And now, it’s also the home of the new Church of Scientology Mission of McMinnville.
“I’m getting a glimpse of how bright our future is, and we’ve only just started!” says Vivian Gray.
Vivian, a mother of three and the new Public Executive Secretary of the Mission, described what has been happening in just the few short weeks of its existence.
“Here, we don’t just live alongside each other, we show up for one another, working together to make this city better for all.”
A Scientology Mission, like the new Church in McMinnville, is often established in an area that is new to Scientology. That area could be in a far-flung land like Ghana or Malaysia, or it could be Anytown, USA—a place that doesn’t yet have its own Church of Scientology, like McMinnville. Missions reach out into their communities to provide help where help is most needed, and invite members of those communities to advance spiritually through the Technology developed by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard. Newcomers step into Scientology Churches and Missions worldwide every 60 seconds, as announced by ecclesiastical leader David Miscavige at the religion’s annual New Year’s celebration.
Vivian, like the Mission, is a newcomer to McMinnville, having just arrived this past year. And, like the Mission, she has hit the ground running—reaching out to discover what her new hometown needs, laying the groundwork for humanitarian partnerships with local police, beginning arrangements for delivery of the Church-sponsored Truth About Drugs program to students, setting up an information booth about Scientology at an upcoming community festival, helping the local library with a Youth for Human Rights educational program, and planning radio broadcasts.
“I’m very excited that our family is making a home here,” she says. “I’ve gotten to know so many lovely people, and there’s so much support for our Church.”
That Yamhill County’s seat and its most populous city embraced their new neighbor was evident in what several of the town’s leading citizens had to say on the occasion of the November 10 grand opening of the new Mission.
Chamber of Commerce President John Olson described the Church as a force for positive change and Scientologists as “committed, driven and kindhearted” people who “exemplify the spirit that makes this town so special.”
“Here, we don’t just live alongside each other, we show up for one another, working together to make this city better for all,” he said. “I am thrilled to welcome this new Mission that shares in that spirit and is ready to join hands with us contributing to our future.… Inside these doors is a place to overcome challenges, find solutions and build better lives.”
In order to overcome those challenges, offer solutions and build better lives, Vivian and other Church executives met with town officials to find out what they needed and how the Mission could help. One immediate need this past December was assistance putting together holiday gift baskets—Pendleton blankets, coffee and mugs—for the McMinnville police force. Vivian and other Church staff and volunteers quickly delivered on the request, much to the relief and gratitude of City Hall.
“The moment I became a staff member at the Mission, I felt like I was finally doing what I needed to do.”
McMinnville’s largest demographic is the 18-and-under bracket, which comprises over one-fourth of McMinnville’s population. Recognizing that fact, and the importance of the next generation, the Mission is committed to helping the town’s young people, hence the Truth About Drugs program for students and the Youth for Human Rights program for the library, with The Way to Happiness: A Common Sense Guide to Better Living serving as the third side of this humanitarian triangle.
An entirely nonreligious moral code that can—and is—used by anyone, anywhere, regardless of race, culture or creed, The Way to Happiness has been published in 118 languages, with over 140 million copies distributed to date, bringing calm to communities torn by violence, peace to areas ravaged by civil strife and self-respect to millions of individuals—in schools, prisons, churches, youth and community centers.
The Mission partners with Lionel Irving, executive director of Love is Stronger, a group of former gang members who now help gang-impacted families and communities to bring The Way to Happiness’ 21 precepts to Oregon’s youth.
It’s one of the reasons Irving is thrilled that McMinnville now has its own Scientology Mission. “All my young people know the precepts by heart,” he said. “They face their challenges differently now. They know they have tools to rely on—a real roadmap for life!”
As for how her life has changed in a few short months, Vivian says, “Up until now, my career has been acting, but my purpose, beneath that, was always to uplift people. The moment I became a staff member at the Mission, I felt like I was finally doing what I needed to do.”
L. Ron Hubbard famously wrote, “Scientology helps people to help one another. This is the message of all prophets in all ages: Help one another. It is the formula for life that cannot fail. It is the message of Scientology.”
Vivian could not agree more. “There was a void in my life—which was to help people,” she says. “The Mission has filled that void.”
The Mission is indeed filling the void—not just for Vivian, but across the board for the people of McMinnville.
