Funny Christians by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 02/27/2008 at 4:23 PM

Have you heard "The Mom Song"? It's comedian Anita Renfroe's ode to motherhood sung cleverly to the William Tell Overture. It's become pretty popular. Popular enough to catch the notice of the New York Times. Evidently, Renfroe's kids encouraged her to post the video on YouTube this summer; then it went viral.

By Oct. 1, approximately 1.5 million people had seen the video. By Oct. 19, the number had risen to 8 million; the video had gone viral. "That's pretty impressive until you realize that the guy who eats live locusts has, like, 12 million hits," Renfroe told me. Then a producer from "Good Morning America" called at 5:30 one morning to ask whether the show could run the clip. The song got even bigger when iTunes put the video on its lineup. After that, Renfroe was fending off offers like a Hollywood starlet.

Renfroe, who is a popular speaker at Christian women's conferences, is enjoying recognition outside evangelical circles. It's something that doesn't happen often, as the article points out. 

Renfroe is also a devout Christian and for about eight years has been slowly building a career as a comedian on the Christian women's circuit. Like Mike Huckabee's easy humor, Renfroe's wit comes as a surprise to nonevangelicals. "I love the way God lets you use everything in your life," she says about her chosen career as a comic. "It's cool how it all comes together."

"I have a good time almost all the time," Renfroe told me. "But I do feel a little bit of pressure." That's understandable given her most important task: proving that being a Christian comedian is not an oxymoron.

As an improv performer and Christian, I have faced this same challenge. My faith has provided interesting conversations with other improv actors who are convinced Christians can't be funny. "You met at church?" they ask wide-eyed when we tell them how our group formed. Still, our art speaks for itself. Renfroe's success reminds me that God can use any person who's willing to use her gift -- no matter how unusual. So, go ahead. Laugh it up. What out-of-the-ordinary means have you discovered for connecting with the culture?

HT: The Point

Funny Christians by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin on 02/27/2008 at 4:23 PM

Have you heard "The Mom Song"? It's comedian Anita Renfroe's ode to motherhood sung cleverly to the William Tell Overture. It's become pretty popular. Popular enough to catch the notice of the New York Times. Evidently, Renfroe's kids encouraged her to post the video on YouTube this summer; then it went viral.

By Oct. 1, approximately 1.5 million people had seen the video. By Oct. 19, the number had risen to 8 million; the video had gone viral. "That's pretty impressive until you realize that the guy who eats live locusts has, like, 12 million hits," Renfroe told me. Then a producer from "Good Morning America" called at 5:30 one morning to ask whether the show could run the clip. The song got even bigger when iTunes put the video on its lineup. After that, Renfroe was fending off offers like a Hollywood starlet.

Renfroe, who is a popular speaker at Christian women's conferences, is enjoying recognition outside evangelical circles. It's something that doesn't happen often, as the article points out. 

Renfroe is also a devout Christian and for about eight years has been slowly building a career as a comedian on the Christian women's circuit. Like Mike Huckabee's easy humor, Renfroe's wit comes as a surprise to nonevangelicals. "I love the way God lets you use everything in your life," she says about her chosen career as a comic. "It's cool how it all comes together."

"I have a good time almost all the time," Renfroe told me. "But I do feel a little bit of pressure." That's understandable given her most important task: proving that being a Christian comedian is not an oxymoron.

As an improv performer and Christian, I have faced this same challenge. My faith has provided interesting conversations with other improv actors who are convinced Christians can't be funny. "You met at church?" they ask wide-eyed when we tell them how our group formed. Still, our art speaks for itself. Renfroe's success reminds me that God can use any person who's willing to use her gift -- no matter how unusual. So, go ahead. Laugh it up. What out-of-the-ordinary means have you discovered for connecting with the culture?

HT: The Point

Comments

[1. Leah said the following at 7:12 PM on Feb 27:]

1

Wow... that's cool.. I've seen the song but didn't know she was a Christian! Sweet ^_^

[2. BDB said the following at 3:56 PM on Feb 28:]

2

Improv...I thought to be good at improv required ingesting a variety of controlled substances...maybe that was just at my high school, I dunno...

I suppose that coffee would do the trick, too.

/scene

[3. Suzanne said the following at 6:44 PM on Feb 28:]

3

BDB :)

[4. Dan said the following at 1:47 PM on Mar 3:]

4

AWESOME!!

[1. Leah said the following at 7:12 PM on Feb 27:]

1

Wow... that's cool.. I've seen the song but didn't know she was a Christian! Sweet ^_^

[2. BDB said the following at 3:56 PM on Feb 28:]

2

Improv...I thought to be good at improv required ingesting a variety of controlled substances...maybe that was just at my high school, I dunno...

I suppose that coffee would do the trick, too.

/scene

[3. Suzanne said the following at 6:44 PM on Feb 28:]

3

BDB :)

[4. Dan said the following at 1:47 PM on Mar 3:]

4

AWESOME!!