Melissa Joan Hart is starring as Christian teacher Grace Wesley in the upcoming faith-based film "God's Not Dead 2."
In the film's new trailer, Grace finds herself facing an epic court battle after one of her students asked her about the similarities between Jesus' teachings and those of Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. She responds by saying that King's nonviolence was inspired by Christ's beliefs – a statement that gets her in trouble with school officials who demand she apologise for violating the "separation of church and state."
The student's parents then sue the teacher, arguing that Jesus, as a historical figure, never even existed.
But even at the risk of losing her job as she is dragged to court, Grace won't back down from her Christian beliefs. "I gave an honest answer to a student's legitimate question. I'm not going to be afraid, to say the name Jesus," says Grace. "I would rather stand with God and be judged by the world than stand with the world and be judged by God."
Grace's firm devotion to God is something that Hart wants to emulate in real life. Even though she is a Christian, Hart admitted that she has not always been vocal about her faith.
But things are about to change now.
"As far as my faith, I think it's important to share that those are my values and I'm going to use them to guide me through life and I'm not going to steer away from it, it's part of who I am." Hart told The Christian Post. "[I'm] really excited about it and prayed a lot over it. I felt like this was a great story to tell, important story to tell and I felt like it was my mission to be a part of it."
Aside from Hart, "God's Not Dead 2" also stars Ernie Hudson, Jesse Metcalfe, Pure Flix Entertainment CEO David A.R. White, Hayley Orrantia, Sadie Robertson, Robin Givens, Maria Canals-Barrera, Ray Wise and the late Fred Thompson. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and Pat Boone will be making cameos.
