Walking Across Egypt is the heartwarming story of Mattie Rigsby whose unconventional path crosses that of Wesley Benfield, played by Jonathan Taylor Thomas, a 17 year old orphaned teenager who has been confined to a detention center. Mattie believes in helping the "lesser of these thy brethren." Their relationship soon begins to fulfill an overwhelming and profound need in both of them. On the opposite ends of the cultural and generational spectrum, they prove "needing to be needed" knows no age or cultural barriers.