'AfricanAncestry.com Helps Black Clergy Deepen Member Bonds and Foster Healthy Identities through Genetic Ancestry Tracing'

Contact: Christina Crawford, 404-493-2391, ccrawford@taylorcommunicationsgroup.com 

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- African Ancestry, Inc. (AfricanAncestry.com), the pioneers of DNA-based ancestry tracing for people of African descent, is helping African-American churches discover who they are in the spiritual confines of their faith-based communities as part of its new African Ancestry Church Program. While delivering transformative programming that seamlessly integrates with church-based health initiatives, AfricanAncestry.com underscores its commitment to promote healthy identities among African Americans and positive, community-wide connections with Africa.

"This initiative makes it easy for faith communities to provide important cultural connections and attract new members through innovative programming," said Gina Paige of African Ancestry. "At its core, the program strengthens families, builds a stronger sense of community within the congregation and promotes overall wellness through the soul-satisfying transformation associated with knowing ones roots."

HOW IT WORKS:
By working directly alongside church leadership, the first-of-its-kind program takes participants through a progressively enlightened journey that leads to a life-enhancing crescendo that positively transform the way they see themselves, their families and their faith communities. The African Ancestry Church Program is easily adaptable to various church ministries and is typically woven into existing church activities over multiple days such as Anniversaries, Health projects, Women's/Men's Days, etc., but can also be implemented independently. The multi-part program includes:

1. Church Leadership Reveals: Ceremonial Ancestral Reveals of church pastor and their family members.
    
2. 'Where Are You From?' Workshop: Participants learn more about how to trace their roots using DNA.
    
3. 'The Journey Begins' Testing Day: Participants work with African Ancestry experts to do the easy, do-it-yourself swabbing with other worshippers.
    
4. 'Celebrate Your Roots' Fellowship Ceremony: Results are revealed in a fellowship ceremony at the church that connects participants with others that share their ancestries and learn more about how their new found enlightenment can be optimized in life and through their faith communities.

ROOTS RENEWAL:
Since its launch, the African Ancestry Church Program has continued to attract participants with overwhelming success and excitement. Families from churches across the country have participated, with many others scheduled for later this year. Pastor Delman Coates of Mt. Ennon Baptist Church in Maryland -- one of the program's inaugural churches and biggest supporters -- witnessed hundreds in his congregation discover their true African roots simultaneously during a one-day affair that will further frame their identities and bolster esteem for a lifetime.

"This initiative is truly a one-of-a-kind evangelistic tool that empowers Christians to connect their faith to their heritage," said Pastor Coates. "It's also non-denominational so all church families can benefit regardless of doctrinal differences and it’s redeeming for individuals and society."

Visit www.africanancestry.com/faith for more information and find out how your faith community can join the African Ancestry Church Program.

ABOUT AFRICAN ANCESTRY:
Founded in 2003, African Ancestry Inc. (AfricanAncestry.com) pioneered African lineage matching in the United States utilizing its proprietary DNA-database to more accurately assess present-day countries of origin for people of African descent. African Ancestry's reveals have impacted the lives of more than 100,000 African Americans including icons such as Oprah Winfrey, Isaiah Washington, Common, Condoleezza Rice, Cory Booker, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Jealous and Andrew Young. African Ancestry also marked an historic milestone by uncovering the ancestral roots of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Marcus Garvey posthumously using the DNA of their descendants. AfricanAncestry.com has been featured on CNN's Black in America series, NBC's Who Do You Think You Are?, Essence Magazine and the ground-breaking PBS special "African American Lives 1 & 2" with Henry Louis Gates. African Ancestry's products include the MatriClan™ and PatriClan™ test kits as well as Ancestry memorabilia and country-of-origin customized resources. African Ancestry is African-American-owned and headquartered in Washington, DC. Visit us at www.africanancestry.com and join us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/AfricanAncestry.

For general press inquiries, contact ccrawford@taylorcommunicationsgroup.com.