[Holmes:] In today's "Faces of Faith", a man whose day job is to be crucified and resurrected, six days a week, to entertain tourists. Les Cheveldayoff says he did not seek out the lead role at the Holy Land Experience theme park in Orlando, the role found him. He joins us now from Orlando to explains what it's like to be Jesus. My goodness, Jesus I have needed to talk to you for quite some time.
[Les Cheveldayoff, Portrays Jesus:] I'll tell you, it's very humbling, T.J. It's an amazing responsibility, but I tell you God has really blessed me with an amazing job. Very unique job that I take very seriously.
[Holmes:] Really, doing that day in and day out, we kind of joke here, you heard a lot of jokes and whatnot about it, you are doing serious work there. And certainly trying to get through to people, does it take an emotional toll on you having to do that day in and day out?
[Cheveldayoff:] Yeah. I used to do a lot of plays. It's different when you get ready for a play, you can get psyched up for it. Or whatever, but when this is a daily thing, you really have to dig deep. Prayer is huge. We pray a lot right before going out there, just to get rid of yourself, the stuff going on in the day. T.J, it's kind of interesting. I have a place, a point when I drive onto the property, I just say OK, this is it. I'm leaving my past behind, leaving everything behind. And now, you know, going into the role of Christ, which is, honestly, an amazing responsibility.
[Holmes:] It's called a theme park. I guess it could be misleading, or it could be dead-on what would you say? Is theme park the accurate way to describe the Holy Land Experience you have going on there?
[Cheveldayoff:] It's a spiritual theme park, if you will. I think a lot of people looking for rides and stuff like that. What we have to offer is basically you get to see Bible stories. You get to experience Bible time, things that you probably heard, read about, whatever at church. You can experience those firsthand. I'll tell you our motto is basically life-changing. You know, bringing the Bible to life, to all who enter our gates. And that's what we do. You will go away from there, changed completely.
[Holmes:] Could this role that you play, do you think it could be played by someone who simply needed a job, and who was an actor? Or does it take someone deeply religions to play this kind of role?
[Cheveldayoff:] That's a good question. I think it has to go down further. It's got to be something that is in you, that you just take a lot of pride in. Because, really, the hardest part of this job is not necessarily on set. On set I'm expected to do certain things. I'm right on letter, which is the words that Christ's speaks. It is off-set. It's your lifestyle. People see what you are doing away from the Holy Land Experience. You know, how you drive. Things you do at the mall. Places you hang out and stuff. It's pretty humbling.
[Holmes:] Do you have to be really careful? Here to kind of wrap up, it's about the experience, day in and day out. The people, certainly, when people see you maybe, certainly, we have it in context here, looking at you, but if people just see you out and about. Do you get some stares? And do you to be careful? You can't exactly be seen out there taking back shots of Patrone at the local bar, if you know what I mean.
[Cheveldayoff:] You got that right, T.J. I tell you, it's improved my driving. The last thing you want is a Christ figure cutting you off, or something. It's been interesting for my family and all. It's been very interesting for my wife. We can't go out to eat you know, someone is always coming up. That's, again, another responsibility. It's something you have to take along with and spend the time. Kids in the mall, "Hey, Jesus!" You have to stop and spend the time. Last thing you want is some poor kid to be damaged and said the Christ figure dissed them right there. Said, "See, ya. Didn't even talk to me. It's quite an experience.
[Holmes:] I bet it is, well, Les Cheveldayoff, again, is playing the character, lead role of Christ at the Holy Land Experience, theme park in Orlando. Sir, Thank you for your time. I can't help, can't resist by saying Thank you, Jesus. We appreciate you this morning.
[Cheveldayoff:] God bless you. Nice talking with you,
[T.j. Holmes:] Good talking to you. Brianna.
[Keilar:] Where animals are under threat, right after this, the story of one man risking his life to protect the mountain gorilla. He's a "CNN Hero" this morning.
[Wolf:] And hi, America. Hope you're having a great day, great weekend. However you won't get much of a break this weekend in terms of the heat. Expecting triple digits again. And T.J., go away I swear he's on the other side of this camera dancing and doing goofy things. We'll take care of him, coming up in just a few moments.