[Mickey]

(NASHVILLE, TN – November 26, 2002) - Launching Nov. 1, to a sold-out crowd of over 18,000 in Atlanta, Ga., and concluding with another sold-out arena holding more than 17,000 in Auburn Hills, Mi., the “Come Together and Worship Tour” visited 16 cities with an average per-night attendance of 11,500; ten sell-out dates and an overall audience of over 180,000. In addition, ministry partners World Vision and Compassion International, jointly reported, that over 5,000 children were sponsored through presentations made during the tour.

NBC’s “Today Show” co-host Matt Lauer called the “Come Together and Worship Tour,” “one of the biggest concert tours of the fall.” The line up featured Michael W. Smith, Third Day and very special guest Max Lucado and exceeded expectations, with sold-out dates in ten of the 16 cities markets including, Atlanta, GA; Lexington, KY; Memphis, TN; Winston-Salem, NC; Hershey, PA; Fairfax, VA; WestPoint, NY; Mobile, AL; Madison, WI; Auburn Hills, MI.

“It’s been an amazing few weeks,” reflected Michael W. Smith. He continues, “Having the opportunity to spend time with the Third Day guys was great, and Max Lucado brought everything together by adding elements that demonstrated the heart of this tour. The highlight though, was to watch the thousands of people worshiping with us – it was just incredible.”

Third Day front man, Mac Powell noted, “What an amazing, life-changing tour. To see, from stage, over 180,000 people of different backgrounds and churches all coming together to be entertained and worship was such a gift. Getting to share life, and the stage, with Michael W. Smith and Max Lucado was an experience we will never forget.”

“It was unlike anything I’ve ever been a part of,” added speaker and author, Max Lucado. “The phenomenal teamwork, clear purpose, and heavenly power made it unique.”

Roy Morgan, partner, Premier Productions, promoter of six of the 16 dates commented, “It’s not often that our company gets to promote two of the biggest artists in Christian music that are also two of the biggest audience draws on the road, across genres, today. In addition to having Michael W. Smith and Third Day as headliners, we had Max Lucado, the nation’s leading inspirational author and speaker, to add to the evening. It was an overwhelming success - of the six concerts we promoted, five sold-out. It was a privilege to kick off the tour in Atlanta and end it in Auburn Hills with over 17,000 people in both houses.”

The tour’s support team was equally inspired. J. David Huffman, COO of Creative Trust management noted, “I believe every aspect of this high-impact tour has changed and grown our audience and industry forever. My favorite moment each night was watching the entire audience on its feet in the presence of the Creator singing, ‘Agnus Dei.’ To me, that moment was a foreshadowing of Heaven.”

The “Come Together and Worship Tour” was covered by media outlets including “NBC Nightly News,” FOX news network shows, “Your World w/Cavuto,” and John Gibson’s “The Big Story;” NBC’s “Today Show” and, most recently, “ABC’s World News Tonight.” In addition, Public Radio International’s, “Marketplace,” The New York Times, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution profiled the tour while USA Today featured the tour as a Life-section cover feature.

Multi-platinum, multi-GRAMMY and reigning Gospel Music Association Artist of the Year Michael W. Smith is one of the most influential figures in Christian music. Throughout his 19-year career, Smith has garnered two GRAMMY Awards (along with numerous nominations), an American Music Award, has been named one of People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People” and has garnered 34 Dove Awards, including Artist of the Year in 1999 and 2002.

Smith’s career sales exceed nine million. His 2001 release, Worship, recently attained RIAA platinum certification (sales of over one million units) in less than one year and was the fastest selling album on the Christian retail chart in 2001, RIAA certified gold in only 14 weeks. His Worship DVD shipped gold and will receive RIAA platinum certification by month’s end. Smith’s second live praise & worship album, Worship Again, released Oct. 22 through Provident Music Distribution/BMG and claimed the No.1 spot on the Christian retail, mainstream and combined Christian sales charts and most recently, his Aug. 20, 2002 DVD release Worship was certified platinum after being out for just 3 months.

Third Day, three-time GRAMMY nominee and reigning Gospel Music Association Group of the Year has become known for its support of Habitat for Humanity, raising $230,000.00 for the organization and recently traveling to Africa to aid former president Jimmy Carter in a house-building project with the Jimmy Carter Work Project 2002 in Durban, South Africa. Third Day has also been recognized for its riveting live show, gracing the June 22 cover of Pollstar magazine and being named one of the top 50 grossing tours this summer – beating out artists including Bob Dylan, Alicia Keys, No Doubt and Ozzy Osbourne in the magazine’s mid-year tour report. Over their ten year career, the 5 piece rock band has garnered 16 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, 18 number one radio singles and has sold over three million records.

With more than 28 million books in print for both adults and children, it’s easy to see why New York Times best-selling author Max Lucado is known as “America’s Leading Inspirational Author.” His favorite titles, however, are husband, father (to three beautiful girls), and pastor (to the same church in San Antonio, Texas for more than a decade). Lucado’s newest book, “A Love Worth Giving,” released this August.

For more information on Come Together and Worship, including dates, cities and venues, please visit www.cometogetherandworship.com. For detail on Michael W. Smith, Third Day or Max Lucado, please visit www.michaelwsmith.com, www.ThirdDay.com and www.maxlucado.com.