SOUL SURFER is the inspiring true story of teen surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again, inspiring millions worldwide through the love of her family, her sheer determination, and her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. The film features an all-star cast, including AnnaSophia Robb and Helen Hunt, with Carrie Underwood in her film debut, and Dennis Quaid.

Bethany (played by AnnaSophia Robb) was born to surf. A natural talent who took to the waves at a young age, she was leading an idyllic, sun-drenched, surfer girl’s life on the Kauai Coast, competing in national competitions with her best friend Alana (Lorraine Nicholson), when everything changed in a heartbeat. On Halloween morning, Bethany was on a typical ocean outing when a 14-foot tiger shark came out of nowhere and seemed to shatter all her dreams.

In the wake of this life-changing event that took her arm and nearly her life, Bethany’s feisty determination and steadfast faith spur her toward an adventurous comeback that gives her the grit to turn her loss into a gift for others.

SOUL SURFER reveals the moving aftermath of this headline-making story, as Bethany fights to recover and grapples with the future. Strengthened by the love of her parents, Tom (Dennis Quaid) and Cheri (Helen Hunt), she refuses to give in or give up, and begins a bold return to the water. Still, the questions keep hammering her: Why did this happen? Why did she have to lose everything? Will she ever feel the joy and power of riding the waves again? And if she can’t be a surfer, then who is she?

The devastating 2004 tsunami in the Pacific Ocean unexpectedly gives Bethany a new perspective. Traveling to Phuket, Thailand with her youth-group leader Sara Hill (Carrie Underwood), she witnesses life beyond her own shoreline and discovers her greater purpose-she can make a difference in the lives of others. Filled with a new sense of hope and direction, she returns home with a renewed resolve to conquer her own limitations and set an encouraging example for people facing adversity.

At the National Championships, Bethany bravely faces off with her fiercest rival, Malia Birch (Sonya Balmores), and takes her astonishing one-armed surfing technique to the limit. But as the horn blows, and the suspenseful competition kicks off, Bethany is no longer thinking about the challenges of her body. Now, her surfing, her biggest dreams and her life have become about pushing her own physical limits to touch the souls of others.

Directed by Sean McNamara, the screenplay was by McNamara, Deborah Schwartz. Douglas Schwartz and Michael Berk. SOUL SURFER is based on the book by Bethany Hamilton, Sheryl Berk and Rick Bundschuh. The screen story by Sean McNamara, Deborah Schwartz, Douglas Schwartz, Michael Berk, Matt R. Allen, Caleb Wilson and Brad Gann.

For more information, visit SoulSurferTheMovie.com.

Since 1913, Lake Junaluska has been home to thousands of events and Christian worship experiences. As a Christian Retreat Center, we continue to live our heritage as a place for learning, spirituality and enrichment. Over 150,000 people share in learning and spiritual formation at Lake Junaluska each year. Events for all ages focus on discipleship, leadership, worship, growing vital congregations, creativity and the human spirit, and clergy renewal. Guest leaders, speakers and preachers include renowned leaders from the US and around the globe. We invite you to experience the joy of learning, spirituality and personal enrichment at Lake Junaluska.

Are you looking for renewal? We do all the work, so all you have to do is rest and enjoy the blessed sights. Sleep late. Walk around the lake. Read a book while you sit comfortably on a rocking chair. You are at Lake Junaluska, a haven for all who need some relaxing, peaceful time. With over 400 lodging rooms, we can easily accommodate groups of all sizes and budgets. Lake Junaluska Lodging facilities are unique inside and out. From the historic columns of Lambuth Inn to the spectacular views from the Terrace dining room, our lodging will make your visit exceptional and memorable.

Spiritual Enrichment and Leadership for congregations and individuals have always been hallmarks of the Lake Junaluska experience. We offer a variety of events designed for you. Discover many opportunities offered throughout the year at Lake Junaluska. Whether you want to enjoy a tradition or emerge worship service, Lake Junaluska offers the opportunity to participate in Arts and Worship events and also to learn about them.

Exploritas is the world’s largest not-for-profit educational travel organization for older adults. Participants must be age 55 or older or have a traveling companion of eligible age. Lake Junaluska hosts many Exploritas year round. Click here for exciting Exploritas opportunities.

Lake Junaluska recognizes the value of Clergy Leadership in The United Methodist Church. Whether you want to enrich your ministry in a small, medium or large sized church, we have the perfect event for you. Our new Learning and Leadership Partnership with The Alban Institute will expand our leadership seminar events at Lake Junaluska.

Youth and Young Adult discipleship is of the great importance in the life of the church. Lake Junaluska offers a wide variety of Youth and Young Adult spiritual events and camps. Events range from United Methodist Confirmation retreats to SURGE Summer Youth Events . Come with your youth group for a Christian youth ski package packed with worship, fellowship and skiing. Our programs include relevant contemporary spiritual messages and an awesome Christian music concert. Youth Ski Packages include skiing at Cataloochee or Wolf Ridge ski areas. We make your weekend simple. Our youth ski packages include lodging, meals, skiing and program. We do the planning - you enjoy the experience!

