The Inspiration Networks Breaks Ground on New World Missions Ministry Outreach and Partner's Center

    CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The Inspiration Networks today
 broke ground on the City of Light, the organization's new 93-acre world
 missions ministry outreach and partner's center in Lancaster County, South
 Carolina. The groundbreaking celebration was hosted by David Cerullo,
 Chairman and CEO. He announced that the first phase of the ten-year project
 is scheduled to be completed in late 2007 and the first two buildings
 encompassing approximately 160,000 square feet are scheduled to be occupied
 by January 2008.
     Special guests included the Honorable Mark Sanford, Governor of the
 State of South Carolina, as well as many government officials from South
 Carolina and Lancaster County. "We were honored that these distinguished
 leaders took time to attend our groundbreaking," Cerullo said. "We have
 been delighted by the support we have received from all of the government
 organizations in South Carolina. More than just jobs, this new facility
 will bring heightened visibility to the region. We will beam programs
 throughout the world from our new South Carolina home, and bring thousands
 of people every week to our headquarters."
     The groundbreaking also featured religious leaders Rex Humbard, Jerry
 Falwell, Rod Parsley, John Hagee, Benny Hinn, and Pat Robertson. "These men
 are Christian television pioneers, but they also are friends of our
 ministry. We wish we could have taken time to recognize by name all of the
 pastors and church leaders who attended, some coming from as far away as
 London, England," said Cerullo. "Their presence symbolizes the fact that
 our ministry is a partnership. We work with many great ministries from
 throughout the United States and the world. We were honored by their
 presence with us."
     Music for the groundbreaking was provided by Keith Duncan, Alicia
 Williamson Garcia, John Starnes, the Christ Tabernacle Choir (from
 Brooklyn, New York), and Noel Robinson (from London, England).
     The Inspiration Networks announced plans to build the City of Light in
 January of 2006. The new facility will enable the organization to more
 efficiently and economically meet the growing demands of its cable
 television, new media, and ministry outreach efforts. Operations for The
 Inspiration Networks now are located in nine buildings throughout the
 greater Charlotte region, with production taking place in two separate
 buildings.
     Cerullo stated, "The City of Light is more than just about land and
 buildings. It is about ministry, outreach and mission. It is about being a
 part of causing the knowledge of the glory of God to cover the earth like
 the waters cover the sea on every continent, in every major language group
 and through every form of technology available."
     The City of Light will consolidate broadcast and ministry activities at
 one location. The organization currently employs 350 people. The City of
 Light is designed to accommodate up to 1,500 employees. The project
 culminates more than five years of research and planning.
     "Anytime a company headquarters chooses to locate in South Carolina
 it's obviously a great win for our state," said Governor Mark Sanford.
 "With 134,000 more people working in our state than there were four years
 ago, our administration remains committed to focusing on improving the soil
 conditions for businesses in order to keep creating jobs and raising income
 levels for our citizens."
     "Television and film projects have been a priority of Governor
 Sanford's administration to build our state's growing film and media
 infrastructure," said South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor. "The
 new Inspiration Networks' headquarters and facility will add to South
 Carolina's diverse mix of industries in one of our state's fastest-growing
 regions."
     When completed, the City of Light will include an International Prayer
 & Welcome Center, a WorldReach Headquarters, an International Ministry &
 Media Training Center, and an International Media & Production Center.
 Facilities also are planned to accommodate the organization's other
 specialized ministry outreaches. These include a Tea House for its women's
 ministry, a Youth Evangelism Center, a Children's Evangelism Center, and a
 state-of-the-art entertainment pavilion for concerts and events.
     The Inspiration Networks includes cable TV networks INSP-The
 Inspiration Network, La Familia Cosmovision (LFC), Inspirational Life
 Television (i- Lifetv), and INI-Inspiration Network International (INI).
 INSP is carried on more than 2,500 U.S. cable systems serving 22 million
 households. i-Lifetv is a digital inspirational lifestyles network launched
 in June 1998 that currently serves over 10 million subscribers. LFC is a
 digital network that features family-friendly programming for Hispanic
 families. INI is delivered direct to home, serving over 55+ million
 households in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Approximately 50
 percent of INI's schedule is original and exclusive programming with
 programs for children, teens and the international family. INI features a
 blend of U.S. and European ministry programmers. The Inspiration Networks
 also operates the premiere broadband portal for the inspirational market,
 "Inspiration.net," which features "Inspiration Now," a robust video player
 populated with an award-winning array of exclusive programs for teens,
 kids, and adults from The Inspiration Networks' linear networks, and other
 exclusive content. Inspiration.net features the only use of Brightcove's
 state-of-the-art broadband TV service for the inspirational market.
 Collectively, the ministries of The Inspiration Networks can be seen 24
 hours a day, seven days a week to a potential viewing audience of over one
 billion people world-wide.
     For more information: Kristina Hill
                           704.561.7866
                           khill@insp.com
 
 

SOURCE The Inspiration Networks