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Insofar as you confess with your mouth

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that you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior,

I now baptize thee in the name of the Father

and the Son and the Holy Spirit!

Go forth and sin no more.

Insofar that you have confessed with your mouth

that you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior,

I now baptize thee in the name of the Father

and the Son and the Holy Spirit!

Now, when we are baptized we begin life anew.

The water cleanses and renews us.

When we are baptized, all the mistakes of the past

are washed away, and we emerge from the water

refreshed and reborn.

We come into this world with hearts and minds

clean and pure.

When we get baptized, we get renewed.

We get a chance to reinvent ourselves and walk

in the newness of life.

Now, it is not too late for you.

It is not too late for me.

No matter how far from home that you have strayed,

no matter how dirty are your hands and your feet, maybe

it is not too late.

Is not too late.

It is not too late.

Somebody call an ambulance!

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

You know, when I was a little boy,

I had my tonsils taken out, too.

And you know what the best part was?

You get to eat all the ice cream and jello you want.

Daddy, will you stay with me?

You bet.

And when you wake up, I'm going to be right here holding

your hand.

Pinky promise?

Jessica.

Pinky promise.

Tonya, it's-- it's Jess again.

Hey.

Any word on Dad?

Any change?

No, I haven't heard anything yet.

Just waiting for the doctor.

What's wrong?

You-- you sound funny.

Are you coming home, Jessica?

Yes, I'm leaving in a few hours.

All right, fine.

Call me when you land.

Um, Tonya, how-- how is Tariq?

Is OK?

Tariq is fine.

Yo, you need to wait a couple of days

before you go all the way down to Atlanta, man.

This don't even sound that serious.

Are you crazy?

Her father just had a heart attack, you idiot.

Lisa, it's OK.

Look, we talked about this.

I have to go.

You ain't gotta go nowhere.

Come on, you ain't been home in years.

And from all the stuff you be telling me,

don't nobody even want you there.

I mean, OK, let's say it is serious.

So what?

What are you gonna do there?

I'm-- I'm going to hold his hand, Chaz, feed him,

do whatever I need to do.

You know what, Jess?

You do not have to explain yourself to him.

Mind your business, man.

All right.

All right, look, baby, I'm sorry what

I said about your pops.

All right?

I just want you here with me.

I'll be back in a few days.

All right.

Go ahead then, man.

Jess, hurry up before you miss your flight.

Oh, oh, oh.

You gotta lend me some money, though.

Low life.

Come here.

Jessica.

Jessica.

Hey, how long have you been out here?

Not long. How's Daddy?

What are the doctors saying?

Well, there's-- there's a lot of damage to his heart.

Look, Tonya, I just wanted--

Look, before you say another word,

I don't want to hear any apologies or lame excuses

about why you haven't come, OK?

It's not the time or the place.

Look, I'm not trying to argue with you.

Then why don't we keep our conversation to a minimum?

Is that my brown beauty?

Daddy.

Daddy.

Hello, Jesse.

Hey, Daddy.

How are you feeling?

It's good to see you, baby.

You need anything?

He needs to get some rest, so we need to get going.

I just got here.

You can come and visit him later.

He's had a very busy day.

Daddy, I'm sorry.

You get some rest.

I'll be back, OK?

You promise?

Pinky promise.

Let's go.

I love you.

So tell me, how are you doing?

Oh, good.

I completed my doctorate since the last time I saw you.

What was that, like 10 years ago?

So doctorate's in what?

Theology.

I don't even know why I asked that question.

Of course.

How about you?

How have you been?

I'm good.

Keeping busy.

What's his name?

What?

I'm serious.

Jess, you're always chasing after some good-for-nothing

guy, a fly-by-night dream or just plain busy.

Always busy.

Busy doing nothing.

And you're too busy to come home for Mom's funeral.

I told you why I couldn't come home for Mom's funeral.

Oh, right.

You were with some traveling circus.

It was a theater company.

You know what?

That might have worked on Dad, but it didn't work on me.

It definitely didn't work on Mom.

She never accepted any of your lame excuses.

And when she died, you didn't have the decency or the courage

to come home and give your mother a proper goodbye.

Well, as always, Tonya, you have the answers

for everything.

I'm sorry that we can't always be the picture of perfection

like you.

I can't even believe we're still having this conversation.

I can't believe we--

What?

You know what?

I never cared what you thought about me.

I still don't care what you think about me.

Just because you never left Atlanta and you can't get out

of your picture perfect world--

Left Atlanta?

What if I had left Atlanta?

Who would take care of Tariq?

Your son, remember?

Yes, your son that I helped Daddy raise.

Because you were either too confused, or broke, or sorry,

or busy to take care of--

Hey, stop the car! Stop the car!

Stop the car!

I guess you know how to find your way home from here, huh?

Go.

I mean, you do remember how to get home, don't you, Jessica?

Go.

Are you serious?

Whatever.

Go, go, go!

Thank you.

Tariq, Hey.

How are you doing?

I'm good.

You look good.

You look tall.

Yeah, well, that's what happens to kids when

you haven't seen them in a long time, right?

So you got a second to talk?

No, actually I was on my way to play ball

with some of my friends, so I'm getting ready--

Please.

Come on, it's only going to take a sec.

So how are you doing?

I'm fine.

School sucks, and no, Mom, I don't have a girlfriend.

And all that stuff about "no sex till you

get married," "say no to drugs," "don't get caught up

hanging with the wrong crowd"?

Heard it already from Grandpa and Aunt Tonya.

So does that about cover it for this mother-to-son

heart-to-heart chat that we're having?

Wow, Tariq.

I guess it does.

Good.

Hello.

Lees, Hey.

It's Jesse.

What's up?

Same old, same old.

How's your father?

He's OK.

You know, it's just, I'm so used to seeing him strong.

It's kind of freaking me out, seeing him like this.

Yeah, I'm sorry you got to go through this.

