Surviving the wait
New Life 91.9 FM’s Leslie Nease never gave
up dream to compete on ‘Survivor’
by Erica Parkerson
news@thecharlotteweekly.com

Radio announcer Leslie Nease made her lifelong dream a reality when she became a cast member on CBS’s “Survivor: China.”

Nease’s Christian beliefs soon will be under the microscope of millions of viewers, on the Sept. 20 premiere of “Survivor: China” (8 p.m., CBS). They’ll see firsthand if her faith withstands the show’s physically and mentally taxing trials.

“Survivor” often casts people of faith, who are unafraid to compete in a vulnerable setting, according to Nease, 38, New Life’s announcer since 2004. “People have expectations as to how I’m going to behave,” she said. “But I’m the same person I was before the show … a sinner saved by grace.”

Nease considers her “Survivor” experience an answer to a prayer her family prayed over each application package: “Lord, if it’s not the right time, don’t let them (the CBS executives) see it.” Her time had come.

A mother of four, Stephanie, 17, Tommy, 15, Kennedy, 8, and Peyton, 7, Nease found out en route to a department store that she’d been cast. “I almost ran off the road when they called me,” said Nease, who applied in January at an open casting call in Columbia, S.C. “I knew immediately I was going to be on the show.”

Reacting to the news, Kennedy giggled and Stephanie burst into tears. “I just started crying because I knew that once she got called, they would love her and put her on the show,” said Stephanie. “She never gave up on her dreams, and to see God be faithful to her throughout the whole process was so encouraging and exciting.”

That was March 8. Since then, Nease likens the experience to being on a top-secret CIA mission. Until the show airs, she is unable to tell anyone – even her family – where the contestants stayed in China and how the “survivors” are faring.

The first episode of CBS’s “Survivor: China,” starring Charlotte’s New Life 91.9 radio announcer Leslie Nease (front row, seated far left), airs Thursday, Sept. 20.

Though she has a heart for Hollywood, Nease, a former Mrs. North Carolina, has no desire for fame or fortune. “Hollywood is a very dark place. … There needs to be some light shown,” she said. “It’s a mission field as far as I’m concerned. It makes sense to go show some love.”

Nease often talked about her dream on-air. In an initial interview with the radio station, Nease informed general manager Joe Paulo that someday she would be on “Survivor.” “Leslie has been diligent and persistent about following this dream of hers,” Paulo said. “She has never been shy about her faith in Jesus Christ – and I’m excited to realize that other people outside of the listeners of New Life 91.9 will get to see her vibrant and real faith.”

Nease had watched other Christian contestants on “Survivor,” marveling at their integrity. “People ask me why a born-again Christian would want to be on ‘Survivor.’ There’s so much backstabbing and lying,” said Nease. “But Jesus said, ‘Go into the world,’ and that’s what I’m doing.”

For example, at a prior casting call Nease met Stephannie Favor, a former “Survivor: Cook Islands” contestant, who also was willing to put her Christian life on display. Favor encouraged Nease to continue applying and promised to pray for her. Later, Favor appeared on Nease’s mid-morning radio program as a guest.

Making it on “Survivor” didn’t consume Nease, but there were times throughout the years that Nease prayed to have the desire taken away. “I felt like it was what God wanted me to do,” she said. “(But) many times I just didn’t get it. Then I realized … it’s not my place to get it.”

Nease says it’s life’s difficulties that build faith. “It was never about the destination; it was about the journey,” she said. “Sometimes you’ve got to be Noah predicting a flood when there isn’t a cloud in the sky.”

Already physically fit, Nease prepared herself spiritually for the grueling adventure by praying and talking with her mentor, Linda Reppert, whom she met through a Bible study group. She also fasted several times to test her mental faculties on little or no food, a condition familiar to “Survivor” contestants.

The night before her trip, Nease said doubt attacked her heart. She told Rod, “I need you to pray for me because I don’t think I can do this.”

He replied, “We only make decisions based on agreement. And we are not in agreement. You need to get on that plane!”

Clinging to the belief that God gave her this unique call, Nease traveled 14 hours to China, sure that the Lord would provide the strength to leave her family indefinitely. “That was so hard. … I’m a wife and mom first, but I knew that if He’d take me around the world, He’d take care of my family too,” said Nease. “God (gave) me a tremendous amount of grace to deal with it.”

Facing grueling physical elements wasn’t the biggest challenge, Nease said. “The fact is, I live in a Christian bubble. It’s really easy to walk out my faith. I have a Christian family and I work for a Christian ministry. (I wondered), ‘How am I going to live out my faith in the real world?’”

Viewers will soon find out. “I (didn’t) want to be a movie star,” says Nease. “I just want(ed) to be obedient.”

Tune in to CBS Thursday, Sept. 20, to watch Nease’s progress on “Survivor: China.”