Entertainers Speak Out

One of the goals of MFI is to help Christians in the industry find a way to talk about their Christianity.  Sometimes it's difficult for them to know when to talk - or what to say.  MFI can provide a platform from which Christians in the media may communicate their faith.

Doug Jones  — 

"Show biz gives us so many opportunities to not act like a Christian. Like when I was faced with saying a particular profanity in a feature film. I could have said, "No I will not say this line because I’m a Christian!", and left myself (and other Christians) open to ridicule. The trick was to be respected as an artist, and offer an alternative. So I told the director my idea of a rewritten line that actually made more sense for my character and helped better define that moment in the movie. He loved it, and to this day, it remains a funny/ poignant moment in what has become a semi-classic family film. My faith was never brought into the transaction, yet everyone on the set still knew I was a Christian."

- Doug Jones & wife, Laurie. Doug is a character actor and a mime and has appeared in many movies, usually in a costume. Movies include Warriors of Virtue, Hocus Pocus, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Mystery Men, Hook, as well as many commercials.

Jennifer O'Neill   — 

"There are a lot of "closet Christians" in Hollywood because they innately know there exists black-balling and prejudice against professed believers in the entertainment business. It’s "in" to be a Scientologist, Buddhist, or New Age Guru, but all hell breaks loose if one is to say, "Jesus Christ" ...(unless of course you are swearing!)...

It is so disappointing that the enormous potential of Christian outreach remains virtually dormant in the entertainment field. Someone once asked me, if Christ were on the earth today, where would He be? I said I had no idea. Their answer was simply stated. "He’d be in Hollywood, making movies." It was an interesting concept because the entertainment business is so powerful by nature of its impact and scope. I can’t help but get annoyed that every Christian movie or project seems doomed by its "dollar ninety-eight" budget and vision.

I sit on the board of Media Fellowship, a worldwide Ministry for support of Christians in front of, and behind, the camera. Members include everyone from Newsanchors, Stuntmen, Producers, Studio Heads, Editors, Writers, Actors...you get the point. We are all intent on creating and distributing an entertainment product that is top notch as well as compelling. At the same time, we seem to always be forced to work with a tiny budget. What is wrong with this picture...literally? God doesn’t want His children on tiny budgets, personally, creatively, or business wise. God wants us prosperous, generous, strong and healed! The people who run Hollywood, for the most part, are not family minded, rather the almighty dollar sits on their throne. If the public makes it clearly known that we want better entertainment with values and inspirational messages, that is what Hollywood will produce. We’re the consumer, after all."

- Jennifer O’Neill’s career includes Cover Girl, Rio Lobo, The Summer of ’42 among many others. Jennifer recently released her biography, Surviving Myself and her new book, Fallen to Forgiven.

Dyan Cannon  — 

"The Amplified version of Ephesians 1:23 says "...which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all (for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everwhere with Himself)." I depend on that every second of every day in absolutely everything that I do and anywhere that I am."

Dyan Cannon has a long list of films and TV shows to her credit, but her "God’s Party" ministry takes top priority.

"I moved to Los Angeles in 1994 to further my career as a stuntman. I was not a believer and did not go to church. After 8 months of struggling to make ends meet. I began to search for some spirituality. After looking at some different religions I came back to my roots of Christianity, as that was what my family believes. Started going to church, and one night at my home I dropped to my knees and asked Jesus into my life. I and my career have been greatly blessed since then. I have some truly incredible jobs and opportunities. Only thru my personal relationship with the Lord have I been able to stay stable in the film and television business. As it can have great temptations, ups and downs. Now I can’t imagine trying to survive in this industry without God’s love. That unstableness that the industry sometime has, taught me to truly trust in the Lord. I believe that it is no coincidence that I had to move to LA to become a Christian. I try to shine His light in the industry were ever I can. Through prayer, a good church and MFI, it’s essential in relating with other Christians in the biz. Some times it’s a fight, but it’s the good fight!"

- You’ve seen Allen Robinson doubling Tom Hanks in Forest Gump, running from the boulder in Indiana Jones,in Rocky and Bullwinkle, Walker Texas Ranger and many more - all doing precarious stunts.