You know what I'm saying?

I just--

I was calling you because I'm probably

going to be here a lot longer than I thought.

Hah.

Have you told Rick?

No.

Here she is.

No, Lees--

Telephone.

Yeah, hello.

Who this?

Hey, Rick, baby. What's going?

Don't "Hey, Rick, baby" me.

Where are you, Jesse?

Atlanta.

Atlanta?

My father had a heart attack.

Well, that's too bad.

When are you coming back?

That I can't tell you.

Um, I don't know.

It's probably going to be a while.

Are you a doctor?

Of course not.

- A nurse? - That's not the point.

My father needs me.

I can't leave.

Guess what, Jesse?

I need you.

My patrons need you.

Look, I don't know what to tell you.

I'm sorry.

Fine, but don't come running back to me when you get to New

York, looking for your gig.

Hey, Jess.

Don't let Rick get to you.

I mean, what would she know about family,

that kind of woman?

Look, you stay there with your father.

You take care of him.

You make sure he's all right.

I got your back.

OK, babe.

I'll try.

I got to go.

Avery.

Well, well, well.

Jessica brown.

Hi.

Long time.

Yes.

Yes, indeed.

You're looking very well.

Thank you.

So how have you been?

Pastor Brown has been telling us all about the wonderful things

you're doing in New York.

Well, you know, Daddy is surely exaggerating.

He loves you very much.

So what about you, Avery?

Still watching Daddy's every move till it's your turn?

Well, I'd be a fool not to.

As associate pastor at Mount Olive,

now, I think that it's part of my job.

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.

Oh, my day will come.

You think so?

Jessica, you and I need to bury the hatchet.

You know, because I can't even remember why we ever disliked

each other in the first place.

Why are you here, Avery?

Tonya asked me to bring you to the hospital.

- Your father wants to see you. - Why?

- What's wrong? - No, no, no.

He's fine. He's fine.

He just wants to talk to the three of us.

All right.

Well, actually, I was about to call a cab to go over there,

so it's good timing.

Tariq.

How are you doing, young man?

Hey, Reverend Callagan.

We're going to go to the hospital to see Daddy.

You want to come?

Well, you know, of course he's-- he's more than welcome

to come, but I think the pastor wanted to see just the three

of us.

Is that what you think, Avery, or is that what he said?

Well, you do what you think is best, Jessica.

I'll-- I'll be in the car.

I'm going to go change my clothes.

Yeah, I'm-- I'm sorry.

I just never liked him much.

Oh, girl, it's good to see you.

Oh.

I know you are as pretty as the day you was born.

Oh, and Deacon Todd, as usual, you're right by Daddy's side.

Well, no place else for me to be, little girl.

Hey, Daddy.

Mwah.

You know my wife Angelique, don't you?

Yes, we've met.

Hello.

Angelique, I thought it was Angela Munford in high school.

Good job, Deacon.

All right, why don't we just let

Daddy talk so we can get out of here and let him rest.

So Pastor Brown, why is it that you called us

all in at this hour?

Ah, that's our Angie.

Always wanting to get straight to the point.

Well, that's just what I'm gonna do.

And I'll make it short.

Oh, that'll be a first.

You know, it seems like it wasn't that long ago when

this church was nothing more than a pulpit and three

rows of pews and a handful of members.

And now Mount Olive is one of the finest churches

in all of Atlanta.

And mostly because of leaders like you.

It's been my privilege and my honor

to serve as your pastor these 30 plus years.

But it doesn't take a brain surgeon

to see that this old pastor ain't what he used to be.

And the time is gonna come real soon when I won't be

able to get up in that pulpit.

Now, that being said, I believe it's time to pass the torch.

For years now some man named Brown

has been the pastor of this church.

Now I believe it's time to break with tradition.

And Avery, well, you've been the son I never had.

I would like for us to install my daughter Jessica

as the new pastor of Mount Olive.

What?

Now, I know this may come as a shock to all of you,

and I'm sure Jesse is equally shocked.

But she's more than qualified.

She has a degree in theology, and she bears the name Brown.

Now, I have the utmost respect for you, Avery,

but my decision is final, and this is not up for discussion.

Jessica is my choice to succeed.

And I trust that you will support my decision.

Tariq?

I'm-- I'm sorry.

I didn't hear you.

You need something?

Um, not really.

Nah.

It's cool.

Hey, listen.

It's-- it's OK.

What is it?

I just needed some money for lunch.

Oh, all right.

Well, what time you go to school?

Aren't you late?

I have a half day today.

They waiting for you?

Who?

Oh.

Oh, those dudes?

I don't know, man.

They're just hanging out, I guess.

Mm-hmm.

You plan on skipping?

You gonna give me the money or not?

Because I don't need you to try to play mom with me.

Forget the money.

Tariq, stop.

Here's 10.

Be careful.

Hey, baby.

Hi, Daddy.

How's your sister today?

I haven't seen her.

Who knows.

She could be back in New York by now.

Oh, Tonya.

Daddy, you know as well as I do that Jessica is unreliable,

predictable, unprofessional.

Underrated, unappreciated, and unpretentious.

Honey, Jessica is a real person with real flaws and real scars.

And she's not afraid to show it.

So what does that make her, special?

Because she's flawed?

We're all flawed, Tonnie.

Hmm.

Come.

You know the parable of the lost coins and lost sheep?

And the lost son.

Now, the woman had other coins,

but she wasn't happy until she found the one that was lost.

The shepherd had 99 other sheep, but he wasn't happy

until he found the one that was lost.

And the father had another son that he overlooked because he

catered to the one that was lost.

Through these parables Jesus teaches us

that the one that was lost needs our attention

more than the ones who are not.

I want you to think about that, baby.

Hey, Harry!

Hey, Deacon.

How are you doing, buddy?

Oh, Tonya.

I'll be back.

Harry.

How are you, my friend?

It's good to see you, man.

Sit down.

