FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LaschandraSpraggins, PR Director (901) 218-1628 (mobile) Spraggins.Laschandra@N2NewDirection.org Glenda Warren, PR Manager (901) 603-8444 (mobile) Warren.Glenda@N2NewDirection.org

NEW DIRECTION CHRISTIAN CHURCH RANKS AMONG AMERICAS 100 LARGEST CHURCHES AND 100 FASTEST GROWING CHURCHES IN 2011
Outreach magazine survey ranks New Direction as Tennessees Largest Church MEMPHIS, Tenn., September 12, 2011 Outreach magazine names its top 100 Largest Churches and 100 Fastest Growing Churches in America in its annual special edition. New Direction Christian Church, under the leadership of Dr. Stacy L. Spencer, ranks as Tennessees largest church and ranks as Tennessees second fastest growing church for 2011. Outreach magazine partnered with LifeWay Research to compile data from more than 25,000 churches in America. The listings are based on February and March weekend attendance averages (excluding Easter) and not membership. Featured churches run the gamut across denominations, ethnicities, locations and memberships. While among the 100 Largest Churches, New Direction ranks as No. 64, the more than 18,000member ministry ranks as the largest in the Disciples of Christ (Christian Church) denomination. The 2011 largest list includes churches with attendance greater than 5,994. Also representing the Memphisarea on the Largest Churches list is Hope Presbyterian Church, under the leadership of R. Craig Strickland, ranked as No. 69 and Bellevue Baptist Church, under leadership of Steve Gaines, ranked as No. 72. -MORE-

NEW DIRECTION MAKES OUTREACH LIST 2

Among the 100 Fastest Growing Churches in America, New Direction is the only Memphis-area church and the only Disciples of Christ church to make the list at No. 63. The 2011 Fastest-Growing list includes churches with attendance greater than 1,000, a numerical gain of 249 or more, and a percentage gain of at least 6.5 percent. Rankings for the Fastest-Growing Churches are determined by factoring both percentage growth and numerical gain. New Direction reported an 8.8 percent growth in attendance between 2010 and 2011 during the survey period. This is the third time New Direction has earned a position on the Fastest Growing list. While Im pleased with New Directions repeated inclusion in the surveys, it is more important for our ministry to offer tangible means for all people to discover God through life-changing experiences from the inside out, said Spencer. According to Outreach magazine findings, the churches on this years Outreach 100 lists (both Largest and Fastest-Growing) are pursuing many of the same growth strategies and values, and face many of the same challenges, including the push for more effective leadership development; expansion through worship locations at multiple sites; a focused and intentional small groups emphasis; and a passion to serve their local communities. This is an opportunity to see things that benefit churches of every size, shape and location, said Ed Stetzer, columnist, Outreach and president, LifeWay Research. The inclusion on Outreach 100 lists allows New Direction to learn from our peers and other cutting edge ministries, especially as we begin to launch more multi-sites in the future, said Spencer. New Direction has three Memphis-area campuses and has plans to launch more sites in the next 12-18 months. To learn more about New Direction Christian Church, visit N2NewDirection.org or call (901) 433-3871. -30-