Fishing where there are fish. The Wrap reports that Fox and Walden Media are reaching out directly to Christian audiences to promote Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the third film based on The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis’ epic fantasy saga steeped in Christian theological symbolism, coming to theaters this weekend.

“What Fox has done is really take the Christian community seriously and make stong overtures to this group,” says Philip Cooke, a media consultant focused on the Christian market, “Disney let that community wander away.” 

Fox and Walden have been reaching out to faith-based communities directly or through third-party consultants. With the help of Christian consulting group Grace Hill Media, the studio launched several websites with taped messages from religious leaders such as Franklin Graham and articles about the movie’s theological underpinnings.

Visitors to the sites can scroll down through a list of topics such as “Talking to Your Kids About Aslan.” There are even outlines for sermons that draw on the film’s story and characters’ spiritual growth to explore biblical themes. Walden had launched a similar site for “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” but jettisoned online faith outreach for “Prince Caspian.”

For instance, if you go to NarniaFaith.com you’ll find messages, sermon outlines and study guides on how the Narnian saga can be utilized to illustrate in an entertaining way the positive messages of the Gospel.  Those offering thoughts and insights include Fuller Theological Seminary President Richard Mouw and noted evangelists and scholars such as Luis Palau, Grayson Carter, Jim Burgen, Paul Sartarelli, and Franklin Graham.

If you go to OperationNarnia.org, you’ll be greeted by Georgia Henley, one of the young performers in the film, talking about how 20th Century Fox and Walden Media are partnering with Samaritan’s Purse to promote Operation Christmas Child which is aimed at making Christmas a bit brighter for impoverished children around the world.  It’s an excellent example of putting faith into action.

Voyage of the Dawn Treader is a positive example of putting Christian principles  into practice to influence entertainment (and, as a hopeful result, the culture). It’s not enough to simply complain about negative values in the media. Positive alternatives must be offered. The makers of the Narnia deserve a lot of credit for doing so.  But, ultimately, its up to the audience to support those alternatives. 

Voyage of the Dawn Treader opens wide this Friday (Dec. 10).