I want to talk to you.

I'm glad to see you.

OK.

You know, Harry, we've been friends a long time.

Yes, we have.

In the 40 years that I've known you,

you've always been there for me.

Any man-- any man would consider himself

lucky to have you as a friend.

And I believe I'm the luckiest man in the world.

I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate you.

Well, Lord knows we done seen some times, ain't we?

Truth is, I don't know if I'd even be around

if it wasn't for you, Joe.

You didn't just preach about it.

You lived it.

So I'm honored to have been of service to you.

And I am blessed to call you my friend.

And that's the God's truth.

Somebody told me a bishop was up in this room.

Carlie!

Joe Brown.

Oh, man.

It is so good to see you, man!

Oh, God bless you, man.

Good to see you.

Good to see you.

Hey, look here.

Look what I brought, man.

I got something here that's going to bring back

some sweet memories.

Look at that, man.

You know about that, don't you?

Praise the Lord.

Look at that.

Hey, Jessica.

I'm sorry.

Do I know you?

Yeah, but you wouldn't remember me.

I'm Amanda Carlton.

We went to Booker T Washington together.

Oh.

Oh, I'm sorry, honey.

No, it's all right.

How are you doing?

I'm fine.

I was hoping to stick my head in and see Pastor Brown real

quick.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So, um, I know your father is happy to see you.

You know, when we're at church, all he does is talk about you.

He is really proud of you, Jess.

Proud of me, huh?

Yeah, OK.

You know what?

I hope you don't mind, but the spirit

is telling me to share this with you.

When we were in high school, I didn't fit in at all.

And you know how it is when you're young.

You're just insecure.

So I had hit the streets so I could get some attention.

And I got it.

A lot of it.

Now I'm HIV positive.

And my parents, they--

they disowned me.

My family members cut me off, and yeah.

But there was one person who didn't judge me.

Pastor Brown.

You know what he said to me?

"God loves you, no matter what you've been through

in your past."

It made me realize what I actually could be.

He made me realize what I already was.

So here I am today.

I have degrees in biology and education.

And I work at the Women's Center downtown.

And I'm so happy.

Oh.

I haven't talked to my dad in a year.

It's hard to be the pastor's daughter.

Tonya was always so--

so good at it.

And I just kind of felt left out, you know?

And then I know you know everything

about me getting pregnant.

But you know, I tried to do the right thing,

go to theology school.

It's just that when I graduated, I--

I just couldn't come back here, you know?

And Tariq-- Tariq seemed fine.

And I just thought he was better off with my family.

Hmm.

So that's why you stayed away so long.

It-- you know what?

I just-- I'm really tired of people being in my business.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

I'm-- I'm sorry.

Listen, people are going to do that.

You know that.

They're going to stand in judgment.

But the only thing that you are responsible for

is learning how to forgive.

Oh, I need to forgive them?

Forgive yourself first.

You know, the last time we got together

like this was at your wedding, wasn't it, Carl?

Yup.

How could I ever forget it?

Yeah, we ditched that fancy reception

and hightailed it over to Charlie's for some of them

chili dogs.

Yeah, that was a cold and lonely wedding night.

What is that smell?

Nurse, you think you can get me a glass of water, please?

Mm-hmm.

You're up to something.

I can smell it.

I guess we should be going.

You're a good friend, Harry.

Both of you.

We love you, Joe.

Listen, if you need anything, you call me.

Thank you.

All right?

I love you, brother.

OK, take care of yourself.

Let's go.

I'll be seeing you boys.

OK.

Thank you very much.

Ladies, excuse me.

They're finished in there.

You can go in.

Thank you.

You know what?

You should go in alone with your father.

I-- I'm going to catch up with him later.

But it was really good seeing you again.

Here.

Call me if you just need anything.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

Hey, Daddy.

Hey, Jesse.

I've been waiting on you.

How are you doing?

I should be asking you that question.

Now, see?

There you go, thinking about me.

Why don't you let me take care of you for a change?

I know you're afraid and unsure.

But regardless of whatever decision

you make, I'll be with you every step of the way,

I've never turned my back on you.

And I never will.

I know, Daddy.

I just let you down so many times.

And I haven't been there for you.

I haven't been there for anybody.

And what you're asking me to do right now,

I can never fill your shoes.

I'm not asking you to fill my shoes, Jesse.

I'm asking you to find your own shoes.

The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator

of the ends of the Earth.

You will not grow tired or weary.

And his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power

of the weak.

Even youths grow weary, and young men stumble and fall.

But he that waiteth on the Lord--

Will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not be faint.

Go find your shoes, Jesse.

Promise me you'll find your shoes.

I will, Daddy.

Daddy?

I'm-- I'm sorry.

He was just--

I was sitting there with him, and then--

then he was just gone.

Lisa, get off the phone.

It's Jesse.

Jess--

I think I'm going to be here for a while.

How much longer?

My dad wants me to take over for him.

Wait a minute.

Did your daddy have another job other than being a pastor?

He wants me to be the new pastor of his church.

And how did he take it when you told him no?

I didn't tell him no.

I mean, I didn't say yes, but I didn't tell him no.

But your answer is no, right?

Jesse, you can't possibly be considering this.

Listen, I didn't say that I was going to do it.

I know you're real emotional right now,

and you want to honor your father's wishes.

I respect that.

I really do.

But Jesse, you don't belong in a pulpit.

Lisa, I just know that my whole life I have let down

the people that I love the most.

And I keep running from the things

that I need to deal with.

I mean, what is the big deal with me trying to be good?

Well, what makes you think it's going to be easier now?

I just I need to try to find my shoes.

I ain't never even heard of that.

What are you talking about?

Yo, Lees, I'm--

I'm gonna let you go, OK?

All right.

Jessica, how are you feeling, sweetheart?

Listen, if you need anything at all, we're here for you.

Thank you, Deacon.

I just needed to be by myself.

This is not about you, Jessica.

