A simple sermon illustration that became an Internet sensation long before the YouTube era, touching countless lives around the world, is being offered in enhanced format to mark its 10th anniversary.

Released last month, the special DVD and CD set of Father’s Love Letter (6-22306-01559-7, $18.99, Father Heart Communications), subtitled “An Intimate Message From God to You,” is a selection of paraphrased Bible verses in the form of a love letter.

Barry Adams first made the presentation to the Mennonite Brethren church he was pastoring in St. Catharines, Ontario, in January 1999. A Christian for 20 years, he had experienced a personal revelation of “God’s father heart” and wanted to share the way it had impacted him.

“It was a simple PowerPoint,” Adams recalled of the six-minute project, which presented the text superimposed over scenic photos taken by a member of the church. “I was really surprised at the response,” he added, realizing as time went by that “this might be a bit bigger than just our own church.”

Later in the year Adams posted it on the Internet and the project took on a life of its own. “It’s not like we were doing a whole lot to promote it, but by the end of the month, we had a panicked phone call from our Internet service provider wondering what we were doing, the demand was so much.”

As word-of-mouth referrals grew, the Web site was receiving up to 30,000 visitors a day. Adams stepped down from pastoral ministry to oversee the Web site and travel to share his message in person. He created a narrated version of the presentation, which has since been translated into more than 90 languages.

“We still average 5-6,000 views a day,” Adams said. “It just seems to have a longevity. I’m as surprised as anybody. I just feel that God’s love is something we all need to experience more of.”

The anniversary set brings together DVD and CD editions for the first time. It includes extended and revised editions of the narration, instrumental music and the behind-the-scenes story of the ministry.

Father’s Love Letter is distributed by Crown Entertainment. To order, call 615-472-1056.

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