God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness 2018

As Rev. David Hill emerges from his prison sentence, a storm of controversy brews around St. James Church, nestled on the grounds of a college. The church’s abrupt closure in favor of a new student center incites outrage from Dave and his close companion Jude. Together, they set out to launch a legal campaign to protect their cherished place of worship. However, their mission faces unexpected hurdles due to the reckless actions of a troubled college student, Adam Richertson, who is struggling with the fallout from his breakup with his skeptical girlfriend, Keaton Young. In a moment of misguided frustration, Adam throws a brick at the church, inadvertently starting a fire that tragically claims Jude’s life and threatens the very essence of St. James.

As legal battles against the college commence, Dave finds himself in conflict with his estranged brother, Pearce Hill, a pragmatic attorney who cautions him to reconsider his crusade. However, Dave remains resolute, believing that he is fighting for a higher calling. The situation escalates when Adam anonymously confesses to Dave about being responsible for the church fire. This revelation sends shockwaves through their community, triggering a violent response from Dave and ultimately jeopardizing his lawsuit.

The repercussions of Adam’s actions ripple throughout the community; public sentiment turns against Dave’s cause, and criminal charges are soon levied against the troubled student. As events unfold, Pearce pulls away from Dave, lamenting how his brother’s righteousness has blinded him to the harm he is inflicting upon others.

In a moment of self-reflection, Dave seeks spiritual guidance through prayer at St. James. It is here that he realizes his relentless pursuit of justice may have only intensified the turmoil. Acknowledging that St. James may not be the right platform to manifest God’s will, Dave decides to abandon his lawsuit and pursue an out-of-court agreement with the college.

Amid Adam’s expressions of regret and Jude’s family searching for closure, Dave takes an unexpected step: he petitions to have the charges against Adam dropped and shares his vision of establishing a new church in a nearby area. This courageous act fosters a measure of peace in the community, even as it marks a farewell to the era of St. James.

In a poignant post-credits scene, Michael Tait, a member of the renowned Christian music group Newsboys, delivers a stirring message, urging audiences to spread their faith and continue the God’s Not Dead movement by texting #Godsnotdead.