These people have come here to be with our family.

And once again, you're not here.

I don't care what these people think.

Why do you care?

You know, maybe if you cared a little bit more

about what people think, your life wouldn't be so screwed up.

Tariq, honey, are you OK?

I know how much you loved Daddy, so if you need anything--

I'll just go to Aunt Tonya, like I always do.

Tariq, don't walk away from me.

Good one, Ma.

Tariq--

Look, just because Grandpa's gone

doesn't mean I'm gonna come running to you.

This doesn't change anything between us.

I've gotten by so far without you.

I think I can make it the rest of the way on my own.

Look, life is a lot more complicated than you may think.

The roads that people take, the choices that they make, all I--

all I could do was what I thought was right at the time.

Well, Grandpa always told me choices had consequences.

Did he ever tell you that?

Oh, you must not have believed him when he said it.

Well, you made your choices, Mom.

Now you have to live with the consequences.

Hear that?

You've got to live with that.

Now, I'm sure I don't have to tell you all

that Pastor Brown's homegoing service has to be nothing

short of spectacular.

We have to make sure that all city leaders are invited as

well as the press, and we have to get the proclamations

from the Governor and other state officials.

Absolutely.

And I also think that we need a special guest vocalist, someone

that's well known in gospel music.

Right?

Like a Shirley Caesar or Donnie McClurkin.

That's good.

That's good.

And we should make sure that all the VIPs get seated before we

- let everyone else in. - Let me see that pen.

I'm going to write down a list of names of people

we need to accommodate.

OK?

Daddy wouldn't want this.

Excuse me?

He wouldn't want his funeral to become a spectacle.

He wouldn't want all these politicians and so-called VIPs

to replace his parishioners and the people in the community

that he really cared about.

Jessica, you are missing the point.

Daddy was a very important, upstanding member

of this community, and the people of Atlanta

need to give him a proper and respectful goodbye.

It's-- he deserves that.

Well, yes, I agree with you.

But would he want all this hoopla?

Look, I have to say, I agree with Jessica.

Now, we all know that Joe was a simple man.

He didn't put on the airs and he didn't appreciate

folks who did.

Now, I don't think he'd want all this fuss.

That's true.

And he wouldn't want a bunch of celebrities

that he didn't know showing up to his funeral.

OK, listen, Deacon Todd, Jessica, Amanda,

I can appreciate your concern, all right?

But I agree with everyone else.

This service needs to be one befitting royalty.

Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to proceed.

All right?

OK.

Tonya, see if you can get the Mayor to speak, and also

Judge Hatchett.

Brothers and sisters of the congregation,

distinguished guests, now we are gathered here today

to celebrate the legacy and the life of our departed Pastor

Brown.

Although our hearts mourn for the loss of our dear brother,

we know that the angels are rejoicing.

Yes.

And we know that the angels are rejoicing because one

of the faithful soldiers in the army of God

has crossed over to glory.

That's right.

We know where Pastor Brown is.

We know where he is.

Praise God!

So today, we're going to have a good day.

This is going to be a good day.

We ain't here to mourn.

We're here to celebrate Pastor Brown!

Praise God, praise God!

Knowing that God is not a man, He just game

to life in spite of what--

what the Devil does.

No, you've got a Word that has come from above.

Faith must be-- must be what you say.

So open your mouth.

And say "amen" today.

Because God, I heard him when he said it.

Let the church say his name.

Jessica, where on Earth have you been?

No need to apologize, Jessica.

As you know, before my father died,

he asked me to take over as pastor of Mount Olive Church.

Yes, we know that, but--

Tonya.

Well, I have decided to honor my father's wishes.

And I ask you as leaders of the church to please consider me.

I know Joe is smiling right now.

Oh.

And I know you'll do him proud.

How can she do this?

She can't do this.

Well, once we form a pastorial selection committee, which

most likely will be made up of people right here in this room,

all we have to do is put her in front

of the congregation for a vote.

Now, considering it was Pastor Brown's dying wish,

I can't see why the parishioners won't welcome her

with open arms and endorse her ordination.

I'll be in the car.

Ang--

Deacon, thank you.

Will you just let me know what I need to do?

Sure.

Harold, Jessica Brown cannot be pastor of this church.

She's just not fit.

Everyone knew that while Tonya was busting her but being

a dutiful daughter that Jessica was wearing her little daisy

dukes getting laid underneath the--

Angelique.

No, you listen.

Now, Pastor Joe Brown, God rest his soul,

he constantly covered for her.

She always tried to get by on her looks,

and he knew she was nothing but a tramp.

Angelique, that's enough!

That is not enough.

Either you do something about it, or I will, Harold!

What time is it?

Why are you up and dressed?

Some of us do go to work in the daytime.

Are you gonna answer that?

It can wait.

Good.

Because you and I need to have a little chat about your

plans to become pastor of Daddy's church.

What are you up to, Jessica?

What am I up to?

Were-- were you listening in that room?

This was Daddy's plan.

I didn't ask for this.

Then why are you doing it?

Daddy has asked you to do a laundry list of things

that you've never complied with.

Why this?

This would be slightly different, Tonya.

Daddy was on his deathbed when he asked me to take over

the legacy of Mount Olive Church.

Please spare me the melodrama.

You're doing this just to spite me.

Tonya, this has nothing to do with you.

I'm sorry.

Maybe that's the problem, that it doesn't have anything

to do with you.

Know what?

Even if you were doing all this for the right reasons,

the committee will never approve you.

You don't think they're going to scrutinize

every inch of your past and be suspicious of your motives?

Suspicion or no suspicion, all I

can do is hope that they loved our father enough to honor

his wishes.

Now, I'd like to continue this pleasant conversation

but I actually have things that I need to do today.

Hey.

Hey.

Uh, we decided to make Avery the interim pastor.

But the selection committee will meet again next month,

and then the congregation will vote,

and that's when we'll choose the permanent pastor.

