Comedian balances faith, laughter

Comedian Chonda Pierce says her type of Christian comedy is an offset to what most people think stand-up comedy is all about.

"For every mosh pit and profanity-laced music and comedy, the Christian genre has something that counters it," Pierce said by phone from her home in Nashville. "But I wasn't meaning to become a 'Christian' comedian. In fact, this is going to sound bad, but I didn't have any career goals. I just walked through some doors.

"Every time a door opened, I walked through. And some 15 to 20 years later, I look back and see that comedy has become a career."

Pierce has cited the late Minnie Pearl as one of her major influences. It was Pearl who told Pierce that comedy can be fun and clean. "But I also modeled my show after Carol Burnett," said Pierce. "She does everything — sketches, stand-up and musical numbers. She had a well-rounded show. And that's what I try to do."

Her new DVD release, "A Piece of My Mind," was filmed in Nashville, which is her hometown. Pierce tackles such issues as shopping, dieting, raising kids, menopause ... and life in general. "The challenge is finding that thin line where I can make people laugh while bringing up my faith. And it's difficult not to go overboard and offend people.

"I mean there are a lot of 'Christian' artists who are known as 'Christian' artists only because they do a routine and tack on the church as an afterthought. I don't want to do that. I want to sincerely make people laugh with uplifting routines.

"But then again, comedy is so subjective — what is funny to me is not funny to my mother."

Finding that thin line for comedy is just as difficult as being a working mother who travels, said Pierce. "It is hard raising kids and going on tour. I wish there were some way of having the audience come to my house.

"But then again, that probably wouldn't be a good idea for obvious reasons."

If you go

What: Chonda Pierce

Where: Christian Life Center, 2352 E. Highway 193, Layton

When: Sunday, 6 p.m.

How much: $17.50

Phone: 801-814-4645 or 801-771-5433

Web: www.chonda.org

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E-mail: scott@desnews.com