DESCRIPTION

Based on Joseph Girzone's best-selling novel, this thought-provoking film asks, "What if Jesus visited small-town America today?"

We all knew he was different. And we all knew he was somehow special. But none of us knew how much trouble we were in. And how much we would end up needing him..."

A man arrives in a small town. At first, no one knows his name; no one knows where he came from. He's strong. He's smart. He's "easy on the eyes." The locals want to call him a stranger, but when they meet him, he makes them feel quite the opposite - like they've known him their whole lives.

Theo, a lovable giant of a man, is the first to shake his hand, the first to learn his name. "Joshua." It's one seemingly simple sound that soon makes its way around town, into the hearts and minds of young and old. Joshua's name falls on the lips of Maggie, the pretty local girl-turned-news anchorwoman. It reaches Kevin, a troubled teen searching for his place in the world. Joshua's name reassures Joan, a housewife trying to put passion back into her marriage, and it reaches into the soul of a revival tent preacher to pull out a lifetime of shame.

Joshua is seemingly everywhere at once, making the kind of impression that few have ever felt. But it is exactly this influence that creates a division between the stubbornly orthodox Father Tardone and the well-meaning but less-than-confident Father Pat, two priests who believe very strongly in the same thing, but in very different ways.

"Sometimes you gotta' tear something down to build it back up again."

As a carpenter, that's one of Joshua's favorite sayings. So when the charismatic stranger sets his sights on re-building the burnt down Baptist church, it comes as little surprise that many in the town, regardless of their faith, lend a hand. But what ends up getting built back up are each of their lives, their hearts, their trust in themselves and each other. Joshua has shown them how to believe. Especially Father Pat. And that draws the scrutiny of Father Tardone, who is not pleased with Joshua and his hold over the community.

"Deep in the hearts of so many people, there's an emptiness that nothing in this world can fill," Joshua admits, and this is especially true for the seasoned pastor. Why does he shun what others embrace?

When the reluctant priest finally recognizes the way, finally says the word through a whisper and a tear, it comes with the force of a revelation. "Joshua." It is an exclamation of faith, a declaration of love and the realization that hope indeed does have a name.

That name is "Joshua."