Church Reaches Out with Help for Community

Perhaps best known for their work in times of disaster, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program provides unconditional help at any time in the face of disasters, great or small.

On a recent Sunday, the bright yellow tent of the Pasadena Volunteer Ministers was front and center at City Hall, where volunteers offered their unique brand of “spiritual first aid” to anyone of any faith.

Created by L. Ron Hubbard in the mid-1970s, the Volunteer Minister program provides help “on a volunteer basis by restoring purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others.” Mr. Hubbard described the Volunteer Minister as a person who “does not shut his eyes to the pain, evil and injustice of existence.”

The Church of Scientology sets up its bright yellow tent in locations in and around Pasadena. Volunteer Ministers are there to help with any issue—a child who can’t read or study, the loss of a loved one, trouble at work, conflicts—even domestic violence. A series of 19 booklets contains simple technology anyone may learn to improve their handling of life problems. Video presentations and training in these tools are available online at the Scientology Volunteer Ministers website.

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 international independent relief forces.