New GSN Christian Reality Show Plays Matchmaker with Church Singles – IT TAKES A CHURCH Hosted by Natalie Grant

GSN announced today that it has green-lit the new original series IT TAKES A CHURCH, with 2014 Grammy® Nominee and multi Dove Award winner Natalie Grant as host. In each one-hour episode of IT TAKES A CHURCH, members of a Christian congregation play matchmaker in a competition to help an unattached fellow parishioner find their match. The network has ordered eight episodes of the series, which is scheduled to debut in mid-2014.

“IT TAKES A CHURCH is truly a competition show with heart, in every sense of the word,” says Amy Introcaso-Davis, GSN’s EVP Programming. “With the breakout success of our original series ‘The American Bible Challenge,’ we have learned that audiences are clamoring to see people following their faith and creating positive change in the world—and if there’s a little romance involved, what could be better than that?”

“I’m so excited to host IT TAKES A CHURCH and have the opportunity to interact with churches all across America to bring a family friendly show based on Christian faith and values,” says Natalie Grant. “Church has been such an anchor and source of hope in my own life, and I look forward to showing the sense of community that can be found in the local church.”

Each week, IT TAKES A CHURCH visits a congregation from across the country to surprise one unsuspecting single with the news that they’re about to be saved from the dating world. The church’s Pastor will task their congregation of cupids to find the best possible matches for the dater. At the end of the matchmaking competition, the unattached parishioner will decide which suitor to put his or her faith in. The congregant who brought the chosen suitor will make a difference to their church by winning a donation on its behalf.

IT TAKES A CHURCH is produced by Authentic Entertainment for GSN, with Tom Rogan and Lauren Lexton (“Flipping Out,” “The Best Thing I Ever Ate”) serving as Executive Producers along with Richard Hall (“The Amazing Race”) of Great Blue Productions. Sean Kelly (“Minute to Win It”) is Consulting Producer.

Grant was nominated last week for two Grammy® Awards, in the categories Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance and Best Christian Music Song for the single Hurricane. A Christian vocalist and multiple Dove Award winner, Grant is a singer-songwriter currently residing in Nashville, TN. Grant’s work has gained international acclaim, including five GMA (Gospel Music Association) Dove Awards for Female Vocalist of the year. A mainstay on the Billboard Christian Songs chart with numerous #1 hits over the past decade, Grant has affirmed her status as one of gospel music’s most popular artists, enjoying out of the box success with the recent “Hurricane” #1 debut on the Christian and Gospel Billboard Albums charts (and #17 on the Billboard 200 chart). The infectious, double Grammy-nominated title track and single, Hurricane, quickly hit #1 on iTunes and added to the list of Grant’s chart- topping radio hits.

Grant will also be seen in a supporting role in the upcoming film, “Persecuted.” Produced by multiple Oscar®-winner Gray Frederickson (“The Godfather” Trilogy, “Apocalypse Now”), the independent thriller – set for release onMay 9th, 2014 – sees Grant co-starring alongside James Remar, Bruce Davison, and Fred Thompson.