Kirk Cameron
Lifest (Oshkosh, WI)
July 11, 2004

At 17, Kirk Cameron was on top of this world. An established and popular TV star on the successful sitcom "Growing Pains," Cameron had already made "piles of money."

"I could have anything I wanted," he said, "and if I didn't have it, it was because I didn't want it." Cameron was also an atheist. But then a "cute girl" asked him to church. Cameron went because he might want to see this cute girl again. He didn't know it but his life was about to completely change.

Cameron spoke twice during the final day of Lifest at Oshkosh, WI. Once during a public Q&A session and the second time was just before the final Main Stage act, Jars of Clay.

As a teenager listening to his first sermon, Cameron said he realized he had everything but salvation. And that scared him. "I was being foolish. An atheist can't stand behind their assertion that God doesn't exist. The stupidest thing I ever could have done was to reject His Truth."

Now the former atheist has a passion to share the Gospel with others. He says it's "what we here on earth as Christians are supposed to do." Besides his speaking appearances, he's started a web site and co-produces a television show called "Way of the Master."

"Think of someone you know who's not saved but you may be afraid to share the Gospel with that person. I've found a way that's radically effective in training people to share the Gospel."

"The show (and web site) teaches you how Jesus shared the Gospel. Let's look at the Bible and see what Jesus did do and then follow in his footsteps." Using a hidden camera, the TV show presents people sharing the Gospel with a variety of others. Now that's reality TV.

"Way of the Master" airs on TBN as well as other satellite delivered channels.

Once he accepted Jesus as his savior, Cameron experienced some problems working in Hollywood, not so much the result of a cultural war but rather as a clash of values.

"Ultimately my faith did cause a problem (on "Growing Pains" and on the short-lived "Kirk"). It was either compromise my faith or upset the people I work with. I was looked at as a troublemaker. I was called a 'religious freak.' It was a matter of having integrity. I wanted to be the same person on Sunday as I was on Monday. I'm not perfect in my walk but I want to do the right thing."

Wanting to share his faith with youth groups and others, Cameron has also had some problems being taken seriously by other Christians. This was because people tended to judge him as his goofball TV character.

"Take me seriously? Mike Seaver with a Bible? C'mon." But he says it has actually been great. He feels that people can sometimes tune out those who look too serious.

"I love the Lord and want to encourage people in the faith and people know I'm serious."

Cameron has since starred as journalist Buck Williams in the first two screen adaptations of the "Left Behind" novels.

"Working on the 'Left Behind' movies was great. My wife finished the first book in two days and said I had to do this as a movie. The producers called two weeks later and offered me the role of Buck."

"I figured I had better read the book. I have to tell you that reading the book isn't the same as doing the movie. I know I'm bursting your bubble but I haven't finished the series. My bad."

As for additional "Left Behind" movies (there are 12 books in the series), Cameron says the producers are working on the third and fourth films but that they do not have the rights to use the original stories written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. As for his participation in those movies, Cameron says he's not certain if he'll be in them, it "depends on the storyline." But someone else could wind up playing his role.

For those who need to know this kind of stuff, Cameron was only able to stay in Oshkosh for the day. That's because he had to be in Los Angles the following day to tape interviews for the upcoming "Growing Pains" reunion show. It'll be interesting to see how the grown-up Mike Seaver character might reflect Kirk Cameron's present values.

Cameron closed his Main Stage presentation by urging the attentive audience not to be an "evangelistic chicken."

"Don't be afraid to offend. How are (nonbelievers) going to believe if we don't share the Gospel?"

"I came all this way for a reason. Today is the day of salvation. Trust Jesus to save you. Then be sincere as God knows a pretender."

"Put your nose into the Bible everyday. It is your spiritual food. And then share it. Make a vow not to be a lukewarm Christian."

To think this ministry started when someone asked the atheist Kirk Cameron to go to church with them. This got me to thinking, when was the last time I asked any one to church? What a difference it might make.

- Rob S.

http://www.wayofthemaster.com