VISTA, Calif., August 22, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ — “Soul Surfer,” the number one faith-based movie of the year, grossing more than $42 million at the box office, was recently released on DVD, and brings with it a wave of faith-building resources for consumers across America.
“Soul Surfer” is the faith-building, real-life story of teen surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again. The film features an all-star cast, including AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt, Carrie Underwood in her film debut and Dennis Quaid.
 In conjunction with the release, Outreach, Inc. has created dynamic materials for individuals of all ages to use to strengthen their faith and be encouraged to pursue God’s plan for their lives. “We think that both individuals and groups will be uplifted by the themes in ‘Soul Surfer’ and the study materials that go with it,” said Eric Abel, vice president of marketing for Outreach. “With such an inspiring message, there’s something in it for everyone.”
The “Soul Surfer” materials highlight the biblical themes of the movie, focusing on the importance of family, perseverance in challenging times and seeking God’s direction in life. “Soul Surfer: Catching God’s Wave for Your Life,” an inspirational non-fiction book based on the message of the “Soul Surfer” movie, is specifically tailored for teens and pre-teens. It will teach and challenge young people to seek God’s individual and unique plan for their lives.
The “Soul Surfer DVD-based Study” is great for individuals, families or small groups. It features the “Heart of a Soul Surfer” documentary DVD with exclusive footage of Bethany Hamilton, video clips for each week’s study, a study guide and a leader’s guide for parents or group leaders. The “Soul Surfer Study Guide,” written to be used with the DVD-based study, includes discussion questions, biblical insights, Bible verses and life applications.
In addition, the “Soul Surfer Church Kit” includes everything a group needs to plan and implement a campaign that shares the message of Soul Surfer with the local community. The kit includes: the “Heart of a Soul Surfer” documentary DVD, customizable messages, video clips, PowerPoint slides, small group studies for adults and teens to accompany the “Catching God’s Wave for Your Life” book and promotional tools. Churches or groups can also benefit from obtaining a movie event license and bulk DVD packages, allowing them to maximize the impact of this inspiring film.
“Soul Surfer has raised the bar for how films can be used in the faith community,” said Abel. “I can’t help but think of all the spiritual conversations that could be seeded by this film.”
Founded in 1996, Outreach, Inc. (www.outreach.com) has quickly grown to become the largest provider of church outreach products and services in the world. With a mission to share God’s love and empower the church to share the message of Jesus Christ, Outreach provides cost-effective, proven methods and resources in a variety of forms, including books, media and film, postcard invitations, banners, bulletin covers, curriculum, church campaign materials and more. Outreach is located in North San Diego County and employs more than 120 people.