OK.

I promise you, I will do everything in my power to make

this work for you, and for Joe.

Thanks.

Hey, you want to take it for a test drive?

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to scare you.

It's a nice car.

Yeah, yeah.

It is a nice car.

Well, here, take a look.

There you go.

Thank you.

Yeah, so I'll get a tune-up, the oil changed,

and I'll have it ready for you in a couple of days.

All right, well, don't let anybody come get it

- before I get back. - I won't.

Pinky promise.

What?

Um, nothing.

My-- my dad used to always do that before he passed.

I'm sorry.

You didn't know.

So I better get going.

Oh, yeah.

I'll drive you wherever you need to go.

No, I can walk.

It's just down the street.

You know, the funniest thing is that I need to go that way,

too.

So I'll walk with you.

OK?

Peace.

Hey, babe.

It's me.

What up, baby?

What time is it?

I've been trying to reach you.

Oh, yeah.

I got your message about your dad and all that.

Baby, get off the phone.

Who-- do you have some woman in my house?

Hey, um, I was going to tell you.

Look, just come on home so we can work this out.

Look--

Jess.

Yeah, I want you and that trick out of my house today.

Yeah, the locks will be changed.

Jesse.

What's wrong with you, man?

You OK?

Can I help you?

The children don't know that they don't have any place

to go.

Well, I think my oldest one understands.

But she too afraid to ask any questions.

Do they-- do they know that your husband beat you?

I couldn't go back to him, Miss Brown.

I went to the shelter, but they didn't have no beds.

It's just me and my kids.

what am I supposed to do?

All right, ladies.

You know that our annual Women's Day program is coming up,

so I'd like for us to entertain some ideas on how we're going

to utilize the funds we raised this year.

Yeah--

The choir definitely needs some new robes.

And I think the stained glass windows could use an overhaul.

That's a good idea.

I also think we should consider

using some of the money to visit our sister church in Chicago

this summer.

Excuse me.

Can I help you?

Well, I was thinking that we could donate the money

to the women's shelter on Juniper Street.

Jessica, this is a closed meeting.

Well, I'm a member of the church.

Look, the women's shelter is struggling.

They don't have enough food or beds to accommodate the women

that they have there.

And I think that would be a little more important

than new choir robes or--

I'm sorry-- a trip to Chicago.

Jessica, you've been back in Atlanta for all of two weeks.

You certainly have no place coming in here making demands.

So if you don't mind--

I'm not making demands, Angela.

I'm simply making a suggestion.

Oh, OK.

Well, then write it down and just

drop it in the suggestion box.

Now, if you don't mind--

As a matter of fact, I do mind.

Who the--

Hey, watch it.

Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot say

in my father's church?

I don't know what this little high school grudge is that you

have, but you need to stop it and grow up and stop acting

like such--

Jessica, you need to watch your mouth.

You're way out of line.

Angelique was just trying--

I know what she's just trying to do.

And I know what you're trying to do,

which you've always done since we were kids,

try to put me in my place.

And what about you, Jessica?

Always trying to have things go your way, coming in here,

trying to be center of attention.

I mean, really?

Why else would someone like you want to be pastor of a church?

What do you mean, someone like me?

Like I said, someone like you.

Angelique-- Angelique, Jessica, this is--

I am not done.

The women at this shelter need our help.

And I don't know why we can't at least give a fraction

of that money to help them.

And you know what?

If you don't want to listen to me, that's fine.

But if you just ask some of the parishioners of the church,

I'm sure that they will agree with me.

And how would you know what members of this congregation--

I know because there are members right now who

are homeless and have nowhere to go and no one to turn to.

But I'm sure, as the fine Christian women

you are, you already know that.

She is out of control.

OK, here you go.

Keys.

Thank you!

She is all yours.

All right?

You know, what-- what do you--

where are you going right now?

Home.

Why?

I was just thinking maybe you would like to go out to dinner.

You know, I--

I think that I probably shouldn't.

OK.

OK.

But do I-- do I stink or something?

What?

Is it my-- my breath?

Because you know, I can go brush my teeth right now.

I-- I will.

I'll go do it.

Why are you brushing me off?

I'm not brushing you off.

It's just-- things are just really complicated right now.

Too complicated to eat.

I hear you.

All right.

I can eat.

- You can eat? - I can eat.

We can eat?

Eating is good.

It is, it is.

Hey, hey.

Lorenzo.

Hey, it's me, Angie.

Tariq.

Wow.

That's beautiful.

Thank you so much.

Hey, what's on your mind?

I'm sorry.

I--

You know, right before we left I just saw this letter,

that Tariq got accepted to the basketball team,

and he didn't tell me.

Ah. OK.

So that's what that was all about.

Yeah.

I get it.

Well, he must be excited.

I wish I knew, but--

you know, I'm sure he is.

He's a basketball fanatic.

He never knew his daddy, but he sure got his daddy's blood

in him.

Was his old man any good?

Yeah, good enough to go to the pros.

But I guess a baby and a baby's mama didn't fit into that plan.

For the record, I have to say that Tariq's father is missing

out on a lot.

My sister always said that I have a knack at picking up

riffraff.

OK, now that's cold.

Namaste.

So thank you for dinner.

Oh, my pleasure.

My pleasure.

Jesse, I-- I know you have a lot going on in your life

- right now. - Amir--

No, please.

Let me finish.

I don't want to complicate matters.

But I do want to get to know you better.

I mean, I-- I like your fire.

I know things are crazy right now.

I do.

I know that you have some things that you need to figure out

for yourself.

But I just ask if you could please put me on your list.

I-- I, um--

I gotta-- I gotta go, OK?

Thank you.

Jesse.

Mind if I join you?

You play at school?

No.

Why?

Look, you just starting conversation

or is this going somewhere?

You're sharp.

Oh.

Your-- your mother told me about the letter.

Yeah?

So?

So she's really proud of you.