For more events and opportunities, please visit at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center at www.lakejunaluska.com.

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is the nation’s largest natural-habitat refuge specifically developed to provide a haven for endangered African and Asian elephants. It is a non-profit organization, licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. As the only sanctuary in America to offer the setting, climate, and native vegetation that parallels habitat in the elephants’ native lands, we provide sanctuary for captive elephants that are old, sick or needy. Our primary objective is to provide a spacious and rich environment in which elephants can freely exercise their sensitive, intense socially gregarious, complex, and remarkably intelligent natures. We believe that all elephants should be treated with respect and minimal intrusion. Utilizing more than 2700 acres, The Elephant Sanctuary provides three separate and protected multi-hundred acre natural habitat environments for Asian and African elephants. Phil Snyder, regional director emeritus of the Humane Society of the United States has stated, “The Elephant Sanctuary represents the future of enlightened captive elephant management.”

Education is the other key component of the Sanctuary’s on-going mission. Since its inception, the Sanctuary’s outreach program has taught thousands of school children around the country a respect for wildlife while learning about the endangered Asian and African elephant. The Sanctuary teleconferences live with schools, libraries and community centers across the nation. We enter the classroom or conference room for interactive education that inspires both the students and our caregivers alike. The Sanctuary also has 2 cameras in one of the habitats, which provide live streaming video for millions of viewers without disturbing a single moment of the elephants’ lives. The opening of the downtown Education Center and our Distance Learning program will allow the Sanctuary to broaden our education program even further.

For more information, visit The Elephant Sanctuary at www.elephants.com.

With over 75 years as the leader in family photography, you know you can trust Olan Mills. Our certified photographers are great with kids.

You’ll find a broad range of backgrounds, props and poses. We have distinctive choices for individual and larger group portraits, including full length, horizontal, oval and canvas. Olan Mills portraits are printed with a protective coating on Kodak quality paper. You get superior quality, great service and satisfaction guaranteed by the Olan Mills signature you’ll find on every portrait.

Go online to find the studio near you at olanmills.com or call 1-800-523-9943.

Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) began when several veterans and friends, moved by stories of the first wounded service members returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq, took action to help others in need. What started as a program to provide comfort items to wounded service members has grown into a complete rehabilitative effort to assist warriors as they recover and transition back to civilian life. Thousands of wounded warriors and caregivers receive support each year through WWP programs designed to nurture the mind and body, and encourage economic empowerment. WWP’s vision is to foster the most successful and well-adjusted generation of wounded warriors in our nation’s history.

WWP is a national, non-partisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. To get involved and learn more, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

CaringBridge is a charitable nonprofit organization providing free websites that connect family and friends to share information, love and support during a serious health event, care and recovery.

Its mission is to bring together a global community of care, powered by the love of family and friends, in an easy, accessible and private way.

CaringBridge saves time and energy by centralizing communication and easing the burden of updating everyone during a health event.

Each CaringBridge website is unique - authors select their website design and add journal entries and photos to share their story while visitors leave messages in the guestbook, creating a network of support for the patient.

Click here to create a free CaringBridge website.

For more information, please visit www.CaringBridge.org.

The USA.gov web site provides direct online access to federal, state, local, and tribal government web resources and services, and includes a comprehensive, simple A-Z index with links to government agencies.

As the catalyst for a growing electronic government, USA.gov helps citizens navigate through government red tape. At USA.gov, you can apply for benefits online, contact a government agency, or use the Internet’s most comprehensive search of government websites — all from one easy location.

The site includes links to government blogs and contact directories, offers a live chat service and mobile phone access, and and links to thousands of online government resources.

For more information, visit “United States Government” at www.usa.gov.

Picturesque natural beauty surrounds abundant recreational activities, including 72 holes of golf; a 30-tee driving range; 10 Har-Tru tennis courts; a 30-acre zoo with 1½ mile train ride, model train display, and hands-on Discovery Lab; 16-acre gardens; a planetarium featuring multimedia and laser shows; museums and environmental center with butterfly gardens; specialty shops; swimming, fishing, pedal boating, mini golf, skiing and snowboarding, horseback riding, exercise trails, and seasonal camps for children as well as seasonal events for all ages.

For more information, visit “Oglebay Resort and Conference Center” at www.oglebay-resort.com.

The instructors are USHGA certified and teach hang gliding seven days a week. The training hill facility includes a 65 foot Small Hill and a 95 foot Big Hill on 35 acres of pasture. The Hills are located just 10 minutes away from our valley Landing Zone and Mountain Launch on Lookout Mountain.

The Park is located in northwest Georgia just south of Chattanooga, Tennessee on a 44-acre retreat with camping and lodging conveniently located beside our landing zone. Other amenities include a swimming pool, volleyball court, clubhouse, bathhouse, bunkhouse, cabins and shaded pavilions.

For more information, visit “Lookout Mountain Flight Park” at www.hangglide.com.