Church of Scientology 25th Anniversary

Online, July 20, 2010 (Newswire.com) - NASHVILLE, TN -- Scientology has arrived and is here to stay. Twenty-five years after the Church of Scientology first opened its doors in Nashville, it has grown to prominence as sole owner and occupant of the historic Fall School Building. And since the glorious grand opening of that facility in April 2009, the Church has experienced greater expansion than the previous twenty-four years combined.

Which begs the question: How does a relatively new religion go over in the Bible Belt? "We have found the people of Nashville to be kind and receptive to new ideas, even while holding firm to their own faith," says Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Nashville Church of Scientology, "which is just fine with us. We are all-denominational and open to everyone."

Open to everyone, indeed. That fact was well evident at the Church's July 10th black tie soiree, which brought its parishioners together with dignitaries, community leaders and celebrities to rejoice in a year of growth and achievement. Between the champagne reception and the chocolate mountain finale, attendees delighted in an evening of fine dining, inspirational speeches and exuberant entertainment.

Rev. Fesler explains, "The Nashville church is a Celebrity Centre, so of course we'll go for a spectacular presentation. But the heart of our event was the speaking segment, where friends from the community conveyed how they have benefitted from their relationships with us." Speakers included a human rights leader who has used materials provided by the church to teach the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a representative from Hands On Nashville who appreciated the Scientology Volunteer Ministers working alongside adherents of other faiths, and the president of an interfaith group who encouraged church members to be more active in the community.

What does it mean for Nashville to have a Scientology Celebrity Centre? "Our church is open to anyone. It just happens that we have a special mission to help musicians, artists, community leaders and the like. These people pull the world along with their dreams and vision. At the same time, the visionaries and leaders are under the most stress and suppression. They deserve help; they want results. We provide both," says Rev. Fesler.

As the celebration winds down, Rev. Fesler is reaching out. "We are here for the community. People need to come take a look, see the tools we offer for better living. Go to your church on Sunday morning and stop by here in the afternoon. Have your pastor call me if he has any questions. We're here for good, and everyone is welcome."

For more information, contact the church at 687-4600 or go to www.scientology.org.