Multiple GRAMMY-winning artist Michael W. Smith’s Healing Rain, his first pop-oriented studio project since 1999, debuted at No.1 this week on Nielsen SoundScan’s Top Christian Albums chart and Top Current Contemporary Christian chart, with a total of 54,520 units scanned. The highly-anticipated project also lands this week at No. 11 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart.

Smith’s first radio single from Healing Rain, the album’s title cut, rose quickly to the No. 1 position on the R&R Inspirational chart and is currently at No. 2 on the R&R AC Indicator chart and No. 3 on the R&R AC Monitored chart. On Oct. 26, the album’s release date, Smith spent nearly 10 hours conducting interviews with more than 30 reporting radio stations and nationally syndicated radio programs across the country. Smith was also found time during the album’s street week to hit the campaign trail for President George W. Bush, spending time with the President and performing at a campaign rally in Iowa.

Healing Rain’s impressive debut caps off a busy month for Smith, who recently hosted the “Healing Rain Seminar,” a Saturday morning life-enriching event that was simulcast to movie theaters in 30 major markets across the country on Oct. 23.  Sponsored by Integrity Publishers, the three-hour seminar featured some of today’s top Christian communicators including Max Lucado, Henry Cloud, John Townsend, Stephen Arterburn and Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. The seminar featured the brand new video for Smith’s new worship anthem, “Healing Rain.” Integrity Publishers has also released the 64-page, full-color gift book Healing Rain, based upon Smith’s song. The book retails for $14.99 and includes a bonus DVD of the song’s video and a special interview segment with Smith.

In addition to the “Healing Rain Seminar,” Smith has been busy starring in his first motion picture, The Second Chance. The independent feature film was written by industry veterans Steve Taylor and Ben Pearson, and is being directed by Taylor.

This month Smith will once again join best-selling author Max Lucado for two more days of “Come Thirsty: A Day of Refreshment and Worship.”  Following the success of the Sept. 11 “Come Thirsty” event in Wichita, Kan., Smith and Lucado will partner again Nov. 13, in Oklahoma City, Okla., and Nov. 20, in Kansas City, Mo., for two more all-day events filled with music, teaching and preaching.

For up-to-date information on Michael W. Smith, including tour itinerary, please visit www.michaelwsmith.com or www.reunionrecords.com.