How Losing His Best Friend Brought Him Closer to God

when I first gave my life to Jesus, I felt like I had to leave comedy at the altar and really just sacrifice that part of who I was because at the time I was making it an idol.

I was chasing the wrong things with comedy.

It was also all I knew about comedy at the time was that it was in a world that was very dark, very much so hated God and chose things that were not of God.

So I felt like I couldn't do comedy anymore if I wanted to be a Christian.

I felt like I needed to be seeking righteousness and dying to self.

And I knew all those things to be true.

So I went to Bible college and I started doing the podcast and went on mission trips out to Africa, went on mission trips to prisons and schools.

And

I'll just insert here, those trips to Africa became this book, 21 Days in Africa, Loving the One in Front of You, where you chronicle your various different mission trips there.

But please continue.

Yes, I appreciate that, man.

Yeah, it's a very special book that I wrote because the mission trip there was just so impactful of just seeing how they had a real joy despite their circumstances not being good at all.

And so I was just on this path where I realized that comedy was not feasible anymore because of the new me, the new creature.

And then people would ask me, are you going to get back into comedy? And I just didn't know how to do it and still be a Christian at the same time until the Lord released me back into comedy in a way that was super unique, where my pastor, Troy Brewer, actually set me up to go do a church show in Arizona with a friend of mine, a new friend of mine out there.

So I got flown out to do comedy at the church.

And it was my first challenge of doing a big show, like 250 people.

And they gave me 15 minutes on stage and went really well.

And I felt like I prayed beforehand, went on stage and lit it up, man.

And I was like, okay, I guess we could use this as a net, you know, a new net to be able to reach people for the gospel.

And I think that, of course, is one expression of ministry, the joy of the spirit.

And so I think that being a Christian and a comedian can be worked together in perfect harmony.

So long as, as you say, you're also seeking righteousness, prioritizing the Lord and having the proper motives for it.

So I'm curious, did Pastor Troy just set it up for you and without telling you or he like...

Coordinated with

you.