Changes

As with any movie adaptation, there will be significant differences between the events in the book and the movie.  Major ones include:

As with any movie adaptation, there will be significant differences between the events in the book and the movie.  Major ones include:

*Although Calvary Chapel was struggling with Smith took over, by the time he met Lonnie, the church had already grown and built a new facility.  However, it was still a primarily Anglo, conservative congregation.

*Although Calvary Chapel was struggling with Smith took over, by the time he met Lonnie, the church had already grown and built a new facility.  However, it was still a primarily Anglo, conservative congregation.

*The movie has Greg and Laurie both in high school at the same time, and together finding faith in Christ.  In reality, Greg had already left high school by the time Cathe entered (Greg is five years older than Cathe), and did not meet until Cathe started attending Calvary Chapel, where Greg was leading Bible study.

*The movie has Greg and Laurie both in high school at the same time, and together finding faith in Christ.  In reality, Greg had already left high school by the time Cathe entered (Greg is three years older than Cathe), and did not meet until Cathe started attending Calvary Chapel, where Greg was leading Bible study.

*The movie portrays Lonnie as unwilling to accept a role teaching a Bible study at a nearby Episcopalian church, believing that Chuck Smith was trying to push him out of the church, whereupon Greg agrees to do it, only to have it fail and Smith not to stand up for him (later giving him the keys to a former Baptist church building as repayment).  In reality Lonnie did lead the study for a time before he decided to leave Florida, whereupon Greg took over.  The study actually didn't fail; the church (not comfortable with the type of services held) pulled out of support, whereupon the study was relocated to the former Baptist church; eventually growing into Harvest Christian Fellowship.

*The movie portrays Greg's mother as not understanding Greg's new-found faith.  In reality, his mother grew up in a Christian home, but rebelled in her teenage years (though near the end of her life, she returned to her childhood faith).

*The movie portrays Greg's mother as not understanding Greg's new-found faith.  In reality, his mother grew up in a Christian home, but rebelled in her teenage years (though near the end of her life, she returned to her childhood faith).

*Notably, the later life of Lonnie Frisbee is highly sanitized, even in the final clips, which only mention his involvement in the Vineyard Church movement and that he and Smith later reconciled.  Nothing is mentioned about his divorce from his wife, his "open secret" involvement in the homosexual lifestyle (though preaching against it), and that his death at age 43 was due to HIV/AIDS.

*Notably, the later life of Lonnie Frisbee is highly sanitized, even in the final clips, which only mention his involvement in the Vineyard Church movement and that he and Smith later reconciled.  Nothing is mentioned about his divorce from his wife, his "open secret" involvement in the homosexual lifestyle (though preaching against it), and that his death at age 43 was due to HIV/AIDS.