Individuals are not born to greatness, but through failure and defeat, they are prepared for it. Our struggles seem to define us more than our triumphs, and our character determines which path we choose.

What road would General George Washington take when offered absolute power? Would Captain John Smith accept his common birth as a limitation of his own achievements? Would Abraham Lincoln demand vengeance on the South after his victory in the Civil War? What beliefs would guide their decisions, and what life experiences shaped their character?

Nations as well are not born to greatness and must earn their places in history. Their trials can destroy them or make them even stronger. America was conceived in adversity and achieved greatness through the actions of its people in its darkest moments.

Six stories chronicle the lives of the people who guided a nation to greatness by relying on the Christian principles of providence, divine purpose, and perseverance. God would direct their paths to victory over the dark times. From the first settlements of Jamestown and Plymouth to the Civil War, we discover that greatness rarely comes from success, but often rises out of defeat. In our weakness, we are made strong.

Through the fires of struggle, individuals forged a nation into "a shining city on a hill." These fires would light the way through the dark for future generations of Americans across the world to see.