FAMILY OF PREACHERS OPENS PROGRESSIVE CHURCH IN THE BIBLE BELT ON NEW TLC SERIES "PREACHING ALABAMA"

-- Six-Part Series Premieres Tuesday, October 7 at 10PM ET/PT --

(Los Angeles, Ca.) - Preach. Pray. Love for all. That's what the Speegle family advocates in their new TLC series starting this October. A family of unconventional preachers, the Speegles are leaving their life in Florida behind to open a brand new church in their hometown of Madison, Alabama, with a very ambitious goal in mind: spread love and acceptance no matter your background. Welcoming any and all members of society - even those that many churches have traditionally turned away - this family is determined to create an open-hearted non-denominational Christian church in the thick of the Bible Belt. The all-new six-part series PREACHING ALABAMA premieres Tuesday, October 7 at 10PM ET/PT on TLC.

For over 20 years, Allen and Janice Speegle have called central Florida home. The pair successfully turned a tiny worship church into a thriving community presence. As heads of the Speegle family and lead pastors of their church in Florida, Allen and Janice have always taught openness and understanding. Now ready to retire, Allen and Janice are passing the ministry reins over to the next generation of Speegles so they can spread the word of God and love to a new community in Northern Alabama. Eldest daughter Jill and her husband Rod will be taking over the new church as lead pastors. And youngest daughter Lori will be taking the lead as music minister and youth pastor along with her husband Seth. But with some family members sporting piercings and tattoos, these aren't your everyday preachers.

The Speegles' new place of worship is called Movement Church. They are eager to start a movement in Northern Alabama, where a message of unconditional love and tolerance will take hold. And on top of their alternative beliefs, they also face the challenge of making themselves known in a community already saturated with churches on every corner. Meanwhile, Allen and Janice have trouble letting go of control and finding their new roles as daughter Jill takes on the huge feat - and stress - of leading the new church. Daughter Lori must also learn to step up in her new leadership position as she starts answering to her sister rather than her dad. And the family faces major financial difficulties to keep the church open while Jill and Rod's 10-year-old daughter Abi struggles with the transition and her new life in Alabama.

But with all the challenges that lie ahead, the Speegles are ready to face them head-on. They are confident that they can establish a spiritual home for those individuals in need of one. Called to serve God and others, this fun-loving family is ready to inject a lot of faith and freethinking into Northern Alabama.

About TLC

Offering remarkably relatable real-life stories without judgment, the network celebrates the reality that "everyone needs a little TLC." TLC's hit series share everyday heart, humor, hope, and human connection with programming genres that include fascinating families, heartwarming transformations, and life's milestone moments such as wedding-themed programs anchored by Say Yes to the Dress. In the first half of 2014, TLC had 25 series averaging 1 million P2+ viewers or more, including seven series that averaged 2 million P2+ viewers or more: The Little Couple, 19 Kids and Counting, Return to Amish, Sister Wives, Long Island Medium, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, and 90 Day Fiancé.

TLC is a global brand available in more than 95 million homes in the US and 358 million households in 185 markets internationally. A destination online, TLC.com offers in-depth fan sites, exclusive video content, and original editorial. Fans can also interact with TLC through social media on Facebook, Instagram, and @TLC on Twitter as well as On Demand services and mobile platforms. TLC is part of Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA,DISCB, DISCK), the world's #1 pay-TV programmer reaching more than 2.7 billion cumulative subscribers in 224 countries and territories.