The spiritual lessons behind the remarkable story of the low-budget church movie that took Hollywood by surprise are to be shared in a new book from CLC Publications.

The revivalist publisher is to release Michael Catt's Prepare for Rain in November, at the same time that Thomas Nelson brings out the novelization of Facing the Giants, the unexpected hit football movie made by members of Catt's Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga.

Made on a shoestring budget with church volunteers, Facing the Giants was picked up for theatrical release by Sony Pictures and made more than $10 million at the box office. It has since been released on DVD and has sold strongly at Christian retail stores. More than 3,000 people are reported to have come to Christ through watching the movie.

Catt and cast members visited the International Christian Retail Show this week to promote the new book, where T-shirts bearing the CLC book's title, Prepare for Rain, were handed out.

The behind-the-scenes story is "amazing," said CLC sales manager Jim Pitman. Catt tells how the church broke free from traditions that were holding it back, developing a dynamic prayer ministry and embracing the vision that God could touch the world from their small community.

The title of the book is taken from a key scene in the film in which a veteran football coach challenges a younger man to take steps in faith believing that God will answer his prayers. Pitman said that he believed that the nonfiction book would particularly appeal to pastors "because it's got a tremendous message for them about don't be satisfied with the status quo in your church. God doesn't just want you to maintain, He wants you to be on fire."

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