The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry

In a small town in 1970, Dustin (Jansen Panettiere) and his buddies are looking forward to a long summer filled with fishing and friendship. But Dustin is unsettled -- he has a serious crush on Tanya, a girl from school who works in her dad's cafe. It's hard to know just how to win her over. And there's a problem -- the neighborhood bully likes Tanya, too, and he's a classic tormentor. When Dustin encounters Jonathan Sperry (Gavin MacLeod), a kindly widower whose lawn needs mowing, he finds himself confiding in the older man and getting thoughtful advice. As their relationship builds, Mr. Sperry reveals that he is a devout believer in God, Jesus, and the Bible; he urges Dustin to embrace faith for answers to his questions and resolution to his problems. Soon Dustin has helped Mr. Sperry widen his influence with a growing, regular Bible study group attended by Dustin's friends. A sudden tragedy makes the summer even more transformational for the boys. By the film's end new paths have been forged, new goals have been set, and growing up has taken on new meaning with faith as its cornerstone.