Your old man used to play ball, too, right?

Yeah, but he left me.

Just like my mom, both of them.

They went off to go do whatever it is they went off to go do.

But she came back.

So?

So maybe she's just trying to make things right.

Maybe you should let her.

Yeah, well, maybe I don't want to.

What's it to you, anyway?

All right, all right, all right, all right.

But the next time you look up and she's not there,

it's not going to be because of her.

It's going to be because of you.

I need you.

You need me.

We're all a part of .

Stand with me.

Agree with me.

We're all a part of .

It is his will that every being will survive.

You are important to me.

I need you to survive.

You are important to me.

I need you to survive.

Today is the day, y'all.

Yeah, you hear me?

See, I noticed that some of y'all carry your Bibles around,

but you don't open them.

And if you don't open them, they ain't doing you no good!

John 14 and 6 says, "Jesus said to him,

I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me."

"No one comes to the Father except through me," Jesus.

And so if you don't know Christ yet,

or if you-- if you used to know him but for some reason

you lost your way and you need to be reintroduced,

well, today is the day.

Now, I want you to--

I want you to come down here, and I want you to confess

with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ,

and I want you to believe in your heart

that God has raised him from the dead.

God has raised him from the dead, and you will be saved!

You will be saved.

Come on, down!

Come on down, now.

Believe!

Who wants to be saved today?

God has raised Jesus from the dead, and you will be saved!

You will be saved!

Brothers and sisters of Mount Olive, this

is Adrian Mitchell and her children.

Each and every Sunday, she gives as much as she can.

But what you don't know is that Adrian is homeless.

When she can't find a place to sleep at the woman's shelter

on Juniper Street, she lays her head wherever she can.

And that is where I found her, huddled in the corner

of this great church.

Adrian.

Adrian, you have come to the right place.

This is the Lord's house, where you will be given nourishment

for your bodies and your souls.

Jesus said that He is the bread of life,

and that he who comes to Him will never hunger.

And he who believes in Him will never thirst.

Sister Brown, thank you for picking me up,

for picking us up, and showing us

that we don't have to be afraid.

And we don't have to be ashamed.

So listen, I have--

I have asked the deaconesses of this church

to donate the money from their Mother's Day program.

But today, I am willing to go a step further and donate

$500 of my own money.

I'll bet you it's all ones.

And I ask you as a congregation

to look into your hearts and--

and help these women and children as much as you can,

and to challenge the leaders of this church to do the same.

Thank you.

God bless you, Adrian.

God bless you.

God bless you and your children.

This is your house.

This is your house.

Mount Olive is here for you, for people like you.

That's why we're here.

Hey, Avery, come here for a sec.

Hey.

Hey.

So you know that the buzz about our good friend Jessica Brown

is getting louder and louder.

I'm sure it is, sweetheart.

Thanks to you.

What, do you want her to win?

Or are you just so blinded by your so-called loyalty

to Pastor Brown that you can't see the truth?

Listen, this ain't about win or lose.

Let the committee do its job.

And I just think you're taking this high school grudge--

This has nothing to do with a high school grudge, deacon.

This is about the preservation of Mount Olive Church.

Exactly.

Oh, I see.

Is that what it is?

Yes, that's what it is.

All right?

Avery, this is me, OK?

I know that you love Mount Olive.

And I know that you're going to make a wonderful pastor

someday.

But all this backbiting and bad mouthing?

Come on!

That's not you.

Well, it's me.

And I'm so sick of you taking up for Jesse.

And I just want you to know, Harold,

I'm going to do everything that I can to make sure

that Jesse and Avery get exactly what they deserve.

Whether you like it or not.

You know, you ought to listen to yourself.

You acting like you know something.

You don't know nothing about nothing!

God's got a hand in this.

And He is not subject to your will,

but His will will be done.

That's all I got to say about it.

I left my briefcase inside.

I'll be right back.

Listen, I got something for you.

Don't say I never gave you anything.

What is this?

That right there is all the proof

we need that Jessica Brown is a slut.

Look at this.

I have police reports detailing her arrest, public nudity,

public disturbances.

I also have these newspaper clippings of her being pulled

off with a--

Where did you get this, cuz?

The bottom line is that that is all the information that you

need to prove that Jessica Brown is incapable of running

this church.

Your husband is not gonna like this.

Please.

I will deal with my husband.

Cousin, you just take that information

and you do what you have to do.

You've worked way too hard.

What is all of this?

Hey.

Well, I told you to meet me in the park for lunch, didn't I?

You didn't have to go through all of this trouble.

Here.

Will you join me?

Please?

I hope that I've touched you.

Really.

Haven't I?

That's all I want to do is touch your heart and touch your soul

just a little bit.

The first time that I saw you, I was drawn to you.

You know what?

I can't do this.

I-- I don't know what it is that you think that you see, but I--

I am not that girl.

This is way too deep.

Really?

I mean, it's just--

you know who you are.

You know what you want.

I'm still trying to figure it out.

I'm still trying to figure out me, and I don't need this.

You don't need it.

Hey, wait a minute.

Wait, wait.

Before you start to say what I don't need,

let's just take our time.

I am not in any rush at all.

As long as you can promise me that you won't run away,

I can promise you that I'll never give you a reason to.

Precious Lord, take my hand lead me on.

Help me stand.

I am tired.

I am weak.

I am worn.

Through the still, through the night, lead me onto the light.

Take my hand, precious Lord and lead me on.

That was Mama's favorite song, you know.

Well, I'm sure she wouldn't approve of my rendition.

So what's up, Tonya?

I know you didn't come here to say that.

What's on your mind?

I know you're going through a lot right now.

We all are.

And I would be lying to you, to Daddy, and to myself,

if I said that being pastor of Mount Olive

is the right thing for you to do.

Tonya, look, I know that you don't

think that I am capable of handling something

of this magnitude.

So I'm afraid I can't help you with this one.

