By Movieguide® Staff
Dancer and former OnlyFans model Kendra Bates says her appearance on SUDDENLY AMISH was “an opportunity from God.”
“This is a no-brainer for me,” she told Fox News of the offer to appear on the TLC reality show, which sees people leave their modern lives to join a rural Amish community.
Bates added, “I have gotten so far away from my roots living in LA because it’s so drastically different. I’ve been in LA for about nine or 10 years now. I’m just not feeling it anymore — superficial, dirty LA.”
Speaking to PEOPLE, the dancer said LA’s “me, me, me — what can you do for me?” culture “bothers me to no end,” which encouraged her to pursue SUDDENLY AMISH and its rural setting.
Related: Why This OnlyFans Recruiter Quit and Turned to Jesus
“I wanted to get back to small roots again,” Bates, whose ancestors were part of a Mennonite community, explained. “This came at a point where I was questioning my career and the guys I was dating. Everything was falling apart, and now I feel morally aligned with where I am in my life.”
She continued, “When I was presented with this opportunity, I was like, ‘This is literally an opportunity from God.’”
Bates shared that she identified as a “proud atheist” for years and began working as an OnlyFans model because “the money was very enticing.”
However, her lifestyle soon made her feel empty, and wanting to turn her life around, Bates began attending church. She was baptized in January of 2025.
In an Instagram post featuring a video of her baptism, Bates wrote, “Three months ago I walked into @zoechurchla a complete skeptic with zero faith. It’s amazing how much change God can do in three months if you let him. I prayed that I find my community, I prayed that I find my faith family, I prayed to get more connected with my church and I prayed to help me serve more to help others around me.”
“I no longer struggle with the fact that I did OnlyFans because I’m learning the grace and forgiveness of God,” Bates told Fox News. “I have so much more in my heart to give, and that outweighs anything I’ve done in my past. My past is my past, and anyone who holds me to it isn’t someone I want in my life. I’ve completely changed my life, and I’m living for God.”
She continued, “Am I a perfect Christian? Absolutely not. I’m learning and growing every day. But my values, how I carry myself and the people I surround myself with are different. Because I feel like I’m walking more closely with Christ, my past doesn’t define me anymore.”
Let’s pray that Bates continues to grow in her faith.
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