VIDEO Meet the Speegle family of TLC’s Preaching Alabama and see their viral Family Feud clip

Following tonight’s episodes of 19 Kids and Counting, America will meet another family sharing God’s word — albeit in very different ways: TLC’s Preaching Alabama follows the “rowdy” Speegle family as they uproot from Florida and move back to the deep south to establish a nondenominational church in Madison.

“They feel a calling to spread love and acceptance, especially among people who feel unwelcome at more traditional churches,” TLC says of the family of pastors. “That’s why they’ve chosen a town in the heart of America’s Bible Belt for the site of an open-hearted, nondenominational Christian church.”

The tight-knit family consists of parents Allen and Janice Speegle and their adult children, Jill and Rod Windham and Lori and Seth Adgate. For more than 20 years, the whole group resided in Orlando, where Allen led a large congregation at Family Bible Church.

Why did the Speegles leave their Florida church?

Allen shocked worshippers in August 2013 when he announced he was leaving the church and moving back to his hometown in Alabama to concentrate on his nonprofit ministry, Safe Harbor International Network.

Allen and Janice Speegle. The pair recently celebrated their 39th anniversary.

“The only reason we’re doing this is because we feel instructed by God to do so,” he said when announcing the plans to the congregation, according to The Orlando Sentinel. “It’s God’s decision. To stay would be an injustice to this body of Christ.”

After the family left Florida in September 2014, Family Bible Church reinvented itself as Lake Haven. In Alabama, son-in-law Rod stepped into the role as lead pastor at the family’s new church, Movement.

What to expect from Preaching Alabama

Based on the preview, the family was very anxious about how their message would be received in the church-saturated community. Fortunately for them, four months after officially opening Movement’s doors, everything seems to be going well — even though there are occasionally tense moments.

“We have a strong, strong family,” Allen told Alabama.com in June. “We have our disagreements but at the end of the day, we’ll fight for each other. It’s an exciting journey at this point.”

Still, don’t expect to see the kinds of blowout fights that are prevalent on so many reality shows.

“There will be drama. Our family is like everybody’s else’s family. The difference is when we have heated discussions, we don’t assault each other,” Allen said. “We want to show people how to live out a positive message in their lives, how to face challenges and how to have conflict with your family. It’s OK to be heated, but don’t assault each other with words. Don’t cut down.”

He said that same philosophy is applied to the family’s ministries.

“Jesus didn’t reject people and we don’t, either… We want to show God in a different light without being preachy or over the top, and yet sticking to principles,” he explained. “Not every Christian is running around with a sign in their hand telling people they’re going to hell. We preach a very positive, non-condemning message and it really opens the door toward people who are unchurched or burned out on God and religion.”

How the Speegle family’s Family Feud appearance led to Preaching Alabama

The Speegle family had more experience than most with television, even before TLC came calling: A few years ago, the family appeared on two episodes of Family Feud. In the most unforgettable segment from one of the shows, they guessed the most popular places for a couple to have sex — leading Steve Harvey to declare, “I gotta go to this church!” The video now has close to one million views.

Fast-forward a couple of years: Allen said that four days after making the decision to move back to Alabama, the family was contacted by reality executives who knew them from Family Feud.

They shot a promo, which was pitched to four different production companies and ultimately decided to work with Ryan Seacrest Productions. From there, it seemed to be an easy sell to TLC, which ordered six one-hour episodes. That’s a big vote of confidence, considering the network usually tests of concept for ratings with a special before ordering a full season.

Allen said the process of filming has been enjoyable, if not occasionally exhausting. But, even if the show ended tomorrow, the family would continue to do the same things.

“With or without the TV show, the church was going to happen,” he said. “This is just an added thing to hopefully get the message out.”

Preaching Alabama premieres on TLC tonight at 10/9c.