I'm not asking you to help me.

I'm asking you to understand me, and understand how difficult

this is.

Tonya, I do understand you.

Jessica, despite what you might think,

I don't want to hurt you.

And I definitely don't want to defy Daddy's wishes.

But I try to follow my heart and do what I really

believe is right.

You know, Tonya, then that's what you should do.

That's what you should do.

- What's up, you all right? - Yeah, I'm cool.

- Cool? - Yeah, I'm good.

Come on, baby.

Tariq, so your mom's still trying to be minister, huh?

Hey, man, my mama told me putting her in the pulpit'd

be like throwing mud on the olive tree.

Whoa, what's wrong with you, dog?

Hey, what's wrong with you?

Talk about my mother again.

You good? You straight?

Talk about my mother--

I'm not playing around with you!

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!

Man, what's going on?

Nah, you think you can talk about my mother?

You keep my mother's name out your mouth.

- Tariq! - Man, your mama.

You know what?

Everybody get your stuff and get out of here.

Get your stuff and get out of here.

Come on, man.

Come on, man.

You all right?

Yo, it's true, - though!

They talking about my mother.

You're all right.

Come on.

Oh, hey. There you are.

Why don't you go get yourself washed up,

because I got some dinner.

Where's my mom?

I don't know.

You know, everywhere I go people

are talking about my mom.

And how she's not fit to be pastor of Grandpa's church.

Why won't they just leave her alone?

Tariq, your mother's fine.

She's tough.

She's my mother.

Why do you guys keep trying to turn me against her?

I know you've always been there for me,

but you got to give her a chance.

You got to let her be my mom, Aunt Tonnie.

I got to let her be my mom.

All right, brothers and sisters, it's time to vote.

All those in favor of Reverend Callagan, see a show of hands.

All those in favor of Sister Jessica Brown, see your hands.

Sister Brown.

Hello, cousin.

Hey.

The pastorial selection committee

will announce its recommendation before the full congregation

this Sunday.

Each of you will be asked to deliver a short sermon

before the congregation votes.

Fight to the end, huh?

Yeah.

Yeah, well, I'll see you this Sunday.

I'll be ready.

Tonya, come on.

Now, you know this church is my life.

It's all I've got, OK?

This dream is all I've got.

And I'm not about to have it snatched away from me.

I deserve to sit in that pulpit, not Jessica!

The committee has already voted.

Listen, some-- some things have come to my attention about

Jessica.

All right?

And it's things that I would--

I would rather not use if I don't have to.

What things?

What are you talking about?

I need you to tell the congregation

the truth about your sister.

That's all.

Don't allow her to steal the glory from you again.

We have been there through it all, all right?

And-- and we deserve this victory, Tonya.

Not Jessica.

We deserve this victory, all right?

Jesse.

Pastor.

I want you to listen to me.

I have something very important I need to talk to you about.

Many are the plans in a man's heart,

but it's God's purpose that prevails.

I need you to hear this.

I need you to think about it.

Because I know what you're going through.

You know, it wasn't long ago I was in the same position you're

in right now.

I didn't understand what was going on in my life.

I didn't know why I was here, believing all the time that all

I had to do was maybe run faster,

or run a little bit farther, that somehow I

would run into the answer.

You hear me?

Little did I know that all I had to do

was be still and listen to God.

Maybe you need to be still and listen

to that voice on the inside.

Your vision will become clear only

when you look into your own heart.

Who looks outside, dreams.

Who looks inside, awakens.

I need to remember that myself.

Can I pray for you?

Please.

OK.

Father, in the name of Jesus, I declare

that Jesse is free from the spirit of condemnation.

And I declare that Jesse is the righteousness of God.

And I pray that the power and the anointing of the Holy Ghost

will come over her and remove every burden

and destroy every yoke.

Use her, Lord.

Show her your plan for her life.

We give you praise for it now.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Amen.

You're going to be all right, girl.

You hear me?

You are going to be just fine.

Now, give me a big hug.

God bless your heart.

You're going to be just fine.

I'm going to tell you something.

Why, if that Devil ain't careful,

you're going to end up whooping him so bad he ain't gonna--

Hey.

Hey, Mama.

So I heard you got in a little scuffle yesterday.

Nah, it was nothing.

Well, maybe not to you, but it means a lot to me.

I mean, not that you were out there fighting.

Stop making a big deal about everything, please.

The day that my son stands up and fights for me, that

is a very big deal.

You know, I used to hear Grandpa always talking

about doing the kind of stuff that you're doing.

But for some reason, he never did.

I think he was too worried about what all the church folks would

say about him.

But you?

You don't care what people say.

For the first time in my life, I really do care, especially

the people I love.

Especially you.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Promise me you'll find your shoes.

I'm not asking you to fill my shoes, Jesse.

Go find your shoes.

We don't need another political uprising.

We don't need another calm on the sea.

But what we need is a special word, a word within our hearts,

and give us direction from above.

we need a word from the Lord.

A word from the Lord.

Just one word from the Lord will remove all the doubt

and cause the sun to come out and give us peace of mind.

Oh, speak the word.

Speak.

Jessica.

You got to stop sneaking up on me like that.

Wow, you look really nervous.

Yeah, I-- I guess I am.

I don't know how Daddy did this every week.

Well, believe it or not, Daddy got nervous the night

before his sermons, too.

You know, Jessica, I--

I haven't lied to you about the way I feel about all this.

Look, we've been through--

But let me finish.

I just want you to know that whatever happens tomorrow,

I hope you've gained something from this.

I hope that whatever it is you're searching for,

I hope you--

I'm sorry.

Am I interrupting?

No, you're not interrupting.

I was just leaving.

What can I do for you, Avery?

I-- I wanted to give you this.

Where did you get this?

That's not important.

Oh.

Why are you giving it to me?

I'm sure that's worth a couple 100 votes for you.

Yeah.

Yeah, you know, that thought crossed my mind.

