Pre-buy specials lead the way, with inspirational drama Letters to God featured by LifeWay Christian Stores and Parable member-stores.

Parable shoppers are offered the Aug. 10 release DVD, based on a true-life story and the subject of several ancillary titles, for $19.97 in advance, down from $24.95. LifeWay prices the movie at $14.99 and includes a free LifeWay arm band, bearing John 3:16, in the pre-purchase.

Family Christian Stores switches the buy-before focus to books, offering Drew Brees' Coming Back Stronger (available July 16) for $21.59 instead of $26.99. Tony Dungy's The Mentor Leader, due out Aug. 3, is marked down from $24.99 to $18.74.

Parable presents its Letters special along with a saving of $2 on Newsboys' July 13 release, Born Again. The pre-buy price is $7.99, with a free, five-song digital sampler thrown in. The stores also offer a download of a chapter from Josh McDowell's new novel, The Witness, which is priced at $11.97, down from $14.99.

The Parable email also includes an online-only coupon for $10 off a $40-plus purchase, through Saturday.

LifeWay's One Big Summer sale promotion spotlights the chain's Summer Reading Race for children. Participants get a punch card which offers a free reward for every five books purchased and qualifies them for 15% off all regularly priced kids' titles through August.

A separate LifeWay emailing focuses on $5 deals. Among the musical titles available are Brandon Heath's What If and Diamond Rio's The Reason. DVDs include Second Chances and Mandie & The Secret Tunnel.

Mardel Christian & Education spotlights the Butterfly Wishes Collection of frames, candle holders, crosses and plaques all reduced to $7.99. Basic: Fear God, the first title in the new DVD series from author Francis Chan, is reduced from $14.99 to $10.99. Sale music at $9.99 includes Blink by Revive and Take Everything by Seventh Day Slumber.

CLC Christian Bookstores' Deal of the Week is The American Patriot's Bible from Thomas Nelson, half-priced at $29.99. The chain cuts Basic: Fear God to $13.19 and offers 60% off bestsellers including Deanne Gist's Beguiled and Steven James' The Pawn.