The Forge

Isaiah Wright is a 19-year-old who has yet to find his footing in life. His life revolves around two main passions: basketball and video games. However, his lack of direction and clear purpose at this stage in his life puts a strain on his relationship with his single mother, Cynthia. Feeling increasingly smothered by Isaiah's antics, Cynthia decides to take matters into her own hands. Cynthia presents Isaiah with an ultimatum: step up and take responsibility for his life, or move out and become entirely independent. This wake-up call shakes Isaiah to his core. For the first time in his life, he's forced to confront the fact that his carefree days of playing video games all day and sleeping in late are coming to an end. Faced with the prospect of being on his own, Isaiah hesitantly chooses the latter. Feeling lost and anxious about his decision, he's initially resistant to the idea of finding a new job. However, with the clock ticking down until he's no longer welcome at home, Isaiah begins to lose his free spirit and finally finds himself looking for employment. As fate would have it, Isaiah lands a job at Moore Fitness, a local gym owned by a businessman named Tyler Moore. Isaiah is initially uneasy about working at a gym, feeling that it's beneath him, but his mother's concerned warning that if he doesn't step up, he'll be out of her house gives him the motivation he needs to start working. At Moore Fitness, Isaiah is greeted by Tyler Moore, a charismatic entrepreneur who seems to have a passion for fitness that's unmatched. However, Tyler, also affectionately known as Ty by his employees, isn't just your average gym owner. He's a pastor at his church, and soon to be a mentor to Isaiah. Ty immediately recognizes Isaiah's potential and decides to take him under his wing, guiding him through the gym as well as his personal life. What began as another menial job quickly morphs into a journey of self-discovery for Isaiah. Tyler's words of wisdom and guidance begin to challenge Isaiah's worldview, forcing him to confront his past and come to terms with the consequences of his actions. Isaiah's also surprised to find that more than his job performance, his mentorship experience under Ty has been what inspires him, and that experience is what creates challenges for Isaiah to reconcile. As Isaiah starts to grow under Ty's mentorship, his job performance flourishes, earning him respect from his coworkers. Furthermore, Isaiah begins to see a new side of his boss – one that's truly compassionate and invested in his employees. Through conversations with Ty, Isaiah begins to explore the idea of purpose and meaning in his life, questions that stemmed from his aimless high school years. In the process of wrestling with his past and learning valuable lessons from Ty, Isaiah starts to put aside his selfish tendencies. He develops an appreciation for the relationships in his life, particularly with his mother, and his faith starts to flourish as he comes to realize that God may indeed have a greater plan for his life. This newfound sense of responsibility and awareness eventually translates into all areas of Isaiah's life, helping him to be a better friend, son, and eventually, a God-fearing young man.