By Jimmy Broyden

I WAS BORN in Toronto General Hospital in the spring of 1965. Born to a 14 year old mother, I grew up fatherless. I came home to my gram and gramp’s house in an Italian neighbourhood near Dufferin and Eglington.

When I was six months old, mom began dropping me off at the house of an Italian babysitter five days a week, which continued until I was seven. I spoke Italian fluently.

Pyromaniac

Having been abused, I became a pyromaniac as a child, and lit fires in closets. This paved the way for my life later on as an adult, when I would light myself on fire for a living.

If I couldn’t be an NHL hockey player, my only goal in life from about six years old was to become a stuntman. The problem was that I was addicted to drugs for 17 years. My drug habit began when I was 11 years old.

In early February of 1991, I left the Toronto area, moved to Vancouver and became a professional stuntman. Over the next couple of years, I worked on a few big films and television series. Reaching my dream of being a stuntman should have left me feeling fulfilled. Instead, there was the realization of a deep emptiness inside.

One night, after smoking a big joint by myself, I had become very aware that there had to be a God who had made this universe.

Gospel challenge

In July of 1993, on the set of a movie called Never Ending Story 3, a stunt coordinator named Bill Ferguson told me about Christ. On that day, Bill offered me a New Testament – on the condition that I promise to read the Gospel of John if I accepted it.

The battle in my mind during those few moments was powerful. One voice was saying, “Don’t touch that book.” Another voice was saying, “You need to look into it.”

I had come to realize that there must be a God, but who or what he was I didn’t know. So, I decided to read John and look into this further, and I gave Bill my word. Previously, all the other stunt guys had told me to stay away from Bill because he was “a crazy, born again Christian.”

I began reading the Bible and realized it was different from any other book.

Jesus said he was the only way to heaven and to eternal life: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father, but through me.” (John 14:6)

Over the next two weeks, I continued my diligent reading, two to seven hours a day, going on to the other books of the New Testament.

One day, I looked up at the ceiling and said, “Lord, if you are real like you said in the Bible -- all those amazing things you did and how you rose from the grave – please get me off dope. Then I will know you are true, and I will follow you. But do it in a way that Satan can’t trick me.”

Counting the cost

In the parables, I had read where Christ tells about the man who counts the cost before he goes to war and another man who counts the cost before he builds his house, so that he may finish it. I had counted the cost the best I could.

Two more weeks followed after that, while I continued reading the Bible each day and doing stunts in various films.

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One day, on the way home after doing stunts, I was sitting on my motorcycle waiting for a light to turn green. I suddenly realized that I had not done drugs in two weeks, had never even thought about them.

That hit me like a ton of bricks. Drug addicts don’t do that. I had always thought about dope 24/7, 365 days a year, for most of 17 years. My drug habit had consumed me.

Immediately, I pulled over. I felt the tears run down my face as I realized that Jesus really was alive! He had set me free, cold turkey. I wept as I realized just how much of a sinner I was. The love that he showed me was so overwhelming.

It was time to keep my word and follow him. There, in North Vancouver in 1993, I bowed beside my motorbike at the side of a busy road and gave my life to Christ. I asked the one who died for the sins of the world to forgive me and be my Saviour.

Over the next few years, it was difficult learning to live and think without drugs. The wounds and scars were deep, and the healing process was long and painful.

Now, 17 years later, I have gained momentum as I move forward in faith, trusting the Lord to lead. I know he has a beautiful plan for my life.

Overcoming

It hasn’t always been easy. God sometimes allows trials to enter our lives, in order to build character and make us more Christlike. With his help, I overcame a devastating knee injury that required major surgery and two years of rehab before I was able to come back and do stunts full-time.

The Lord has given me a beautiful, godly wife and seven children, including a special boy named Josiah, who has Down Syndrome.

On movie sets, I have shared my Saviour with hundreds of people over the years.

I have been a stuntman and stunt coordinator for 20 years, having worked in over 100 feature films and television series, including Air Bud, The X-Files, Firewall and I Robot. I have worked with Jackie Chan, Harrison Ford, Will Smith and Stephen Casson.

The Lord has also opened doors for me to work on Christian films. I have a Christian film company, On Fire Films. Two of my boys have started their own film company, Broyden Bros. Pictures, and we are currently writing a full-length feature script called Tested: True Faith Is Indestructible.

Recently I had the privilege of being the stunt coordinator on a Christian movie called Courageous, which was filmed in Albany, Georgia. It is produced by the Kendrick Brothers/Sherwood Pictures, who made Fireproof, Facing the Giants and Flywheel, and is expected to be released in the fall of 2011.

As a public speaker, I share Christ, give my testimony and educate youth in public schools regarding the dangers of drug abuse.

I tell them being a Christian is not easy. There is a price to pay. Jesus won’t take all your problems away, but he will be there in each trial, holding your hand, comforting you, giving you wisdom and helping you through.

When your life seems to be spiralling out of control, that is when you need to learn to walk by faith and trust the God of the universe. Jesus is always there, even when you don’t think he is.

For more information:
jimmybroyden.com
courageousthemovie.com

December 2010