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Ministry in Acting
Posted by Les Puryear in Uncategorized
One of my favorite hobbies is acting. I don’t care for theater. I’m a film actor. One of my latest films is “Wesley”, which is scheduled to be in theaters next March. I stumbled onto this acting thing a few years back (about 13 years now), and it has given me a great opportunity to be a witness for the Lord Jesus to the film community here in North Carolina. When people on the set ask me what I do for a living, I’m always honest and tell them I’m a Southern Baptist pastor. A lot of these folks have never met a pastor in such an informal setting before, so many of them have questions about Christianity. This gives me an opportunity to tell them about Christ.
Some of the religious perspectives I’ve run across on film sets over the years include Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and New Age. However, the most frequent belief system I’ve seen among film folk is Wiccan. I am not overt about being a Christian and I don’t run around giving everybody on the set a gospel tract. However, most people on the set know who I am, what I do, and in Whom I believe.
We don’t have many Christians in the film community here in North Carolina. Acting is a hobby with me but I also consider it a very important ministry. I know of no better way to reach the film community than actually working side-by-side with these people and showing them the love, mercy, and grace of Christ. We need more Christians active in the film industry.
Do you have a hobby that is ministry as well?
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Les,
I thought that was you in Gladiator! Seriously, that sounds like fun and a great ministry. What other movies have you been in?
Over the last few years, I have developed a passion for gardening. We grew a big garden here at the church parsonage this past summer and were able to give lots of tomatoes, peppers, etc. away to friends, church folks and guests who dropped by. Now I am enrolled in the Master Gardener program with the Department of Agriculture. When I finish classes in March, I will have the opportunity to teach classes in schools, for homeowner associations, and at our local Environmental Center and host a booth at park openings, and special community events. I am looking forward to the opportunity to build relationships with folks in this way. We also plan to have a farmstand in the spring, and sell produce as a homeschool project with my kids. This will also give us an opportunity to meet people in our community.
I like to fish and hunt … shoot critters and eat them. But fishing is my absolute favorite, especially salt-water. Whenever I fish the surf, I always keep an extra chair nearby for passers-by. It always gives me opportunities to have conversations with folk on the beach. And, like you Les, it seems to dumbfound people when I just invited them to sit down, beer in hand, and they find out I am a Baptist pastor. It’s amazing how far a little non-judgmental, smiling, friendly, genuine love will go in tearing down those walls. I think we Baptists are often-times more worried about the “symptoms” of our culture than we are about the actual spiritual “disease.”
… And being the father of two blond-haired high school beauties, I also enjoy showing teen-age boys my firearms collection. (Right C.B.?)
les,
i find it very funny and ironic that a five point calvinist is acting in a film about john wesley. do you see the humor in that, my calvinistic bro.?
les, i’m glad that you have a hobby you love, and it can be a time of ministry and outreach. really, whatever gets us out there where the people are is the best way to do evangelism. i love ball games. i’m a football, baseball, basketball nut. i go to many high school and jr. high games and meet folks. also, in a small town like i live in going to restaurants gives me many opportunities to meet people and to do what i like very much…eat good food.
les, this was a good, thought provoking post. thanks.
david
I think you pastors have an “easier in” to talking spiritual things because you have an open door as soon as you tell them your profession. Lay people have to work a bit harder at getting to that point. So how do I use my hobby as a witness? Well, I have a 5k road race on Turkey day (and the forecast is for COLD) and I’m planning on racing in my Spurgeon t-shirt. I’m sure I’ll get a few curious types wondering why I have someone’s face on a t-shirt. We all have a God given passion in us to enjoy His common grace. Even unbelievers enjoy His favor through common grace, e.g. a sunrise, a cold drink on a hot day, etc. I believe it is for us, who have been regenerated by His special Grace to let those know why it is they enjoy the common with the goal that they too can experience His special.
John,
We don’t have quite the “easier in” you may think we have. Often times, when we tell people what we do, it’s something of a conversation-killer. At least, that’s what I encounter from time to time.
I enjoy working out at the gym. I’ve always met unchurched people there (in the States and here in the Philippines).
Maybe it’s one of those “the grass is always greener things” because often times I’m left with little to no segue in finding out what this person is hanging eternity on. After all, they’re counting on something; I’ve already counted on someone. Also, this could be an interesting question for future discussion. I’m currently in the process of ending 14 years of Federal service to begin a career in law enforcement. In talking to one of the detectives, I mentioned that at one time I was considering full-time Christian service and he said that they get quite a few applicants with those same thoughts. He felt like the two professions were similar. Why do you think he said that?
Kevin,
I’ve met lots of people at the gym, too, but I have a little different methodology there. Usually I pull a muscle, or pass out on the treadmill or the stairmaster. It’s amazing how you can build relationships with people who think you are in need of emergency medical care.
Les,
It’s almost impossible for me to maintain any sort of pastoral anonymity here. I’ve been here too long and too many people know me. I coach little league baseball, and I meet lots of lost people, but I still have to work through the pastoral facade stuff. Working as a hospice chaplain is the best way I meet and build relationships with people who are lost and/or of other faiths. There is much less facade and expectation with a “chaplain” than there is with a “pastor.” I also fly RC airplanes and do lots of ministry there. I tried golf, but golf is very bad for my Christian witness.
Roger,
The list of films is too long to list here. Most have been MOVs (Movies of the Week) and a lot of short films. I have had the pleasure of working with Mary Tyler Moore, Linda Lavin, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Angelica Huston, and Danny Glover. It’s amazing how normal they look in person.
Geoff,
Last week we were at Myrtle Beach for a few days and stopped to speak with some men who were surf fishing. They weren’t catching much but it’s easy to start a conversation with them.
David,
I did see the irony in being in Wesley. However, I was cast as an Anglican Vicar who was preaching against the Methodists so it wasn’t too far off target.
John,
I agree with Geoff that oftentimes when people learn that you are a pastor, the conversation grinds to a halt. It truly can be a hindrance to witnessing, however, I don’t let that excuse stop me.
Kevin,
I hear that the gym is a great place to interact with non-Christians. I don’t know because I’m too lazy to go to the gym.
Cyle,
Sounds like you have a lot of ways to reach the unchurched. I play golf with church members so I have to behave. It’s not easy.
Les
les,
i was so hoping that you were playing wesley.
david