It Is Well/This Is Chad Pearson?

Whit is in his office, listening to a tape of his church choir singing “It Is Well with My Soul.” Lucy enters and comments on how pretty the song is. Whit agrees that it’s a wonderful piece. He adds that the church has a rich tradition of hymns that are now almost forgotten. Whit says the story behind those words is extraordinary, describing the life of the hymn’s writer, Horatio G. Spafford.

Spafford suffered incredible tragedy in his life, losing his business to the great Chicago fire and his son to disease. Then, if that weren’t enough, he sent his wife and four daughters to England on an evangelistic tour and, on the way over, the boat sank in a storm. All four of his daughters drowned. Only his wife survived. Spafford left for England immediately. As his ship passed over the spot where his daughters were lost, Spafford wrote his most famous and inspirational verse: “When peace like a river, attendeth my way / When sorrow like sea billows roll / Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say / It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

At the Electric Palace one afternoon, Bart Rathbone notices Kim and Erica glued to the row of televisions. They are watching a show starring the character Chad Pearson. Bart notices how devoted the girls are to this TV personality, and he recognizes a potential money-making opportunity. He sponsors a contest. The winner gets to spend a day with the actor Nick Grant, who plays Chad Pearson!

The young girls of the town are ecstatic at the prospect, especially Erica. But she is terribly disappointed when the winner of the contest turns out to be . . . Connie Kendall! As it turns out, Connie couldn’t be less interested in the whole situation. Nick ends up to be a nice guy who isn’t at all like his television character, but who is lonely. And Connie ends up making a new friend.