Hey guys,
I recently read an article written about the hilarious comedian Nate Bargatze. It was titled "Thank God He's Not a Christian Comic."
It was all about how he is a practicing Christian, but he doesn't bring it into his act and he's had so much more success and made so much more money by not mixing religion with entertainment.
Yes this is probably true. He's killing it right now and a truly lovely person from what I hear.
When I read it, I have to confess that I felt a little bit sorry for myself. I don't want to get into the list of secular things that I've had to turn down because I am a practicing Christian, or the big time Hollywood agents that offered to sign me as long as I would stop talking about my faith on stage. Heck, don't even ask me about the national faith-based world tour that wanted to book me for tons of money, but they said I was “too evangelical”, and I needed to tone it down so they could reach a wider audience.
Ummm...hard pass.
I never regretted listening to God. One of the managers that wanted to sign me even ended up being convicted in the Hollywood #metoo movement. Another ended up getting convicted for embezzling thousands of dollars from his clients. One of the other Hollywood managers who wanted to sign me with weird strings attached is no longer on this earth. Hmmmm....lol - the list goes on.
Here is my other confession: I don't like the term Christian Comedian. Is Jerry Seinfeld a Jewish comedian?
As most of you know, I am unapologetically Christian on and off stage. God has been my manager for 20 years and given me a path like no one else. I didn't have anybody that was doing exactly what I was doing, such as a gay bar in West Hollywood with drag queens loving on them Saturday night followed by a Sunday morning show with a healing line and alter call 12 hours later. You want to know what a sweet drag queens performer said to me?
"You're the first christian that has ever been nice to me. I tried to go to church once, but they kicked me out immediately."
Wow.
No, I do not have a Netflix Special nor have I hosted Saturday Night Live. I think Nate and other comedians who are Christian and clean are incredible. Jim Gaffigan and Anjelah Johnson don't perform in faith circles much but have a personal faith they are open about in interviews. There are others too - but they are more widely known for just being hysterical, clean comedians. They aren’t preaching sermons or doing messages with their comedy. That’s what I do on a lot of occasions and I believe the comedy is just something God uses to get people in the door…to see me and warm up their hearts to hearing the gospel of hope.
My career has been paved in secular circles, but also very much in faith based and ministry circles. If somebody was writing about my life story, they may not call it fancy or lucrative, and I'd be lying if I told you I don't get frustrated (or even a bit melancholy) when certain doors remained shut for me like sitcoms and big movie roles. (Diddy parties? Thank you Jesus!). Clean comedy struggles are real.
I did have a 30 second pity party in my car after reading that article about Nate. Then a few hours later, I got the most beautiful email from this sweet woman who is donating some money to my daughter's mission trip to Africa. She said that she discovered my comedy in a time where she was really hurting, and her life seemed to be falling apart.
She said it wasn't just my comedy - but my ministry and my testimony that inspired her to keep going. She's been able to share my testimony about believing in God, even when times are excruciatingly difficult with so many other hurting people.
I read it out loud with my daughter, Lucy and I got teary eyed. It was like God speaking through her note. He was saying "Hey Kid! STAY in your lane. People are getting healed at your shows, literally getting saved at your shows, and Netflix isn't taking any of that glory. You keep pointing it all back to me and remember I got you into this. I knew the plans I had for you when you cried out to me on your bedroom floor many years ago asking how you could serve me. LET’S GO!"
As I sit here and think about what God has done in my life professionally over the last twenty years, I am speechless and humbled. It has been a gritty, crazy, gut-wrenching, wild ride - but truthfully, I wouldn't change a thing.
My comedian friend Angela Hoover used to remind me, “Kerri, we get to wake up every day and make a living with our dreams." When I get emails like the one I got tonight, it's just a reminder that I'm in the right lane. I can lay my head down at night, knowing that being smack dab in the middle of God's will for my life is the best place to be.
He didn't promise it was going to be easy. In fact, He promised it was going to be full of battles when we sign up to play for His team. But we have a peace that surpasses all understanding, knowing that the God of the universe is looking out for us on every side.
I’m thankful there are fellow comedians out there such as Bone Hampton and Taylor Mason that have been walking along similar journey and have been full of encouragement.
Here's to all my friends who paved their own path when they couldn't see one. I admire you and don't tell you enough.
Quite truthfully, this past year has been one of the hardest years of my life going through things that I don't necessarily post about on social media - but I'm so grateful I get to wake up another day and look forward to another year. I can trust that no matter what comes my way I am safely wrapped in the arms of my Savior and He thinks I'm doing a good job! How about you?
Here's to 2025 whatever it may be!
Robert F. Kennedy you can't have my pop tarts!
Catch me at one of my upcoming shows:
Cheers,
Kerri
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