Once or twice.

You know, I-- I once knew this pastor

who told me that the hardest thing in the world

is to do what's right.

And the second hardest thing is living with your conscience

when you don't.

Pastor Brown was the only father I ever knew.

When my dad was off somewhere chasing,

you know, whatever he was chasing,

Pastor Brown took me under his wing

and not only taught me how to be a man of God

but taught me how to be a man-- period.

I loved him for that.

You know, I love what he's done here at Mount Olive.

And so loving Pastor Brown the way that I do,

and knowing how much he loves you,

I could never intentionally hurt you, Jessica.

I could never hurt this church.

Ever.

I don't know what--

what decision the committee made.

Actually, I do because Angelique told me.

But I don't know how the congregation is gonna vote.

And that scares me a little.

But if the work that I've done at this church doesn't speak

for me, if it doesn't represent who I am,

that stuff certainly won't.

So I just--

I just want to wish you the best.

Well, I have some writing to do.

You know, I have kind of a contest thing tomorrow.

See you soon.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, welcome.

We're so happy that you're with us today.

For the first time in some 30 years,

We're going to be selecting a new pastor.

Now we have two very fine individuals

who are being considered for this position.

So without further delay, please welcome the first, Sister

Jessica Brown.

Deacon Todd, I'd like to address the congregation

before Jessica speaks, if that's OK.

Well, I suppose that'll be all right, Sister Tonya,

if the church has no objection.

Speak, darling!

For those of you who know my sister Jessica,

you know that she's always played by her own rules.

She has always marched to a different drum.

My sister and I couldn't be more different.

She has done a lot of things of which I am not proud,

but nothing that she has done to me or to anyone else

can compare to the crimes I have committed against her all these

years.

When it comes to my sister, I have

been quick to judge and slow to teach.

I have been quick to blame and slow to forgive.

I have not been the sister that I should have been.

And for this, Jessica, I am deeply sorry.

The Bible tells us in Matthew 7, why dost thou

look upon the speck of sawdust in my brother's eye

and pay no attention to the plank in thine own?

It goes on to say that you must first remove the plank

from thine own eye to see clearly, to remove the mote

from thy brother's eye.

I have read that passage many times,

and I haven't understood it until now.

I understand now that I must protect my sister.

I must guide her and love her.

I must pick her up when she falls down

and hold on to her until she can stand on her own.

But most importantly, I must never, ever give up on her.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have removed the plank from my eye.

And I understand now what Daddy was trying to teach me.

Jessica, please.

Hallelujah.

This belongs to you.

You know, as a young girl sitting

in the pew of this great church, I listened to my father preach

many sermons.

But I never imagined that I would be standing here,

standing before you, before God, standing in this exact spot

where my father stood for so many years.

Time is so precious.

Can't get it back once it's gone.

I'm so ashamed and remorseful to say that for many years,

my father has asked me to come home.

I wasted so much time, not realizing that I was losing

precious moments with my family, with my mother, my father,

with my sister.

my son.

It took my father's illness to ultimately propel me

to come back home to Atlanta.

And it took his death to awaken me,

to make me realize that this is where I belonged all along.

Amen.

As the prodigal son left home to fulfill his own pleasures,

so, too, did I. But see, my story

doesn't have a happy ending.

Because you see, the prodigal son,

he came home to his father and the celebration.

I came home to capture the last fleeting moments of a dying

father.

All right, all right.

See, my journey home has not been an easy one.

There have been many pitfalls along the way.

I-- I didn't take no shortcuts.

You could say I took the scenic route.

I took the back alleys and the side streets.

The-- the-- the shackles of my failures

and the paralyzing fear of resentment

tried to imprison me from coming back home.

But I had to overcome pain, and shame, and anxiety

while I pondered what type--

what type of person I had become.

But in the midst of my darkest hour,

I could hear my father's words.

"Where are your shoes, Jesse?"

my father would always ask me this.

"Where are your shoes?"

I now realize what he was trying to say.

He was saying "where is your faith?"

Because you see, in this life, there will be pain.

There will be hardship.

As people of God, we are not exempt from trials

and tribulations.

But let me tell you, we have a covenant with God,

that he will deliver us out of all of them.

No matter how bad it may seem, we

can overcome anything by faith.

See, the key to our deliverance is our faith.

Faith produces a life pleasing to God.

Faith is how we live victoriously.

See, I had to learn this.

I had to learn this, constantly going from disappointment

to disappointment, accepting a life of defeat

and hopelessness.

But you know what?

No more.

Because I have faith in God, and I have a testimony today.

And now, no matter what happens, what comes my way, by faith--

by faith I will make it!

So Mount Olive, today, I tell you,

it is a privilege to stand before you,

and-- and it would be an honor to pastor this church.

But-- but that honor is not for me.

That honor is not mine.

And my daddy, he wanted me to find my shoes.

He wanted me to--

to-- to find what I had lost--

my family, my dignity.

And through this journey, I have done that.

See, I could never fill my daddy's shoes.

Nobody can.

But I can walk in his light, and I can follow in his footsteps.

And I can do the right thing for the right reason.

So brothers and sisters, thank you for considering me.

But there is someone in the midst who has been oh, so

faithful to this church and to my father, who has proven

himself to be someone that my father would be proud of.

And that would be Associate Pastor Avery Callagan.

Thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, God.

And thank you, Daddy.

I've found my shoes.

I need to find my shoes and don't ever try to fill yours.

I need to fight, don't lose.

Keep on the path and through the door.

I can't be strong without you.

Lord, O Lord.

I have to fight tonight to prove the best of me.

I'll never lose.

I'll keep walking till I find my shoes.

You'll find your peace in him.

Gonna find a place with Him.

Gonna find your peace with Him.

Keep on walking.

Yeah.

Ooh, ooh, ooh.

Oh, oh, yeah.

Find my shoes.

I'll never lose.

I'll keep walking till I find my shoes.