The Apostle

As the charismatic Pentecostal preacher Euliss F. "Sonny" Dewey (played by) grappled with the shattering discovery of his wife Jessie's adulterous affair with Horace, a youth minister, Sonny's world began to unravel. Despite Jessie's refusal to reconcile and her calculated efforts to oust him from their church using its bylaws, Sonny remained steadfast in his commitment to the congregation that had once been his spiritual home. His pleas for guidance to God went unanswered, leaving him emotionally adrift as the majority of the flock sided with Jessie.

The breaking point came at a Bible-camp softball game, where an intoxicated and grief-stricken Sonny launched into a violent outburst against Horace, ultimately sending the youth minister into a coma that would prove fatal. Fleeing from the consequences of his actions, Sonny abandoned his identity and destroyed any remnants of his past, rebaptizing himself as "The Apostle E. F." He left Texas behind, seeking solace in the bayous of Louisiana, where he found a sympathetic ear in retired minister Blackwell.

Together, they hatched a plan to start anew, with Sonny working odd jobs to fund their endeavors and broadcasting his message on local radio stations. As "The Apostle E. F.", Sonny's unbridled energy and charisma drew a diverse flock of followers, including a reformed racist construction worker who found redemption through Sonny's teachings. His personal life, however, was another matter entirely. When he discovered that his new love interest had reconciled with her husband and children, Sonny's heart was shattered once more, prompting him to vow never to return to that chapter of his life.

Jessie eventually caught wind of Sonny's new existence through a radio broadcast, prompting her to notify the authorities. As the police arrived at an evening service, they allowed Sonny to finish his impassioned sermon before taking him away. In the poignant finale, Sonny delivered one last sermon to his flock before departing, leaving behind only the faintest glimmer of hope.

In the final scene, Sonny found himself among a chain gang, preaching to fellow inmates as they labored alongside a highway, their lives forever entwined with the struggles and triumphs of "The Apostle E. F."