[Jonular]

Christian artists including Michael W. Smith and Jars of Clay launched "ONE in the Spirit" a faith video in support of The ONE Campaign to fight global AIDS and poverty in Nashville, Tennessee. The three-minute video, featuring 16 of the biggest names in Christian music, will be featured at concerts, music festivals and places of worship across America in 2005 to rally support for The ONE Campaign – a coalition of the nation's leading relief and advocacy organizations.

"I am so proud to stand here with this powerful group of artists in support of The ONE Campaign," Smith said at a press conference to launch the video. "The emergency of global AIDS and poverty calls out to all of our hearts. Together, ONE by ONE, we can all make a difference in the lives of the poorest of God's children."

From concert venues to church halls to voting booths, the voices of the Christian community are stronger and more relevant than ever in America. "ONE in the Spirit" is a rallying call to the faith community to lend their voices to the poorest of the poor as part of The ONE Campaign. The video mobilizes Christian artists who have been engaged with DATA (Debt AIDS Trade Africa), a founding member of The ONE Campaign, since 2002 as advocates for the world's poorest people.

"From Hollywood to the heartland, Americans are joining the fight against global aids and poverty," said Jamie Drummond, executive director of DATA. "'One in the Spirit' will play a critical role in rallying even more Americans to lend their voices."

Every day, 8,000 people die and another 13,000 contract the HIV virus, nearly 1,800 of who are children. In poor countries, there are approximately 6 million AIDS patients in need of lifesaving medicines but only 700,000 currently have access. More than a billion people – including half the population of Sub-Saharan Africa – live on less than $1 a day.

"When President Bush launched the Millennium Challenge to help the world's poorest help themselves, he declared 'There are no second class citizens in the human race,'" said Jars of Clay lead singer Dan Haseltine. "God has charged us all with ensuring dignity for his or her neighbor. I hope all of our listeners – and all Americans – will join with The ONE Campaign to make that dignity a reality for every person on earth."

"ONE in the Spirit" features: Michael W. Smith, TobyMac, Michael Tait, Charlie Peacock, Steve Taylor, Margaret Becker, Kirk Whalum, Natalie Grant, Jars of Clay, Andrea and Danielle Kimmey of Out of Eden, Third Day's Mark Lee and Peter Furler of the Newsboys.

For more information on The ONE Campaign, please go to: www.theonecampaign.org.