CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY CELEBRATES

- L. Ron Hubbard honoured at Tribute Event –


At a packed Sandton Convention Center pavilion in Johannesburg, South Africa, Scientologists and non-Scientologists alike, celebrated the Birthday of Scientology Founder and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard. The event opened with a performance by celebrity singer, MXO and was attended by a number of regional and local dignitaries.

“Illiteracy, drug abuse, crime and moral decline are effectively being dealt with in areas where L. Ron Hubbard’s technologies are being applied,” said Paul Sondergaard, Director of External Affairs for the Church in Africa, “the evidence of this was clearly communicated at this gala event.”

So too was the official announcement of the acquisition of the famous Johannesburg landmark, the Kyalami Castle by the Church of Scientology.

“This is a culmination of expansion plans since our purchases of new buildings in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and a second building in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.” Sondergaard added. “We have had to move one further step up in establishing an Advanced Scientology retreat in South Africa due to the increasing demand here for such religious services.”

The gala event included a briefing on the young life of L. Ron Hubbard and his travels, adventures and research throughout the East as well as his beginnings of Dianetics and Scientology. It culminated in the official announcement of the Advanced Retreat purchased for South Africa and the presentation of a free DVD of the recently launched scientology Video Site at http://www.scientology.org/.

South African Church nationwide expansion gains significant expression

CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY NETS FAMOUS JOBURG LANDMARK – KYALAMI CASTLE

The Church of Scientology has acquired the famous Johannesburg landmark, the Kyalami Castle, to be the home of its new advanced spiritual retreat. This marks a significant step for Scientologists who until now had to travel all the way to the U.S, Australia or England for their higher spiritual progress.

“For all African Scientologists, this is a dream finally come true,” said Paul Sondergaard, national Director of the Public Affairs Office. “It means a lot to the future expansion of the Church in Africa.”

The 64,000 square foot castle on 22 acres of land will be providing religious services to people from throughout the Continent. It is the latest acquisition in a long series of 66 buildings the Church has purchased internationally over the past 5 years to accommodate the Church’s expansion.

“But the Kyalami Castle is the best yet,” says Sondergaard, “and a fitting tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Church in Southern Africa.”

Other buildings have been purchased in South Africa over the past year including the seven-story St Georges Center in the heart of Cape Town City, buildings in Morningside in Durban, Church Street in Pretoria and a feature building in the recently renovated Goven Mbeki Avenue in Port Elizabeth. In Johannesburg, the Church which has become a prominent feature in the Kensington, Bedforview area, having taken over the old Kensington Golf Club house and subsequently expanding and fully renovating it.

For those who have questions about the Church, a new video channel has been launched on its official website (http://www.scientology.org/). The Scientology Video Channel provides a comprehensive overview of the basic beliefs and practices of the religion while answering the question ‘What is Scientology?’, as well as information on the many humanitarian programs sponsored by the Church – programs addressing drug abuse, illiteracy, human rights and disaster relief.

The Church of Scientology was first established in the United States in 1954, and in 1957, the first African Church opened in Johannesburg.

Scientology.org Video Channel Launches with 82 Scientology Videos

The Scientology.org video channel answers the question “What is Scientology?” while offering 82 informative and engaging Scientology videos and clips addressing Scientology beliefs and humanitarian programs.

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The Church of Scientology announces the launch of the official http://www.scientology.org/ online video channel.

Noting that 75% of Internet users watch video online according to Internet metrics leader Comscore, the Church is excited to announce this launch to utilize cutting edge technology to more broadly disseminate information about Scientology via an official Scientology Video Channel that can be viewed from anywhere there is an Internet connection.

Through 82 broadcast-quality videos, comprising almost 3 hours of content, the Scientology.org Video Channel provides an overview of the basic beliefs and practices of the religion, as well as information on the many humanitarian programs sponsored by the Church – programs addressing drug abuse, illiteracy, human rights and disaster relief. Included in the online content are statements from Scientology parishioners themselves expressing why Scientology is their chosen faith.

Users can elect to watch any of the Scientology videos or clips individually, or watch the presentation in its entirety. Additionally, anyone wanting further information on Scientology at the Scientology.org video channel can request a free book entitled “A Description of the Scientology Religion” or obtain basic books about Scientology or Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard.

The Church has produced many videos over the years. They have been available for viewing by the general public in Church exhibitions around the world. Sharing the videos with the Internet community is a logical and immersive extension of that experience that will benefit video viewing users who can access them 24/7 from any Internet connection in the world.

The Church of Scientology has always considered the Internet a resource for sharing accurate information about the religion – concentrating on using the Internet to promote its message and mission in the world. Since 1996, Church sites have provided hundreds of thousands of individual pages of material and images on the religion. These sites are available in most major languages and are visited by tens of millions each year. Now, online video technology will better enable the Church to provide far more expansive and enlightening information.

The Church firmly believes that understanding is achieved throughknowledge and information. It is in this spirit that the Church is putting this special video channel online designed to answer the question most often asked: What is Scientology?

The Church of Scientology encourages anyone desiring information about the Scientology religion to visit the Church Video Channel at www.Scientology.org.