A novel by Christian suspense author Frank Peretti set in The '90s.
Nothing ever happens in the sleepy town of Antioch, Washington. That is, until people start seeing angels, a weeping crucifix heals a janitor's arthritis, and Brandon Nichols comes to town.
An unassuming preacher, Nichols rapidly attracts a large following with his message of universal love and social altruism, and his ability to heal; and also raises questions as to his identity. Is he Jesus returned to Earth? An imposter with demonic ulterior motives? A simple do-gooder with divine powers?
Either way, burnt-out former pastor Travis Jordan wants nothing to do with it. But between Kyle Sherman — the on-fire newcomer who's replaced him as pastor of Antioch's Pentecostal church — regularly pulling him into it, and Nichols' own curious interest in him, he gets dragged into the ensuing chaos.
Tropes seen in this book include:
- Ambiguously Brown: Nichols is described as appearing of Middle Eastern, or Mediterranean, or Hispanic, or Native American origin. This allows him to pass himself off as Jesus (Middle Eastern) and the real Brandon Nichols (Native American). He has Hispanic ancestry on his mother's side.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Every person who gets something from Nichols ends up regretting it in one way or another.
- Berserk Button: Kyle hits Travis' when he tells him they're going to "take this town for Christ!"
- Blessed with Suck: Tying into Be Careful What You Wish For above, Don Anderson becomes a Techno Wizard, and is gradually driven insane when he can't shut off hearing any technological device around him.
- Christianity is Catholic: Averted. In addition to a Catholic church, Antioch has Pentecostals, Baptists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyterians and the Apostolic Brethern.
- Dead Person Impersonation: Nichols' real name is Justin Cantwell. He killed the real Nichols and stole his identity.
- Easy Evangelism: Subverted. Various characters demonstrate belief in it, or attempt to invoke it, and Nichols accomplishes it - but it's revealed that a faith easily received is not usually a faith that changes anything.
- Establishing Character Moment: When Travis first meets Kyle, the younger man is exuberant, on fire for God, and clueless.
- Family-Unfriendly Violence: What Justin Cantwell's father did to him. And what Justin did to him.
- The Film of the Book: Made into a low-budget film, with
Randy Travis as Kyle Sherman. - Flashback: A little less than half of the story is Travis recalling his past as a pastor's kid and a pastor himself, and what relevance it has to the current situation.
- Good Feels Good: What people realize when they start following Nichols and his pro-social messages. At first.
- Good Shepherd: Travis, Kyle, and 90% of the other ministers in Antioch genuinely care about their parishoners and the other people in their town.
- Happily Married: Most couples in Antioch - Kyle and his wife, Jim and Dee Baylor, Brett Henchle and his wife, and multiple couples mentioned in flashback. The marriage we hear the most about is Travis and Marian Jordan's, though she's died of cancer before the start of the book.
- Jade-Colored Glasses: Travis, thanks to years of hard knocks and the loss of his wife.
- "Not So Different" Remark: Nichols continually draws comparisons between himself and Travis, particularly Travis' life before he came to Antioch.
- Power Perversion Potential: Norman Dillard takes advantage of his healed eyesight to become a peeping tom.
- Required Secondary Powers: Don Anderson's Techno Wizard abilities didn't come with the ability to turn off.
- Sympathy for the Devil: Travis for Justin Cantwell aka Brandon Nichols, when he learns what happened.But I had never been in such a place as Nechville - and I know I'd never been in such a place as Justin's backyard. I only thought I had, and I was acting like it ... Now I was sorry. Desperately sorry.
- Techno Wizard: Don Anderson, after being touched by Nichols.
- We ARE Struggling Together: The various church ministers may have similar goals, but they don't always agree on how best to reach them.
- Wide-Eyed Idealist: Kyle Sherman. Travis, when he was younger.
