MELISSA, TX - July 18, 2011 - On Sunday, July 17, the members of First Melissa learned about the newest expansion of its ministries as Senior Pastor Trey Graham announced the upcoming opening of the church's newest campus in Princeton, TX. Beginning August 7, First Melissa will offer three worship services each Sunday morning on its current campus in Melissa and one worship service each Sunday evening on its new campus in Princeton.

After months of prayer and planning, the members of Fellowship Princeton have decided to end their independent ministry operations and officially become a part of First Baptist Church Melissa. This eight-year old congregation currently meets for worship at 691 E. Princeton Drive, better known as Hwy 380, and will have their last independent service on Sunday, July 31. The congregation will be known as First Melissa's Princeton Campus and will offer weekly worship services on Sundays at 6:00 pm. Ministries led by Trey Graham, Kevin Barham, and the rest of the First Melissa church staff will begin on August 7 with a huge Grand Opening service planned for 6:00 pm on Sunday, August 21.

Pastor Trey Graham, who will serve as the senior pastor of both campuses, explained this exciting change during his Sunday morning messages on July 17. Graham told the church members gathered in Melissa, "We have had similar conversations with other local churches in the past few years, but we have never felt God's leadership to move forward in this type of church expansion until now. I am completely convinced that God is leading us now to expand our ministry and begin a new campus of First Melissa in Princeton. We are doing this with one goal in mind: to help make more disciples of Jesus Christ in Melissa, Princeton, and beyond."

Having church members living in multiple cities will be nothing new for First Melissa. Pastor Graham explained that 60% of the congregants who worship each week in Melissa now live outside that city, with 40% being Melissa residents. With church attendees living in Melissa, Anna, Van Alstyne, Sherman, Blue Ridge, Trenton, Leonard, Allen, Frisco, Celina, Denison, Lucas, Fairview, McKinney, Howe, Tom Bean, and other North Texas cities, a ministry expansion to the Princeton/Farmersville area is a logical move for this ever-expanding congregation.

First Melissa's church leaders expect to reach a large number of people in the Princeton and Farmersville areas, attracting new congregants with innovative community ministries and by inviting people who currently listen to the radio programs "Faith Walk with Trey Graham" (heard Monday-Friday at 10:00 am on The Word 100.7 FM) and "Smart Talk with Trey Graham" (heard Sundays at 4:00 pm on The Word 100.7 FM).

Contact:
To find out more about First Melissa's ministry expansion, contact Pastor Trey Graham or Lisa Williams at lwilliams@firstmelissa.com or 972.838.2277.

The website for both congregations will be www.firstmelissa.com

Weekly worship service schedule beginning August 7:

Melissa Campus
(2101 E. Melissa Road, Melissa TX 75454)
Sundays at 9:00, 10:15, 11:30 am
Wednesdays at 6:30 pm

Princeton Campus
(691 E. Princeton Drive, Princeton TX 75407)
Sundays at 6:00 pm