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, through her sheer determination and unwavering faith. The film features an all-star cast, including AnnaSophia Robb and Helen Hunt, with Carrie Underwood in her film debut, and Dennis Quaid. 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.
Bethany (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.
“The hidden story in all of this is the impact that Bethany’s youthworker, Sarah Hill (played by Carrie Underwood) had on Bethany after the shark attack, “ says Allen Weed, President of interlinc. “We all know how important a good youthworker can be in a student’s life.”
interlinc has developed the Soul Surfer “Behind The Scenes” Youthworker Guide that gives youth groups a wide array of materials to use the film as a part of their ministry. The materials include a 16-page Leader Guide with Bible studies, a planning Timeline, an exclusive interview with Sarah Hill (Bethany’s youthworker) and a Resource DVD with movie clips, the Sarah Hill interview, a Hamilton Family interview – along with a movie poster. These resources are available free to all full-time, part-time, and volunteer youthworkers (one per church) at http://soulsurfer.interlinc-online.com or by calling 800-725-3300.
