[Mickey]

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) February 5, 2002 - Three-time GRAMMY nominee and Gospel Music Association “Artist” and “Group” of the year Third Day is experiencing a tremendous surge of fan support for its upcoming Come Together Tour, which will benefit Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI). Even concert dates that are still months away are already producing sales numbers that have soared into the thousands. The tour follows the release of the band’s critically acclaimed and fastest selling album to date, Come Together.

Not scheduled to begin until mid-February, the tour ticket sales continue to rise daily beyond the highest expectations. Third Day’s May 11 performance in Atlanta at HiFI Buys Amphitheatre (which attracted over 15,000 fans last year) went on sale Jan. 24 and after only one week had generated ticket sales of 4,249, and its April 20 date at Nashville’s AmSouth Amphitheatre has currently sold over 6,000 tickets. In fact, the outpouring of support for the tour has been so strong that second concerts have already being added, including concerts in San Antonio (Feb. 21) at Laurie Auditorium and in Portland (March 10) at Salem Armory Auditorium.

“We are ecstatic about the ticket sales from our Third Day concerts,” says Roy Morgan, Premier Productions. “Having the first three dates on the tour causes a little anxiety because it is usually viewed as the ‘testing ground’ for the entire Tour. However, Greensboro, NC is the first night and we are at 5,000 tickets sold with two weeks to go. Our Spartanburg SC date sold-out three weeks in advance...wish we had another 2,000 seats. The Third Day Tour will definitely be one of the most successful tours in the Spring of 2002.”

The outstanding ticket sales are not only good news for the tour, but also indicate tremendous community response to Habitat For Humanity’s important cause. A portion of every ticket sold during the “Come Together Tour” will go toward a special Third Day/Habitat fund; the money raised will build at least eight homes worldwide during 2002. Third Day has committed to building three of these homes in cities across the United States, including Nashville, West Palm Beach, Fla. and its hometown of Atlanta, Ga.

In addition to raising money for Habitat homes through ticket sales, the band is personally dedicated to getting others actively involved in the ministry. To accomplish this goal, Third Day has initiated a grassroots mailing print piece and video promotion for churches and college groups to sign up to build houses. The piece is being sent to over 5,000 churches. The band also recently challenged its own record label staff to participate in the future construction of the Nashville Habitat home.

J. David Huffman, Sr. VP of Management Operations at Creative Trust, says, “What a privilege it is to work with a band who is reaching outside their own comfort zones and challenging all of us to put our faith into action, as the momentum of their tours, record sales, radio rotation and fan expectations are continuing to build. We and the band are both thankful for the growing and overwhelming response of fans, radio stations, retailers and concert promoters who continue to support these efforts.”

Third Day sees this kind of cooperation as crucial to helping those without shelter, a group effort that brings to life the Come Together title of the tour and record. The band is hoping that attention garnered by the tour will help raise awareness and encourage retailers, radio personnel and fans to work together to provide for those in need.

Says Third Day band member Mac Powell, “It’s our desire throughout the Come Together Tour and beyond that radio management staff will help us by encouraging their listeners to assist Habitat for Humanity’s efforts in their own communities. We would like to see our efforts amplified in every market as radio stations, retailers and our fans get involved.” Throughout the tour, Third day will help coordinate these efforts with local HFHI affiliates. More information on HFHI can be found at www.thirdday.com or www.habitat.org.

The Come Together Tour will continue through early May. The major market tour is slated to perform in 51 cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, Oklahoma City, Minneapolis, Detroit, West Palm Beach and many others. The tour will also feature special guests Bebo Norman and Paul Colman Trio, the newest Essential Records artist.

The tour is in support of Third Day’s blockbuster fifth studio recording of the same name, which continues to sell twice as fast as even the band’s pervious Gold-selling project, Offerings - A Worship Album. After exploding onto the scene on Nov. 6, the record immediately shot to No. 1 on the SoundScan compiled Top Christian Albums chart while landing at No. 31 on the Billboard Top 200. Selling an unprecedented 56,000 unites in its first week at retail, the album continues to retain momentum, selling well over 300,000 units to date.

The new album also helped the band members garner an impressive seven Dove Award nominations for the 33rd Annual Dove Awards. After leading the list of award winners during last year’s ceremony taking home wins in five categories including awards for “Artist” and “Group of the Year,” a feat that had not been accomplished in 20-years, Third Day has the opportunity to be the first band in history to repeat that achievement.

Nashville-based Essential Records was founded in 1992 and specializes in providing relevant pop, alternative and modern music. In addition to Third Day, the label’s artist roster includes Jars of Clay, True Vibe, FFH and Caedmon’s Call. Essential Records, and its affiliated label, Watershed Records, is distributed through Provident Music Distribution and through partnerships with parent company Zomba Music Group.