February 7, 2002

CONTACT:
Linda Simmons Hight
Media Relations Director
Church of Scientology International
6331 Hollywood Blvd. Suite 1200
Los Angeles, CA 90028-6329
Phone (323) 960-3500
Fax (323) 960-3508
E-mail mediarelationsdir@scientology.net

SCIENTOLOGY VOLUNTEER MINISTERS HELPING MORE THAN EVER SINCE SEPTEMBER 11 — 6,000 NEW ENROLLEES IN VOLUNTEER MINISTER TRAINING PROGRAM

Scientology Volunteer Ministers are no strangers to helping in disasters. The Volunteer Ministers were at Ground Zero in New York helping rescue workers deal with shock, exhaustion and pain. They were again on the front lines in December 2001 bringing the same assistance to some of the 20,000 firefighters in Australia battling the brush fires raging around Sydney.

Through the years, Volunteer Ministers have taken time off from jobs and family life and at their own expense arrived without fanfare at other disasters where help was needed—Hurricane Andrew in Florida; earthquakes in Greece, Japan, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Los Angeles; the bombing in Oklahoma City, and flooding in St. Louis.

Converging from many parts of the country or the world, they quickly formed efficient and organized teams capable of performing a wide variety of tasks—from cooking and food service for rescue workers to cleaning up tons of broken glass in the streets of Oklahoma City.

They helped at Hurricane Andrew in Florida; at earthquakes in Greece, Japan, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Los Angeles. They assisted after the bombing in Oklahoma City and flooding in St. Louis.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers are specifically trained to quickly and effectively deal with spiritual trauma as well as providing practical assistance. At the fires in Australia, for example, they first action after mobilizing was to cook breakfast for 400 firefighters in a community hall relief station near Sydney. Their calm efficiency noted by authorities, they were then delivering food to fire crews in the field and assisting with transport during shift changes.

The Volunteer Ministers also started aiding the firefighters with “assists”, simple procedures that help an individual recover from shock, grief, pain and exhaustion. “We helped the firemen bring their attention back to their present environment which helps them recover rapidly from the physical toll of the intense and exhausting work,” said Sydney Volunteer Minister spokesperson Gina Comaccio. “They were working 12-hour shifts in boiling heat, and the assists brought them enormous relief.”

Three months earlier, Scientology Volunteer Ministers at Ground Zero—800 in all—won high praise from firemen, police, medical personnel and city officials for their contribution to the rescue efforts. The New York Times reported that the Scientologists were retained at Ground Zero after some other volunteer organizations had been asked to leave.

While thousands of Volunteer Ministers All the while, Volunteer Ministers at home carried on with their stock in trade—assisting the neighbors with a teenager on drugs, counseling a co-worker with marital problems, helping a grieving

“Helping others in times of need has always been the role of religion,” said Church of Scientology International Vice President Janet Weiland. “Since September 11, nearly 6,000 Scientologists have enrolled in the Volunteer Minister training program, and the first 1,000 have graduated and are now out in their communities with veteran Volunteer Ministers offering practical help—such as in the Australian fires where the need is great. Volunteer Ministers are networked through the Internet, which makes it possible to respond rapidly to emergencies as well as to assist with regular ministerial needs in their own communities.”

In response to surveys showing that the attacks of September 11 left many people confused and uncertain how to respond to a pervasive but non-specific threat to their safety and the safety of those close to them, the Church launched a $1.8 million program to promote the Volunteer Ministers’ credo—"Something CAN Be Done About It"—and a 1-800 number to call for assistance from a trained volunteer.

The campaign will include 1,000 billboards in New York City and in 11 other U.S. cities,—Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Cincinnati, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, St. Louis, San Jose and Tampa. Most of the billboards will remain up for at least a year.

The Scientology Volunteer Minister program was developed in 1976 by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion, to enable individuals from all walks of life to provide practical assistance to help people deal with problems they encounter in their lives.

More information on the Volunteer Ministers program is available at www.volunteerministers.org. Assistance from a Volunteer Minister may be requested by calling 1-800-HELP-4-YU.