Terry McMillan Presents: Preach, Pray, Love Review

Terry McMillan has spent more than 30 years writing about Black women who refuse to settle for less than real love. Her novels Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back became bestsellers and hit movies. Now her name sits above the title of a Lifetime romance with a faith-based twist. Terry McMillan Presents: Preach, Pray, Love first aired on Lifetime on November 8, 2025, and it recently landed on Netflix, where it climbed into the platform's most popular movies of the week.

It's a small, earnest love story about a rapper trying to rebuild her life and a pastor trying to hold his church together. Here's what it's about, who's in it and whether it's worth 87 minutes of your evening.

What it's about

Karrueche Tran plays Charlisa "Charlie" Jones, a platinum-selling rapper who performs as Charlie Mega. Her career took a hard hit after a DUI landed her in prison. Now she's out and newly sober, trying to start over with a growing faith.

Part of her fresh start is court-ordered community service, and that's what puts her in the path of Pastor Kyrus Owens, played by Mark J.P. Hood. He's a minister trying to raise money for a new home for his congregation. The two bond over their struggles, and before long, something more than friendship starts to grow.

Of course, not everyone is happy about it. Kyrus's congregation starts to question his commitment to the church, and Charlie wrestles with how to square her public image with her desire for redemption. According to Movieguide, a rival pastor even circulates photos of the pair to discredit Kyrus. Both of them have to decide whether their relationship is worth the risk to their careers, and they lean on honesty and prayer to try to win over each other's worlds.

The cast

Karrueche Tran leads the film, and she's also one of its executive producers. Many viewers know her from Claws and from her years in the public eye, and the role of a famous artist trying to change how people see her is an interesting fit.

Mark J.P. Hood plays Pastor Kyrus. He's the steady, grounded half of the couple, the one trying to keep his promises to his church while his heart pulls him somewhere unexpected.

The supporting cast mixes actors and music personalities. Rapper and radio host Da Brat appears, along with Tobias Truvillion, comedian B. Simone and Reginae Carter. Galen J. Williams and Dawn Halfkenny round out the ensemble. For an audience that knows these names from music and reality TV, that's part of the fun.

Who made it

The film was directed by Damon Lee, who is also an executive producer. Michael Elliot and Cory Tynan wrote the script. D'Angela Proctor executive produced for Undaunted Content.

It premiered on Lifetime as part of the network's "Love of a Lifetime" programming and is one of the films released under the Terry McMillan Presents banner. That name sets an expectation: stories centered on Black women and their personal growth, with a lot of heart.

Faith at the center

This isn't just a romance with a church in the background. Faith is at the heart of the story. Movieguide notes that the film has "a strong Christian worldview," with prayer, church attendance and Scripture woven into the plot.

That makes it a good fit for viewers who enjoy faith-based dramas, and it gives the central romance real stakes. Charlie isn't just trying to win over a man. She's trying to prove that her faith is real, even as coworkers accuse her of faking it. And Kyrus isn't just risking his reputation. He's risking his calling.

It also keeps things fairly clean. The film is rated TV-14. According to Movieguide, there's some strong language, discussion of past drinking and drug use and kissing, but no nudity or violence.

What critics said

As a TV movie, Preach, Pray, Love hasn't drawn much attention from major critics. The most detailed review comes from Movieguide, which gave it a "Skip It" rating and an entertainment score of 1 out of 4.

The site praised the message but not the writing. Its verdict was that the film "promotes a strong message of faith and redemption, but a weak script squanders it." The review found the script repetitive and the climax unearned.

That's a common complaint about TV romances, which often move fast and hit familiar beats. For many viewers, though, familiar is exactly what they're looking for.

Netflix gives it a second life

Like a lot of Lifetime movies, Preach, Pray, Love has found a new audience on Netflix. In the week ending October 17, 2026, it ranked No. 8 on What's on Netflix's list of the most popular movies on the platform.

That's a strong showing for a TV movie, and it says something about how much viewers want warm, low-stakes romances. Not every movie needs a big budget or famous director to find its people.

Who it's for

If you love faith-based romances or Lifetime love stories, this one is right in your lane. It's short and sincere, built around a hopeful message about redemption and second chances.

If you're a fan of Karrueche Tran, it's a chance to see her in a leading role that plays with her real-life fame.

If you want a sharp, surprising drama, though, it may feel too predictable. Critics say the story follows a well-worn path.

Should you watch it?

For a cozy night in, sure. At 87 minutes, it's an easy watch, and the faith-based message gives it more heart than the average TV romance.

I'll admit the setup is what I find most appealing. A rapper doing community service at a church and falling for the pastor is the kind of premise that writes its own jokes and its own drama. Even if the script doesn't make the most of it, it's a sweet idea.

So grab a blanket and root for Charlie and Kyrus. Sometimes the simplest love stories are the ones we come back to.