The bright lights of Hollywood dimmed in comparison to the light seen by Mr.

Christipher Joy in 1979.

Evangelist Mr. Joy turned his back on a lucrative career in TV and the movies to become an evangelist.

And over the past 13 years, he has become well known for his powerful speeches in the United States.

Mr. Joy will be in Bermuda next week to spread his message to members of the St. John's AME Church.

During the 1970's Mr. Joy was making a comfortable living as an actor, writer and producer.

He starred in the movie Up The Smoke with Cheech and Chong and in the New Odd Couple on ABC television. He also had roles in television series The Rookies, Police Story and That's My Mama.

He worked closely with Smokey Robinson to produce and promote Big Time, a movie in which he starred with Jayne Kennedy. He also promoted the pilot film My Buddy.

In 1977, he was nominated for an Emmy award for a segment of Starsky and Hutch which he co-wrote.

He says that frustration over deals forced him to "talk to God for the first time in my adult life''.

He said that he believed God had a part in his raising $200,000 for the Smokey Robinson film.

Mr. Joy also turned down another Cheech and Chong film. He said: "I thought about the money I could make in three or four weeks working with Cheech and Chong, but I decided I couldn't do that kind of film any more.

"The negative witness of representing the drug culture couldn't be my statement of my life to young people.'' He now believes his work is a "positive influence'' for young people, unlike Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy who, he says: "Are not sending a good message to young people.'' Mr. Joy will speak on Men's Day at St. John's AME Church, on Sunday April 18.

EVANGELIST -- Mr. Christipher Joy who turned his back on Hollywood.