Tamera Mowry

Tamera Mowry is most famous for starring (alongside her twin, Tia) on the TV series "Sister, Sister." In the World Wide Pictures' film "Something to Sing About," she plays Memaw's granddaughter, Lilly - a person with a generous heart and joyful spirit. Editor Susan Brill caught up with Tamera on the set to discuss her life and faith.

SB: We've heard that this role totally suits who you really are.

TM: Yes, it does. Once I read the script I thought, "Oh my gosh, this is so me." I've been through so many relationship problems, so it really hit me inside.

What I love about this script is that it tells you a story of true love, not of how the world sees love, but how God intended love to be. There is a difference between lust and love, and there are many people in this world being married in lust and not in true love.

You know, I think the youth are so caught up with those kinds of relationships. "Well he's a powerful man so I'd love to be with him." No, no, no, Honey, it doesn't work that way. It won't last that way. Is he, number one, trying to be godly? Is he a leader in church? Does he praise the Lord at home just as he does in church? You know, those are the things that count. Those are the things that I think the youth need to know when they are looking into relationships.

SB: Being a Christian in this business, you must have a lot of conflicts that come up that just defy who you want to be as a Christian. What are some of the challenges that you face and how do you handle them?

TM: Well, that's a good thing to talk about. It's really hard in the area that I'm in right now, 'cause I am a young woman, and there are a lot of roles that have been pitched to me that I wouldn't do because it conflicted with what I believe in.

I love the Lord too much to actually take my clothes off in front of millions of people. I think my body is sacred, and it's only for marriage in the bedroom, you know, between the husband and the wife. I don't believe in cursing. I won't do anything that betrays me in that forum. I won't.

...I have learned that God will always provide. You know what I mean? He has never failed me, and I can honestly say that. That's why I'm like, "You know, if I turn this down, I know the Lord will bless me." I'm not going to sell my soul to the devil for money. I'm sorry, [God is] my provider, not my job. He blesses me with a job. Materialistic things come and go, but Jesus will always be there. He will always provide me with things, and I'm a witness. I'm a witness.

SB: How did you come to have a personal faith in Christ?

TM: Actually, my grandmother is an evangelist. She travels and spreads the gospel, and she passed it on to my mother. A perfect example was my mother. My mother used to sing in the choir, and I used to go with her all the time.

I still remember to this day when I was eight, I wanted to get saved. My mother didn't say, "Go up there, Tamera, and get saved." No, I remember, my sister and I did it at the same time. But I really didn't live the life because there is a difference between being saved and living the life.

I didn't live the life until I was 14 years old. That's when I developed a true relationship with Jesus Christ, and that's what it's all about - having that relationship. If you just hold on to the tradition, you'll find yourself in trial and tribulation, and you'll stray. But if you have that relationship with Jesus Christ, you'll find yourself in your room - not just in church, but in your room - lifting up your hands and praising God just because of who He is. Not because of the benefits, but because He loved you before you loved Him.

©2000 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Originally published in passageway.org magazine.