His father abandons the family when Jim is five, leaving his mother to raise five children. His grandmother sends him to church and he works, but he and his brothers get into trouble, stealing, smoking, fighting. A classmate invites Jim to a Bible club when he’s sixteen, and he prays for salvation. Another classmate dies unexpectedly of a seizure and Jim realizes he must witness more. Unable to graduate, he joins the army, stands up for Jesus against a bully sergeant and breaks his hand. After the army he goes to Bible college, meets his wife and they become teachers.