Volunteer Ministers Respond to Tornado Outbreak: One of the Worst in US History

A home in Missouri torn right off its foundation by one of the tornadoes that devastated six states over the weekend. (Photo by NOA.gov)

At least 22 tornadoes tore through 6 states this weekend leaving devastation in their wake. Through Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee, thousands are without heat, water or electricity. Across Kentucky, some 26,000 homes and businesses are without power, and the state’s Emergency Management Director estimates 10,000 homes and businesses have no water, and another 17,000 are under boil-water advisories.

Local Volunteer Ministers are collecting and distributing needed supplies to temporary shelters and helping with whatever is needed in their communities, while International Scientology Volunteer Ministers headquarters has put out a call for trained volunteers to help with the disaster.

Local Volunteer Ministers collect needed supplies and bring them to a middle school serving as a shelter in Bowling Green, Kentucky, for families left homeless by the tornadoes.

Trained Volunteer Ministers who can join the disaster response should contact the Volunteer Minister hotline at (800) HELP-4-YU or (323) 960-1949.

The Church of Scientology Volunteer Ministers program is a religious social service created in the mid-1970s by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard.

A Volunteer Minister’s mandate is to be “a person who helps his fellow man on a volunteer basis by restoring purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others.” Their creed: “A Volunteer Minister does not shut his eyes to the pain, evil and injustice of existence. Rather, he is trained to handle these things and help others achieve relief from them and new personal strength as well.”