We've all heard those crazy stories about A-List movie stars who got discovered by answering an ad in the paper for models. But if you're like me, you've been skeptical about the truth of those stories.

Apparently, however, some of those stories really are true, because I actually interviewed just such an actor. His name is Cameron Arnett. To say Cameron's life has been an adventure ride is sort of like saying a ton of flour can make a really big biscuit.

Cameron left his home in Haiti to attend the University of Miami intent on becoming a doctor. To make a little extra money, he REALLY did answer an ad in the paper for an agency looking for models. He found out he liked modeling. He did a little acting and found out he was good at that too. He ventured north to New York and was eventually signed by Elite, one of the largest talent agencies in the entertainment industry. His acting career looked promising, so he made the move to Los Angeles.

He was getting steady work and was making a fantastic living as an actor in supporting roles on tv shows like Miami Vice, China Beach, Doogie Howser, MD and my personal favorite, Star Trek: The Next Generation. (And no, I DID NOT geek out on him and ask all kinds of Trekkie questions, but thank you for asking.) By this time, he was married and had two children. By all accounts, his dreams were coming true and it seemed as if his life was about to get even better.

Cameron's big break came when he was cast in a starring role on a TV series of his own. He got all the way through the process and was finally ready to sign the contract on the role a lifetime. Then, at the eleventh hour, the producers came in with one of those, "Oh, by the way, we need you to be willing to do this one thing," requirements.

As a matter of conscience, Cameron refused to agree to that last condition. He had no idea at the time just how much it would cost him. The big break role evaporated, his agent subsequently dropped him, his wife ended up leaving him and he went from living in a comfortable home and driving a fancy car to bankruptcy. At his lowest point, he was living in a room provided for him by a woman who was on welfare herself.  But, as is often the case, the big God we serve has big plans for our lives. God was just preparing the way for something even better for Cameron.

You'd think that to stand on principle the way he did, Cameron must have been a very devout Christian. He tells me he really wasn't. Growing up in Haiti, he was raised with a Christian veneer; however, there was also a heavy dose of Voodoo to go with it. But as a child, his mother had always made him read and memorize the book of Proverbs. He credits this early scriptural grounding with providing his moral direction. He didn't realize it at the time, but now he understands it was Jesus using Proverbs to draw him to Himself and divert him from evil.

Cameron walked away from acting for many years. He choose, instead, to work in ministry...thinking he was done with the entertainment business. Then, through an unbelievable series of events, he moved to Georgia and married a Godly woman with whom he owns a production studio. Oh, and by the way, he's also staring in the new Kendrick Brothers' movie, "Overcomer." This seems very appropriate, because if anyone is an overcomer, it's Cameron Arnett.

Cameron's entertainment world odyssey is a fascinating tale of highs and lows and of how he allowed himself to be restored by Jesus. Cameron shares his story, but he also has a lot to say about the movie industry, especially the Christian movie industry, and our need as believers to support Christian filmmakers. He is very encouraged by what he sees as ample opportunity for Christians in film.

One of the things I love most about interviewing guests is the uncertainty of what they will tell me. It doesn't matter how much show prep I do, guests always manage to tell me something completely unexpected. Sometimes it's after we've stopped recording and I'm like, "Man, I wish we'd had that on tape!" But just as often, it happens in the interview, and I love when I get a real surprise. Listen closely to the interview with Cameron as he tells us about his wife. It's a "Wait! What? No Way!" kind of story.