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Movie star speaks at Shaw event

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Phelps
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Hundreds gathered for the National Prayer Luncheon at the Carolina Skies club here Feb. 9, 2011.

Ken Bevel, an active duty Marine captain and actor in the feature film "Fireproof," which was released in 2008 and shown in theaters across the country, was the key speaker. His topic was "How God Answers Prayers."

The luncheon was related to the National Prayer Breakfast established by members of the Senate, the U.S. House prayer groups and former President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Captain Bevel, a Jacksonville, Fla. native, enlisted in the Marines Corps at the age of 17, right out of high school and started as a supply clerk.

After a couple years of enlisted service, he went the University of Memphis and earned his commission and a Bachelor's degree in computer engineering technology from the University of Memphis through the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Program.

Through 20 years in the Marines, he has served at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C.; Camp Lejeune, N.C.; Okinawa, Japan; Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Va.; and is currently stationed at Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany, Ga.

The Marine is also a veteran of the First Persian Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

The captain and his family joined Sherwood Baptist Church shortly after arriving in Georgia. His church had recently produced a movie called "Facing the Giants," which sparked Captain Bevel's interest in wanting to work with church on their next project.

When the church was about to start work on a film called "Fireproof," the director approached Captain Bevel about acting in it.

"They told me I would be playing a fireman," he said. "I would get to slide down the pole and all the other typical fireman things. So I said, yes. Who wouldn't want to?"

It took three months to film "Fireproof" and as an active-duty Marine officer, this posed a challenge for the captain.

"I had to take about 30 days of leave for filming," said Captain Bevel. "I kept expecting my commander to call me into his office and ask me why I wasn't at work."

The role of the fireman was actually an easy task for Captain Bevel, even though this was his first time acting, he said.

"It was a pretty 'militaryesque' role, so I was just playing myself," he commented.

He will also be in another upcoming movie opening this year called "Courageous," in which he will be playing a police officer.

"Movies and acting are fun to do," said the Marine. "But they're not my passion. I want to do things that give people hope."

Captain Bevel plans to follow that passion by being part of the pastoral staff at his church after he retires from the Marines this year.

When he retires, he said he will miss his time in the military.

"A lot of great men have helped me throughout my career," he said. "The Marines have prepared me for the challenge of the upcoming years."

The prayer luncheon also included Shaw Airmen reading from different religious scriptures and prayers for our nation and its leaders. The luncheon was sponsored by the 20th Fighter Wing chaplain's office.