Ron’s grandmother stops his mother from throwing him out the window as a baby. The next seven years he endures his mother’s drunkenness, immorality and neglect while his dad is away in the army. He and his older brother join gangs in Brooklyn. His mother finally sends the children by bus to live with their dad who has remarried. The family moves to North Carolina where a woman prays for them and takes them to church. Ron’s dad and stepmother get drunk and fight every weekend. His dad wants Ron to be in show business and gets him onto a local radio station. His brother joins the Air Force, is saved and comes home to witness. Ron professes faith but is really saved during a revival weeks later. The first part ends as Ron witnesses to his dad.