God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness

Sometimes all it takes is a spark.

Something very small.

But the spark becomes a flame.

And if that flame spreads,

the power can be so overwhelming

it transforms everything around it.

We begin with breaking news from

- Hope Springs, Arkansas... - People are up

in arms, speaking out against what they believe...

...only religious leader who refused to abide...

David Hill, you're under arrest.

Contempt of court.

You failed to produce your sermons upon court order.

Please put your hands behind your back.

...who feel the state is overstepping its bounds.

A subpoena of sermons is needless

- and unprecedented. - This is a witch hunt

to silence religion...

We're seeing more

and more protests around the city

since local pastor, David Hill,

was arrested for contempt of court.

Hill refused to abide by a controversial

government mandate to turn over transcripts

of his sermons to city officials.

And right now a contentious and heated

free-speech debate is threatening to boil over

while the pastor sits in jail waiting for a ruling.

Let's go.

Appreciate it.

- Hey. - Jude.

You want to get some waffles?

Of course I want to get some waffles.

Free Reverend Dave! Free Reverend Dave!

Free Reverend Dave!

Reverend, what do you have to say

about being released today?

I am grateful to the court that they recognize

that this mandate was unconstitutional.

I think this is more of a human rights issue.

It's about our right to seek truth

and to share that truth with others.

But considering your church

is associated with a public university,

how do you define "truth" exactly?

Truth is a person.

The person of Jesus Christ.

It's the one truth

- above all others. - What do you have to say

to the people here who are calling...

Jesus Christ is the one truth? Really?

This guy just can't help himself, can he?

This guy is a pastor who was jailed for his beliefs.

What if it was a Jewish rabbi that said there was one truth?

- Or a Muslim imam? - They have that right.

- Freedom of worship. - In places of worship.

But Hadleigh is a state university.

See, and that's the question, y'all.

What's a church doing on a state campus

- in the first place? - We're seeing more and more

- protests around the city. - Students are actually calling

for the removal of Saint James

from Hadleigh campus altogether.

As the battle rages on in Hope Springs...

A historic landmark that has

served this community for over a century.

And now they want the church gone.

This is what our country has come to.

You gonna ask her out or what?

Excuse me?

We drive all the way out here every week,

drop off all this food.

Why don't you finally ask the girl out?

She feeds homeless people, Jude.

That's why we donate the food.

Yes, but she obviously likes you.

No way.

What's a six-letter word for "clueless"?

Fine.

You're still working on that thing?

I'm much faster when it's in Swahili.

Fair enough.

This tab's already been paid.

You guys enjoy.

- Hey, convict. - Hey.

Just can't stay out of the news

these days, can you?

Yeah, I've never had so many people care what I think.

Well, I'm on your side. You know that.

Busy today, huh?

Busy's good.

The more people we feed, the better.

Hey, thank your congregation for all this.

Couldn't do it without y'all.

- I'll see you next Saturday. - Hold up.

From last night.

Pork chops turned out great.

Thanks.

Told you.

Who asked you?

Wonder what my father would think.

When he was a pastor, he'd leave these doors open

day and night... didn't matter.

Now we hire armed security guards

to protect us from the same people

we're supposed to be ministering to.

It's just fear, David, and it can be overcome.

You know this.

Do you ever complain?

You know where I come from.

I've seen my share of struggles.

But one thing has never changed.

God is good all the time.

All the time, God is good.

I appreciate you all

braving the angry mobs and picketers again.

But even with all the noise

going on out there, I just want to assure you

that Saint James has been around for over 150 years,

and despite what those picket signs say out there,

- we're not going anywhere. - Amen.

Now, looking forward, I have some very good news.

Jude, you want to come up?

I couldn't be happier to share that our very own Jude Mbaye

has accepted a permanent position

with us here at Saint James as my co-pastor.

Amen. Welcome, brother.

Thank you.

You know, I realized tonight that, uh,

it's been a long time since I've felt

like I had a real brother in my life.

David, are you sharing your feelings?

Okay, let's not make a big deal out of it.

I'm just saying that I'm grateful for you.

I'm excited.

I feel the same.

Now can we get some waffles?

- What was that? - I don't know.

- Hey! Hey! Get back here! - David!

David, no!

You call the police.

- I'll shut off the alarm. - Yeah.

Yeah, this is, uh, Reverend David Hill.

I'm a... I'm a pastor at Saint James.

Well, no, it's not an emergency.

It's just a, uh... it was a broken window

to the basement.

Jude?

Jude?

Jude?

Jude?

Oh, no.

David...

You're gonna be okay.

All right? Stay with me.

Okay.

Come on, pal.

Jude, I'm gonna get you out of here.

- Okay. Okay. - Okay?

Stay with me.

Please, God, help me.

David...

Don't talk, brother. Don't talk.

Just stay with me.

Help is coming.

Hold on, Jude. It's okay.

What?

What are you saying?

What does that mean?

Jude?

Jude.

Jude.

Please, God, no.

Jude. Help!

Stay with me, brother.

Jude...

No.

I'm so tired of all the noise.

Everyone yelling.

On the news.

In the classroom.

Even in church.

I can barely hear You anymore.

Are You even there?

I hope You are.

'Cause I feel so lost, God.

I'm starting to feel pretty dumb

talking to myself when You don't talk back, so...

Wherever You are...

I'm still here.

Hey.

Hi.

I stopped at Stella's, got you the good stuff.

- You're my hero. Thank you. - I know.

You're welcome.

- How's your day? - Good.

Wow, this looks, uh, fun.

You can get it if you want.

It's Sunday.

Oh, that's right.