New Reality TV Show Features Church That Preaches Inclusion

Preach. Pray. Love for all. That’s what the Speegle family advocates in their new TLC series starting this month.

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, nondenominational Christian church in the thick of the Bible Belt. The all-new six-part series, Preaching Alabama, premieres Tuesday at10 p.m. 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. 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 free thinking into northern Alabama.