For the Sake of Appearances

Malachi once dreamed of being an astronaut, but his fear of flying kept his feet firmly planted on the ground. Instead, he works for the NASA Deep Space Network as a tour guide in California. He's held the same job for forty-two years, and he would have been happy to stay-until he hears a voice calling his name and soon realizes that voice is God. God tells him to leave and go east-as far east as God leads him. Malachi trusts enough to head out and keep walking east. His travels take him from California, through New Mexico, into Texas, and all the way to the city of East, North Carolina, where Malachi wanders into a church service one Sunday morning. There he realizes what he's been sent to do. All the singing and praising, the smiling and waving between congregation members-it's all a sham. Malachi sees right through them. Th e people of East, North Carolina, are frightened and weak. They need a revival, and Malachi, sent by God, may be the one man who can guide their souls back to Christ.