2008-08-19 01:26:31 - New Scientology churches are planned throughout South Africa and Zimbabwe -- part of an international Scientology strategy to increase service to the community.

In addition to the many services the churches will provide for Scientologists, they well also offer courses and spiritual counseling for people new to Scientology and for non-Scientologists. An example of the services these churches will be expanding is the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program. South African Scientology churches already man two Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tours, one currently in Ghana

and the other in Zambia. These tours offer courses, workshops and seminars based on the Scientology Handbook, which give people practical, effective tools for better living. And the new churches will make it possible to greatly expand the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program throughout southern Africa.

The renovations of the Church of Scientology of Johannesburg were completed in 2003, and Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center, Mr. David Miscavige, traveled to South Africa for the occasions, where he urged all those present to bring the same level of service to their own communities. The first step of this has now been accomplished with the recent purchase of buildings for ideal Scientology churches in every city of southern Africa where Scientology churches currently exist.

In the 1960s, L. Ron Hubbard lived and worked for many months in South Africa and Zimbabwe, then known as Rhodesia. He carried on his research and worked to accomplish social reforms for the people of these two countries. His respect and love for the countries and their people led him to write, "From Southern Africa will spring the next great civilization on this planet." And the staff and members of the Scientology churches of South Africa and Zimbabwe are determined to make this come true.