[Mickey]

NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- Ardent recording artist and former lead singer of Grammy Award-nominated Big Tent Revival, Steve Wiggins, has reached an exclusive performance agreement with LifeWay Christian Resources’ LifeWay Conference Centers, it was recently announced. Wiggins will headline nine concerts throughout the remainder of this year and in 2003, and the critically-acclaimed singer/songwriter will also serve LifeWay in a consultative role with the largest Christian conference centers in the United States, North Carolina's Ridgecrest Conference Center and New Mexico's Glorietta Conference Center.

Scheduled performances for Wiggins include Ridgecrest's Law Enforcement Summit on October 2; Ski Xplosion Conferences this December, as well as in February, March and December of 2003; and the Marriage Impact Conference in May 2003 at the Glorietta Conference Center.

"We are extremely pleased to have Steve Wiggins perform at several of our events, as well as provide us with consulting services for entertainment," said Phill Burgess, national marketing director, LifeWay Conference Centers. "Steve is a man of outstanding integrity and talent, and his commitment to Christ is evident to everyone who knows him. His involvement will bring an exciting new dimension to the conference centers."

"Having visited Glorietta as a youth and performed there with Big Tent, I am excited about being able to give something back to a ministry that has had such a lasting impact on my life," said Wiggins. "The folks at LifeWay are always looking for new ways to reach people for Christ. I am humbled by their invitation to partner with them in this process."

Founded in 1907, the Ridgecrest campus is located on 2,200 acres near Asheville, North Carolina, and has accommodated more than 3 million people since the first event was held in 1909. The center features more than 50,000 square feet of conference space, three auditoriums with seating capacities of up to 2,500, and the ability to accommodate groups ranging in size from 10 to 2,000.

Situated in New Mexico's Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the 2,400-acre Glorietta Conference Center was established in 1952 and features 60 conference rooms, 500 hotel rooms and Holcomb Auditorium, a 150-feet tall spiral tower with a seating capacity of more than 2,800.

Following the tenure of Big Tent Revival, Wiggins, whose songwriting credits include such classic hits as "Two Sets of Joneses" and "Choose Life," began composing songs for what would become his critically-acclaimed Ardent Records solo debut, Faith That Is Real, which released in June. Billboard Magazine hailed the project as, "An enjoyable collection of uplifting and inspirational songs,…with toe-tapping nuances and enlivening messages."

For much more on Steve Wiggins, click here