavige personally spearheaded the creation and opening of many of these new Churches.

The web site goes on to describe how Mr. Miscavige was personally involved in dedicating a number of these new churches: San Francisco, New York, Buffalo, Spain and Johannesburg. And there are many more coming soon!

This is also an era where everything is being done to make it possible for anyone to avail themselves of Scientology - whether through the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Continental Cavalcades, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tours, or the many books and taped lectures of L. Ron Hubbard which Religious Technology Center has made sure are available in ever-increasing languages.

posted by: jbasoon at 22:51 | link | |
volunteering, scientology, david miscavige

Scientology Volunteers Spearhead Human Rights Campaign

 Last week in New York the Church of Scientology International and Youth for Human Rights International organized and held a summit where 120 youth delegates from all over the world met at the United Nations in New York to hold a global human rights summit.

Actress Anne Archer, who has formed a group called Artists for Human Rights, held a human rights arts exhibit in SoHo the day before the summit, and the day after there was a human rights concert at Union Square.

But the most exciting aspect of this weekend, from my point of view, is the 30 human rights ads. 

Have you seen these yet?  They are really incredible.

You can watch them online at  www.youthforhumanrights.org.

If you have any way to get these onto TV stations in your area, or if you would like to use them at your school, community group, etc, please help us do so.  That's what they're for -- to bring human rights home to everyone and make this planet a much more caring, human and peaceful one!  Contact Mary Shuttleworth at  info@youthforhumanrights.org  and they will help you get the copies you need.

posted by: jbasoon at 17:48 | link | |