Rock ‘n roller Samuel Allen (Max Ehrich) is in jail, the result of an anger-filled youth and hatred toward organized religion have led him down a dark road of rebellion. Yet in a moment of what can only be divine intervention, a judge dismisses the drug charges against him as long as Samuel speaks to local schools and churches about the dangers of drugs.

Now that he’s been given a second chance, Samuel starts to follow in his father’s footsteps, overcoming the influence of a powerful church leader with a personal vendetta against Samuel’s father Pastor Joe (Gary Weeks). Then, he decides to become a preacher himself, despite the challenge, and wins the heart of Julie (Katelyn Nacon).

Directed and written by Jeffrey A. Smith, who also plays Pastor Clayborn, this 60s set faith-based movie doesn’t shy away from the fact that staying on the right side is filled with temptation. Samuel Allen is the founder of Dream Church and really did walk the path shown in Southern Gospel. There’s even a tragic drowning, the idea that electric guitars are tools of Satan and how the elders of the church fight more to keep their power than to help save sinners.

I’m not a lover of too many faith-based movies — outside of the films of Ron Ormond and Donald W. Thompson — but even I can recognize the lessons in this movie.

You can order Southern Gospel from Deep Discount.