Faith-based movies are making waves in theaters and bringing hopes of a high tide for Christian retailers.

Ancillary product tie-ins and DVD sales present opportunities for stores to benefit from the strongest mainstream media buzz about Christianity on screen since Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ in 2004.

Among the titles is The Blind Side--starring Sandra Bullock, who won the Best Actress Oscar for the film last night--based on the true story of an unabashedly Christian white family's adoption of homeless African-American teen who becomes a football star.

Family Christian Stores (FCS) is offering a pre-buy special for the March 23 DVD release of The Blind Side, with the chain announcing that it will give a portion of proceeds from sales to provide tuition assistance for Christian education to foster children.

Meanwhile, thanks to grass-roots support from Christians--similar to that which helped Fireproof make a strong debut in theaters--teen-oriented movie To Save a Life prompted numerous news reports when it premiered in January.

Released in the same month was Preacher's Kid, which stars former Destiny's Child member LeToya Luckett. Made by Gener8Xion Entertainment, affiliated with Trinity Broadcasting Network and the company responsible for The Omega Code and One Night With the King, the film--billed as a modern-day version of the prodigal son story--debuted in 100-plus theaters in 33 cities nationwide.

Meanwhile, Letters to God--directed by David Nixon, one of the producers of Facing the Giants and Fireproof--is scheduled to hit 750 theaters nationwide April 9. Inspired by a true story, the movie is about 8-year-old brain cancer patient Tyler, whose prayers take the form of letters to God, which he composes and mails daily.

Related products include the Hope Is Contagious boxed cards from DaySpring and "God's Got My Back" tees, hoodies and water bottles from Hope Apparel. Zondervan released last month Letters to God: A Novel by the movie's co-director Patrick Doughtie along with John Perry; the Letters to God Bible from Robert Wolgemuth, general editor; a picture book; and journal.

Filming recently began in Hawaii on the inspirational life story of teen surfer Bethany Hamilton, a Christian who, at age 13, had her left arm bitten off by a tiger shark in October 2003. Based on Hamilton's Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board (MTV Books), which was sold in some Christian bookstores, the film, also called Soul Surfer, currently does not have a release date.

Read the full report in the April issue of Christian Retailing.