Film All Saints
Michael Spurlock is leaving his career in corporate sales to become a pastor. Michael's first assignment was at All Saints Country Church in Tennessee. It's hard to get a dozen parishioners to attend services. Michael meets his flock at a gala meeting. Spurlock is tasked by Bishop Eldon Thompson with taking inventory of the property and preparing it for sale. Parishioners mourn the inevitability of closure. The pastor must close the church permanently and sell the church lands. The priest and his family hope to set down roots in a new location in a more prosperous parish when All Saints' Church closes. Michael meets a farmer and tries to get to know him near the church bus. The farmer openly expresses his dislike for the newly appointed pastor and his dissatisfaction with the impending closure of the church. Michael and his wife Aimee gossip before bed about the parishioners they saw.
The next day, the pastor sees yesterday's acquaintance from the church window. One of the parishioners tells Michael the story of the difficult life of an unfriendly farmer named Forrest, who fought in Vietnam. An inventory of church property is underway. Michael understands that the church is a real home for many parishioners. The social assistance fund houses a group of Karen refugees from Burma. They come to the service at All Saints Church thanks to an advertisement they saw. Michael meets new parishioners. Late in the evening, the Karen find themselves on the threshold of the priest's house. They talk about their difficulties and ask for shelter in the church. In the morning, all Karens who need shelter come to the service. The pastor becomes sympathetic. The Karen are asking permission to grow vegetables on church lands. A pastor discusses the fate of refugees with his son after the church closes.
Michael tries to raise money for the Karens at a charity dinner. Future developers are closely monitoring the state of affairs of the acquired property. A conflict arises between the pastor and the developers. He kicks them out of the church. Doubts plague Michael because of his unauthorized act. At night he is left alone with his thoughts. Caught in sudden rain, the pastor makes a fateful decision. He wants to start a farm on the lands around the church. Spurlock argues with the bishop and discusses issues of faith. Thompson shared a story from his life. He is skeptical. Michael gets the go-ahead to develop a farm around the church. He discusses his plan to save the church and the Karens with the parishioners. The idea of working together unites everyone, but Forrest is again dissatisfied. He takes the pastor to his former farm and shows him how the farm should be organized. The farmer warns Michael and speaks openly about the exploitation of immigrant manual labor in America. He does not believe the priest and accuses him of careerism.
In the evening, the pastor discusses with his wife the issues of socialization of the Karens and the education of their children. More and more refugees are arriving. They hardly fit into American realities. Aimee organizes a church choir of Karen children. They perform sacred music in their native language. The Council of Bishops discusses with Michael and the Karen representative Ye Win the possibilities of developing the farm and the prospects for the harvest. During a break, the pastor shares with Ye Win memories from his past life. He worked as a traveling salesman selling paper in a large company. Ye Win tells the council of bishops his personal story. The Council of Bishops allows the Karens and Michael to grow the crops. If successful, the church will be taken off the market. Forrest visits Ye Vin's family. He tells him about observing local traditions during church services. Sparlock's family is experiencing serious financial difficulties. There is a need for Forrest's help as an experienced farmer. The Karens begin sowing work. The pastor delivers a fiery sermon in the church about unifying work. Thanks to general enthusiasm, the harvest promises to be good.
Three months later, drought sets in. There are problems with watering. There are not enough workers. Some people can't handle the difficulties. Michael is desperately fighting for the harvest. Neighbors offer him an old field sprayer. This act becomes a good sign for everyone. The pastor goes to peace with Forrest and asks him for help. The farmer helps him with irrigation equipment. In the evening, a serious conversation took place between the pastor and his wife. Saddened Michael goes to an empty, dark church at night. The next morning, he negotiates to return to his old job. The priest took out another loan. He gives Forrest the money for the tractor. It seems that the harvest is now saved. Thanksgiving Day and the start of the harvest are approaching. Michael inspires parishioners and suggests celebrating the holiday while working in the fields. Ye Win expresses concern about the impending rain, which could ruin everything. It begins to rain. Parishioners are trying to build a dam from sandbags and save the fields from flooding. People work day and night. Michael is in charge of this operation.
Despite all efforts, it is not possible to completely save the crop. The Karens are desperate. Hopes are dying. The buyer refuses to purchase the crop. Michael suggests organizing a farmers market near the church and selling what they collect. A Nashville-based Asian restaurant chain is willing to buy back what it grows. The church bus is seized by the police and sent to the impound lot. Due to the heat, the cargo turns out to be spoiled. Ye Win is unable to hold back his sobs. Michael meets with the bishop and learns of the decision to sell the church. On the field, the pastor and Ye Win talk about their future fate. Michael holds his last service in a crowded church. A church choir of Karen children performs. Michael invites everyone to go out into the open air and delivers a wise sermon. The bishop takes the floor at the farewell dinner. He reports that All Saints Church is receiving missionary status and will not be closed. The parishioners are happy that they saved the church. Eldon Thompson steps down as bishop. Michael and his family are assigned to one of the New York parishes.
