World Vision and AEG Live announce the “Make A Difference Tour 2010” featuring New York Times best-selling author Max Lucado and some of the top names in the Christian music industry—GRAMMY® award-winning recording artists TobyMac, Michael W. Smith and Third Day. Inspired by the themes of Lucado’s forthcoming book, Outlive Your Life: You Were Made to Make a Difference (Thomas Nelson, September 2010), the “Make A Difference Tour 2010” will kick off Sept. 30, in Youngstown, Ohio, and hit arenas in 20 cities through the end of October. 

AEG Live, a leading provider of live entertainment around the world, is producer for the “Make A Difference Tour 2010” and World Vision, an international humanitarian agency, is the tour sponsor. The tour has also partnered with HearItFirst.com, a leading online destination for Christian music fans, for exclusive video content, tour news and more.

The “Make A Difference Tour 2010” will make a difference for children by helping to raise up sponsors for 25,000 children through World Vision. Lucado set the goal last year in honor of his 25th year of publishing in 2010; he is donating 100% of author royalties from all Outlive Your Life products to benefit children and families through World Vision and other ministries of faith-based compassion.

Lucado sees big things happening because of the tour: “Partnering with World Vision, TobyMac, Michael and Third Day is a real privilege and pleasure. None of us can help everyone, but all of us can help someone. And when we serve the poor, we serve God.  Who would want to miss a chance to do that?”

“The ‘Make A Difference Tour 2010’ is different by design,” says Jenny Lockwald, Channel/Product Executive Director for World Vision. “The focus of the tour is to encourage people to look beyond themselves, to turn outward and to make a difference on behalf of friends, neighbors, their community and the world. We are honored to be partnering in this endeavor with Max Lucado and this amazing group of artists.”

“This marks a first for these four artists to tour together,” says Steve Moore, Senior Vice President, AEG Live / MEG. “Max, Michael, Toby and the men of Third Day all agree this message is the perfect rallying point, and that making a difference for others is a lifelong commitment they all share.”

The “Make A Difference Tour 2010” will visit 20 U.S. cities during October, including:

09-30        Youngstown, OH Covelli Center
10-01 Corbin, KY Southeastern Kentucky Expo Center
10-02 Alpharetta, GA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
10-03 Cape Girardeau, MO Show Me Center
10-07 Austin, TX The Theatre at the Frank Erwin Center
10-08 Beaumont, TX Ford Park Arena
10-09 Lafayette, LA Cajundome
10-10 Columbus, GA Columbus Civic Center
10-14 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion
10-15 Bakersfield, CA Rabobank Arena
10-16 Ontario, CA  Citizens Business Bank Arena 
10-17  Glendale, AZ  Jobing.com Arena 
10-21  Colorado Springs, CO          World Arena 
10-22  Lubbock, TX United Spirit Arena 
10-23  Wichita Falls, TX  Kay Yeager Coliseum 
10-24  Topeka, KS  Kansas Expocentre 
10-27  Cedar Rapids, IA  US Cellular Center 
10-28  Green Bay, WI  Resch Center 
10-29  Dayton, OH  Nutter Center 
10-30  Fayetteville, NC  Crown Coliseum 

* All dates are subject to change without notice. 

Tickets will go on sale first to World Vision supporters and artist fan clubs on June 11, then open up to the general public on June 18.  Visit www.MakeADifferenceTour.com for tour updates. –www.christianmusicdaily.com 5/18/2010