Can he fake it?
Youth minister will become used car saleman for reality series
Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
GARDINER — Ever since a former roommate got a job selling used cars, Clark Bridge wondered if it is possible to live a good Christian life while also making the cash registers ring as an effective used car salesman.
Clark Bridge, a youth missioner at Christ Episcopal Church in Gardiner, listens to the choir during Sundayıs services. A film crew from The Learning Channel was present Sunday to shoot footage of Bridge, who is participating in a reality series called ³Faking It.² click to enlarge
The youth missioner at Christ Episcopal Church in Gardiner is about to find out, and television viewers nationwide will be able to watch.
Bridge, 35, is going to star as a used car salesman in Las Vegas on The Learning Channel reality television program "Faking It."
His former roommate "wrestled with the whole issue of 'Is it possible to live the Christian life — a life of integrity — and sell used cars?'" Bridge said. "I look at this as a chance to see, firsthand, if it's possible."
The premise of the television series is contestants spend a month working with mentors in a career drastically different from their own. Then the contestants must try to fool a panel of judges into believing they are professionals in that career. A previous episode, for example, featured a Harvard graduate and self-described geek who trained with National Football League cheerleaders in an effort to convince a panel of experts that she was a professional cheerleader.
In Bridge's case, he will be plucked from his environment as a religious youth leader in Gardiner and flown to Las Vegas for a four-week crash course on being a used car salesman.
A Learning Channel cameraman and soundman were in Gardiner Sunday, recording as Bridge delivered a sermon as the Rev. Jack Fles looked on. Bridge told parishioners he was going to be on the program as the television crew recorded the sermon.
"It's a dream come true for him — he's a big fan of reality shows," Fles said of Bridge. "And it's brought the church together in a joyful, humorous way. Everyone here is excited. There is a sense we're all doing this together."
Bridge ended up being selected for the show after a friend, without his knowledge, sent his biographical information and photo when she heard the cable television network was seeking someone in the ministry for the show.
Officials from the show called shortly after his friend told Bridge she had submitted his information. At first, the show's producers wouldn't tell him what profession he would be "faking it" in. They would only tell him it was in Las Vegas. Given Las Vegas' reputation, Bridge said he was worried what the job might be.
"At first, all they would say was it was in Vegas," Bridge said. "I told them if it was a job that would compromise my morals, I couldn't do it. They said not to worry."
Bridge will be departing for Vegas on Wednesday. He will be trained by the top two car salesmen in Nevada, he said.
He plans to embrace his new, temporary "career" wholeheartedly, even though selling used cars figures to be significantly different than his role directing youth programs at Christ Episcopal Church.
"The way I figure it is I am going to be a used car salesman," Bridge said. "Anytime you can kind of exit from your own life, take a month, and learn a new trade, from people who are at the top of their field, is a great opportunity."
The show is expected to air on The Learning Channel in January or February of 2004.
Bridge said he looks forward to the challenge, though he is nervous about living in a strange city so far away from the church, where he has served as youth missioner for four years. He said he will miss working with the youths in church programs. He thanked volunteers during his sermon Sunday for offering to help run youth activities while he is gone.
In his sermon Sunday, as The Learning Channel cameraman Lance Jeffrey and soundman Adam Kassen recorded, Bridge spoke about the importance of adults serving as role models for youths.
"We must lead in a way that does not cause the younger ones to stumble," Bridge told a crowd that filled many of the pews in the historic Gardiner church. Bridge said Jane Hartwell, Episcopalian youth missioner for the state of Maine, advised him to, "remember, while you're there in Las Vegas, that many youths will be watching."
Kassen, Jeffrey, and Mike Perkins, a friend of Bridge from Bowdoinham who is working as an assistant for The Learning Channel, also filmed at other locations around Gardiner and interviewed Bridge's friends.
"They want to get a feel for Gardiner, so everyone can see where he's coming from," Perkins said.
Perkins was kept busy getting anybody filmed up close Sunday to sign a release form.
Sunday was an especially busy day at the church. In addition to the television crew, several pets were on hand for the sermon, as the church held a "blessing of the animals." Fles conducted part of the services with a pet bird perched on his shoulder.
Keith Edwards — 621-5647
kedwards@centralmaine.com