A Holy Land artifact due to be given a church and broadcast ministry spotlight is expected to draw Christians' interest in a new range of materials celebrating the roots of their faith.

A series of megachurch events, TV coverage and a coming new attraction at the Trinity Broadcasting Network's The Holy Land Experience in Orlando, Fla., in the coming months will introduce The Jesus Boat.

That is the name given to the remains of a wooden fishing boat found in the Sea of Galilee that has been dated back to the time of Christ. Discovered in 1986 after a drought, the vessel has since been preserved and put on display at the Yigal Allon Museum in Israel.

The owners of the museum have partnered with Don Stillman, a Christian marketing executive, to found The Jesus Boat initiative to "stir the imagination" and "inspire the faith of people." The company has produced a documentary about the boat and a book written by Stillman's son, Christian. Christian retail distribution discussions are under way.

The story of The Jesus Boat project is to be presented at a series of large-scale live church events, and to smaller churches by satellite broadcasts, Stillman said. A piece of the original wood from the boat will also be on display as part of The Holy Land Experience feature, which will include a life-size replica of the 27-foot craft.

The book and documentary will be followed by other resources that will include small group materials and other products related to Israel and Christianity's Jewish roots, Stillman said. "There's a strong interest in this area among Christians, and we believe that the Jesus Boat can serve as a touch point," he said. "We hope that it might set off a spark in their spirit to delve deeper into the origins and tenets of their faith."

Stillman said that while the string of remarkable events surrounding the boat's survival and discovery had led some to believe it may have been one in which Jesus sailed, it was being presented as "an affirmation of faith, not an icon to be worshiped."

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