More Scientologists than ever before filled Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater for this annual birthday party celebration.
Following a 30-minute performance by a superlative band – joined by soloists, dancers and even Grammy Award-winning bassist Stanley Clarke – as well as fireworks, David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center, took the stage to celebrate the birthday of L. Ron Hubbard (LRH).
One of the themes of the evening, Thinking Big, was demonstrated throughout the celebration, which included a review of achievements in the past year, as well as the introduction of newly trained executives launching out to Ideal Orgs worldwide after having completed the most important training program in Scientology history. There was also talk of expansion.
The Church of Scientology returned to Clearwater’s landmark performing arts center for Miscavige to pay tribute to L. Ron Hubbard, and welcome the thousands who had come to celebrate all that had occurred since the last birthday gathering. There was a lot included in the event.
“As is befitting on this night of nights, we will present what LRH most wished for on his birthday: not only a Birthday Game that signifies EXPANSION,” Miscavige told the crowd near the beginning of the Saturday night festivities, “but also, the expansionist destiny as fueled by his Technology and all as manifested in Ideal Orgs.”
As Miscavige alluded, the Birthday Celebration included an “expansionist destiny.”
He was speaking of the Golden Age of Administration, the chapter in the Church’s Golden Age. Miscavige referred back to milestones “from which we’ll never look back” – the Golden Age of Knowledge and Golden Age of Tech Phase II – and added, “Even still, there yet remains one final component to the full Golden Age equation.”
The Golden Age of Administration, he said, “complements and amplifies all others, ultimately bringing the entire Golden Age to fruition. And yes, as of LRH’s birthday tonight, we have achieved liftoff. This is the one that brings them all to full blossom.”
More than 800 Scientology executives from around the world have already enrolled on the new training program at Flag, the religion’s spiritual headquarters in Clearwater.
Among the first Ideal Org executives to complete the program and fire to their Churches were those from Melbourne, London, Denmar
Talking about expansion, Miscavige said “there ain’t ever been anything like this.”
Miscavige dedicated a new Ideal Org that stands directly across the street from the University of Texas, in the state’s capital city. It is right on The Drag, Austin’s cultural and social hub, where an average of 70,000 people walk past the Church’s street-level, floor-to-ceiling windows every day.
Miscavige traveled 1,000 miles south to Mexico City for the grand opening of the Ideal Org of Del Valle. The 12-story building, with its 80-foot illuminated Scientology sign, towers above the city and can be seen from a mile in every direction.
Scientologists expanded in Chicago with a restored downtown landmark is more than a century old and stands on Printer’s Row, the historic hub of the Midwest’s print industry.
The reality of this triple display of manifested expansion came to life in video presentations, transporting the birthday audience to all three grand openings.
A demonstration of Thinking Big, these brand-new Ideal Orgs brought the total to 76 worldwide, with more on the runway to Grand Opening.
A boisterous highlight of the evening was the announcement of the winners of the annual Birthday Game, revolving around fulfilling that LRH wish for the gift he wanted most of all: EXPANSION in the name of building a better world, according to the event. Driven by that goal, Missions, Churches, Advanced Organizations and Continental Liaison Offices contend all year for top honors across six continents and dozens of cities, with some tightly contested races coming down to the final days.
When the race was over, the champions stepping into the Winner’s Circle to collect their gleaming trophies and racing silks and bask in the roar of the crowd included: the Scientology Mission of Quito, Ecuador; the Church of Scientology of Kaohsiung, Taiwan; the Advanced Organization for Australasia; and the Continental Liaison Office of the Western United States.
A theme of the celebration was LRH’s mandate to Think in Futures. And that was underscored in Miscavige’s next presentation dealing with the very near future: the next season of Scientology Network. “Greater numbers are crossing our threshold than ever in history,” he said. “Even more, those walking through the doors are not even asking questions. They already know what service they want to take! So yes, it is a whole new world.”
He then said there was one present that was not unwrapped yet. And as the crowd stirred with recognition and jubilation, he said, “This will be the Church of Scientology and Celebrity Centre Paris,” then announced a Grand Opening in the coming weeks.
“We will light up the City of Light!” he proclaimed. With that, a visual presentation of her new Golden Age of Administration team returning home played to an elated crowd. The six-story structure is just blocks from where the Closing Ceremonies will be held for the Olympics this year.
As the birthday event drew near a close, Miscavige announced one final gift.
“It’s a gift on behalf of LRH. Indeed, words he wrote for you,” he said, explaining that each attendee would be receiving a personal copy of LRH’s handwritten poem “We Are the Free People,” which resonates with inspiration relevant for all.
Then, before a final three cheers and “Happy Birthday, Sir!” Miscavige closed with this:
“You are now experiencing what you could call a Golden Age of being a Scientologist and of winning Universal Freedom. Regardless of how you choose to wield your freedom, do take your own next step … so you will win, and we will all win.”
