TESTIMONY
Monte Perlin: The Greatest Stunt of All
By Susan Mann and Chuck Holton
The 700 Club
CBN.com
– He was Arnold Swartzenegger’s stunt double in Terminator 3. He also acted in the movie, The Wager, starring country music legend Randy Travis.
Motorcycles have always held an aura of excitement and a little danger. While some people like to ride motorcycles for pleasure and a few might ride on the job, here’s someone who has turned his love of motorcycles into a way of life.
Meet Monte Perlin. If you ever have a need for a motorcycle expert, he’s your man. After all, he’s been riding since he was a kid.
“I was raised in the mountains, raced motorcross and saw a commercial on TV that was involving motorcycles. I wanted to do it,” he says
He got a job riding stunts in exhibitions. Though things were looking up professionally, his personal life wasn’t so great.
“I got into the partying and the drinking thing,” he confesses. “That just about killed me. The worse I got, the more upset I got about it and the less I cared. I was just a mess. I had no hope left, and I was basically ready to quit, to give up. I didn’t care if I died.”
But then along came a girl who, unbeknownst to Monte, would help turn things around.
“She started telling me about God,” he says. “I didn’t want to believe it. I thought, well, she’s just beautiful enough to listen. I’ll just entertain her; I’ll listen to this Jesus freak.”
Eventually, Monte had some questions for his new friend.
“I said, ‘If your God is so strong and powerful, then I can pray to Him and He’ll help me, right? Then He needs to show me if i’m supposed to stay in this stunt career or not.'”
Monte’s first attempt at prayer was answered the next Saturday after he’d ridden an exhibition.
“Some guy jumps over the barrier, runs over to me and said, ‘Who do you work for?’ I said, ‘Well, myself.’ So he goes, ‘Not any more.’ I’m thinking [that] this is really weird.’”
So began a stunt career in Hollywood, but the answered prayer was the start of something even better – a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Today, Monte is one of the most respected stuntmen in the business. At his home outside Los Angeles, he spends hours honing his skill on motorcycles of all kinds from street rockets to motorcross.
Monte says, “I dedicated my life to stunts and whatever God would use that I would give Him the glory. I’ve stuck to my guns on that one.”
It’s a career that’s left him with a few bumps and bruises.
“I’ve broken my wrist, arm, back, ribs, hip, leg, knees, feet, toes, fingers… head knocked out,” he says with a laugh.
You might find yourself wondering how a God-fearing man can justify working in Hollywood – in a business known for its immorality. But Monte can’t imagine working anywhere else.
“It’s great to be in a church and preach to the Christians. But then to be able to be in Hollywood, be an example and to know that I can stand strong with it, I’m there.”
Taking a stand has cost Monte in terms of passing on jobs that would have meant compromise. He doesn’t see that as a bad thing.
“I believe it when He says He gives you the desires of your heart,” Monte shares. “He places in your heart the desire to meet up with His desire for you. It connects together, and there can be no greater fulfillment in life.”
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