Three-time GRAMMY nominee and Gospel Music Association "Artist" and "Group" of the year Third Day is partnering with Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) in an effort to raise money for the non-profit ecumenical Christian housing ministry. A portion of every ticket sold during Third Day's upcoming "Come Together Tour" will go toward a special Third Day/Habitat fund; the money raised will build eight homes worldwide during 2002. Third Day has committed to building three of these homes in cities across the United States, including Nashville, Tenn., West Palm Beach, Fla., and their hometown of Atlanta, Ga.

Through its partnership with HFHI, the band hopes to encourage its fans to become socially aware of the many people who need shelter worldwide and to provide an opportunity for them to help through volunteer efforts. Third Day will be actively involved in recruiting volunteers for each of the construction sites and helping with some of the building themselves. Earlier this year, the band even challenged its own record label staff to come out and participate in the future construction of the Nashville home, an appeal for help that has already been eagerly accepted.

Third Day member Tai Anderson explains the band's desire to help, saying, "We have an amazing view from stage. At every show, in every city, we see God's diverse people united in worship to the Lord. These experiences have made a significant impact on how we view our role within the body of Christ. We hope to use this platform to challenge God's people to extend the unity of worship experienced at our concerts to a unity of worship expressed through service to the world around us."

Habitat for Humanity (HFHI) was founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller, along with his wife Linda. The organization seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people from all walks of life to work together in partnership to help build houses with families in need. Habitat has built more than 120,000 houses around the world, providing some 600,000 people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. Habitat is at work in 83 countries worldwide.

Millard Fullard, who now serves as president of HFHI in addition to being its founder, expresses great excitement about the partnership, which will help continue the organization's important work. "Third Day is committing their time, talent and resources-you can't ask for much more than that," he explains. "They truly are putting their faith into action and demonstrating their tremendous commitment to Habitat by building side by side with future homeowners, as well as agreeing to fully fund eight houses."

Third Day will launch the "Come Together Tour" in mid-February and 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. Throughout the duration of the tour, Third Day will coordinate efforts with local HFHI affiliates.

Its first major tour in almost a year, Third Day begins the highly anticipated headline tour following its critically acclaimed and fastest selling recording to date, Come Together. This groundbreaking and fifth studio project for the band released in November and immediately shot to No. 1 on the SoundScan compiled Top Christian Albums chart and to No. 31 on the Billboard Top 200. Selling an unprecedented 56,000 units in its first week at retail, the album continues to retain its momentum as evidenced by its seventh week sales of more than 54,000 units. The project has already sold more than 300,000 units and is on the brink of earning the second consecutive RIAA Gold certification for Third Day.

For the first time in Third Day's soaring history, Come Together also garnered the band the No. 1 position simultaneously on three major radio formats (The CCM Update, R&R). The debut singles from the recording, "Show Me Your Glory" and "Come Together," jointly captured No. 1 on the Rock, CHR and Adult Contemporary charts marking an incredible 17 career No. 1 songs for the band. The feat also marks the only time in R&R's chart history for an artist to be No. 1 simultaneously on every Christian chart.

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.