History Literature / TheVisitation

* TheFilmOfTheBook: Made into [[Film/TheVisitation a low-budget film]], with [[WTHCastingAgency Randy Travis]] as Kyle Sherman.

Either way, burnt-out former pastor Travis Jordan wants [[RefusalOfTheCall nothing to do with it]]. But between [[WideEyedIdealist Kyle Sherman]] -- the on-fire newcomer who's replaced him as pastor of [[UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}} Antioch's Pentacostal church]] -- regularly pulling him into it, and Nichols' own curious interest in him, he gets dragged into the ensuing chaos.

* ChristianityIsCatholic: Averted. In addition to a Catholic church, Antioch has Pentacostals, Baptists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyterians and [[{{Cult}} the Apostolic Brethern]].

* ChristianityIsCatholic: Seriously averted. In addition to a Catholic church, Antioch has Pentacostals, Baptists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyterians and [[{{Cult}} the Apostolic Brethern]].

%%* TheFundamentalist: Ernest Cantwell.

* RequiredSecondaryPowers: [[spoiler: Don Anderon's TechnoWizard abilities didn't come with the ability to turn ''off''.]]

* WhamLine: Travis stops a growing debate in the church ministers meeting with one.
-->"Has anybody seen Jesus? ... If ''Jesus'' shows up, we'll really have something to talk about."

* [[LoadsandLoadsofCharacters Loads and Loads of Characters]]: Almost all of Antioch gets mentioned by name at one point or another.

* DeadPersonImpersonation: [[spoiler: Nichols' real name is Jason Cantwell. He killed the real Nichols and stole his identity.]]

* BittersweetEnding

* {{Cult}}: The Apostolic Brethren in a [[DownplayedTrope downplayed example]].

* TheDogBitesBack: And ''how''.
* EarnYourHappyEnding

* ForInconveniencePressOne: The Cathedral of Life.
* TheFundamentalist: Ernest Cantwell.

* GoodPowersBadPeople

* HeelFaceTurn
* KnightinSourArmor: Travis.

* NothingExcitingEverHappensHere: Antioch in a nutshell.

* RealMenLoveJesus:

* ResignedtoTheCall: Travis, eventually.
* RomanticFalseLead: Amber Carr for a younger Travis.
* SuperEmpowering: Brandon Nichols.

* VillainWithGoodPublicity: [[spoiler: Nichols]].
* VillainousBreakdown: In the latter half of the book, [[spoiler: Nichols.]]

* NotSoDifferent: Nichols continually draws comparisons between himself and Travis, particularly Travis' life before he came to Antioch.

* MonsterSobStory: The reason [[spoiler: Justin Cantwell/Brandon Nichols]] is the way he is.

* FamilyUnfriendlyViolence: What Justin Cantwell's father [[MonsterSobStory did to him]]. [[TheDogBitesBack And what Justin did to him.]]

* BerserkButton: PlayedForLaughs when [[NaiveNewcomer Kyle]] tells [[JadeColoredGlasses Travis]] they're going to "take this town for Christ!"

Either way, burnt-out former pastor Travis Jordan wants [[RefusaloftheCall nothing to do with it]]. But between [[WideEyedIdealist Kyle Sherman]] -- the on-fire newcomer who's replaced him as pastor of [[{{Christianity}} Antioch's Pentacostal church]] -- regularly pulling him into it, and Nichols' own curious interest in him, he gets dragged into the ensuing chaos.

* {{Cult}}: The Apostolic Brethren.

* HappilyMarried: Most couples in Antioch - Kyle and his wife, [[OddCouple Jim and Dee Baylor]], [[TheSheriff Brett Henchle and his wife]], and multiple couples mentioned in flashback. The marriage we hear the most about is Travis and Marian Jordan's, though she's died of cancer before the start of the book.

* LoadsandLoadsofCharacters: Almost all of Antioch gets mentioned by name at one point or another.

* TheRant: Hilariously, by Travis to Kyle on their [[EstablishingCharacterMoment first meeting]].
* RealMenLoveJesus: Peretti is a Christian; it was a given.
* RequiredSecondaryPowers: Don Anderon's TechnoWizard abilities didn't come with the ability to turn ''off''.

* TechnoWizard: Don Anderson, after being [[TouchedByVorlons touched by Nichols]].

An unassuming preacher, Nichols rapidly attracts a large following with his message of universal love and social altruism, and his ability to heal; and also raises questions as to his identity. Is he {{Jesus}} returned to Earth? An imposter with demonic ulterior motives? A simple do-gooder with divine powers?

* AmbiguouslyBrown: Nichols is described as appearing of Middle Eastern, or Mediterranean, or Hispanic, or Native American origin. [[spoiler: This allows him to pass himself off as {{Jesus}} (Middle Eastern) and the [[DeadPersonImpersonation real]] Brandon Nichols (Native American). He has Hispanic ancestry on his mother's side]].

* BittersweetEnding:
* ChristianityisCatholic: Seriously averted. In addition to a Catholic church, Antioch has Pentacostals, Baptists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyterians and [[{{Cult}} the Apostolic Brethern]].

* TheFilmoftheBook: Made into a low-budget film, with [[WTHCastingAgency Randy Travis]] as Kyle Sherman.

A novel by Christian suspense author Frank Peretti set in TheNineties.

NeedsMoreLove.

* WideEyedIdealist: Kyle Sherman.

* Wide-Eyed Idealist: Kyle Sherman.

[[NothingEverHappensHere Nothing ever happens]] in the sleepy town of Antioch, Washington. That is, until people start seeing angels, a weeping crucifix heals a janitor's arthritis, and Brandon Nichols comes to town.