DaytonDailyNews.com

For three-years, Jameka Cameron prayed that she would be accepted as a contestant on the reality show "Big Brother." When she was finally chosen, she took it as an answer to prayer. Although, as Cameron discovered, answered prayers aren't always what we would expect them to be.

Cameron, a 28-year-old school counselor from Waldorf, Md., headed off to the show with an anything-goes attitude, ready to do whatever it took to win. Going into the game, Cameron said she was prepared to separate the game from her faith, but that strategy didn't stay for very long.

"Once entering into the house and being overwhelmed with the opportunity, I said there is no way I can come on here and play the game using lies and being deceitful and attacking people's character ... I realized that I couldn't carry that outlook or have that strategy," Cameron said.

So Cameron decided not to check her faith at the door of the "Big Brother" house. During the show she was often found making use of idle time by reading her Bible or praying, but that doesn't mean she was perfect. The bittersweet nature of reality TV is that the spotlight is always on, catching every foible and flaw. Consequently, some viewers felt like Cameron was a hypocrite for her occasional outbursts and edgy attitude. Others believed that she represented a refreshing down-to-earth faith.

"I knew my anger, once unleashed, would be something to talk about," Cameron said. "I never said I was perfect. In fact, I'm in church because I have to be — I need to be." But going public with her beliefs also seemed to give the other house members something to go after. "I felt like that was an easy target — religion — let's attack her beliefs. So I definitely felt persecuted," Cameron said.  

Cameron didn't emerge the "Big Brother 8" champion, although she did finish in the final four. When asked about her post-"Big Brother" life — whether she will she hire an agent, stay in the spotlight and ride out the "Big Brother" fame — Cameron said, "I'm still debating on which avenue I want to go. I'm actually a private person. The whole hustle-and-bustle of that lifestyle, I'm not sure if that's the direction I want to go in."

At the moment, things like family, work and her faith are taking precedent over the possibilities of what could be. And, most importantly, Cameron still sees God's hand in it all.

"The experience, although it was a learning experience and I actually really enjoyed it, it was just not what I thought it would be. But yet, I take it as an answer to prayer," Cameron said.

Brian Orme is an associate pastor at Community Church in West Milton and a freelance religion writer. Send e-mail to mjorme@gmail.com.