Inspired by a true story, the movie--rated PG for thematic material--is about 8-year-old brain-cancer patient Tyler (Tanner McGuire of House, M.D.; Lost), whose prayers take the form of letters to God, which he composes and mails daily.

Following the grass-roots efforts by the makers of Fireproof and To Save a Life, the movie's promoters recently traveled nationwide to rally support from local church leaders for the film.

"First we show it to churches, pastors, for free," Nixon told the Orlando Sentinel, noting the way Mel Gibson got Christians talking up The Passion of The Christ before it was released in 2004. "Hollywood doesn't want to give away the movie like that. But I've shown it to over 4,000 people already, and we're not selling tickets yet."

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

Filmed in Winter Garden, Fla., last summer, the faith-based movie was made with volunteers from area churches pitching in as crew. Nixon told the Sentinel that box-office success will not be the lone measure for the film, which had a budget of $3.5 million.

"We always say, 'The most important part of the movie is the 20-minute ride home,' when people discuss it," Nixon said. "That's a hard thing to measure. We know that with Fireproof people were engaged, talked about the movie on the Internet. That's what we want to do with Letters to God."

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