I recently started doing stand-up comedy in Austin, TX. And I am a pastor. Which means most nights I am standing in a bar talking about my life, and at some point, people realize, “Wait… this guy is a pastor.” It creates a moment. You might be asking, “Why would a pastor do this?” You can read about it HERE and HERE.
Austin has become a major hub for comedy, with names like Shane Gillis, Joe Rogan, and Tony Hinchcliffe shaping the scene. The rooms are full, the crowds are sharp, and the conversations are often as unfiltered as you can imagine. So why step into that as a pastor? At some point, I had to decide whether following Jesus meant staying in environments where I naturally fit, or stepping into ones where I did not. Stand-up comedy made that decision unavoidable.
There is constant pressure in those rooms to blend in, to match the tone, to say what works, and to avoid being the one who shifts the atmosphere. But following Jesus has given me a different option. Instead of trying to manage perception, I can simply be honest. There have been plenty of moments where I have said something, or chosen not to say something, and it creates a pause. Not hostile, just noticeable. And in that space, there is nothing to fix. Just a quiet recognition that I am different.
That is not always persuasive, and it does not guarantee agreement, but it is clear. And clarity matters. Paul says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel,” not because it always lands well, but because it is worth being known for. Jesus lived this way. He did not isolate Himself from the world, and He did not mirror it either. He entered into real places, real conversations, and real tension, while remaining anchored in who He was. He asked questions people were not asking, said things people were not expecting, and stayed present in environments where others might have pulled back.
Following Him means we will feel that same tension. Not because we are trying to stand out, but because we already do. What has been surprising to me is how often this creates opportunity. I have had conversations about a biblical view of marriage and sexuality, finances, some political conversations, and caring for those in need. It’s not because I am actively trying to drive conversations toward those topics, but that, at least in Austin, TX, there are people who are wondering and thinking about those topics today, and then out of a nowhere a follower of Jesus is dropped into their life.
In a few cases, other comedians have quietly shared that they follow Jesus too. Not on stage, not publicly, but they are there. And sometimes just being present and clear has caused them to reconsider what that actually means for their life and their work. That has been the unexpected part. Not influence through volume, but through presence.
So maybe the question is not whether you feel comfortable identifying as a follower of Jesus in your environment. Maybe the better question is where God has already placed you where that clarity would actually matter. Your workplace, your friendships, your neighborhood, or conversations you did not plan. People do not just need content about Jesus. They need to encounter people who actually follow Him. And that will almost always feel a little uncomfortable.
If laughter is the best medicine, then our clean comedy show in January was the ultimate prescription for a night of pure joy! We kicked off the year with a packed house, an electric atmosphere, and a lineup of incredibly talented comedians who proved that you don’t need to be edgy to be hilarious.
From the moment the first joke landed, the room was filled with the kind of laughter that makes your sides hurt—in the best way possible! The comedians delivered punchlines that resonated with everyone, from young families to grandparents, all without a single awkward moment. It was proof that clean comedy isn’t just possible—it’s powerful, relatable, and downright fun. Here’s a recap video! (Click HERE)
But don’t just take our word for it! The feedback was overwhelming:
“It felt amazing to go to a comedy show where I could bring my kids and my parents and not worry about the content!”
“Who knew clean comedy could be this good?”
“This was my first clean comedy show, but it won’t be my last.
In addition, all the proceeds were committed to Love Justice International. We were able to donate $2,000 to Love Justice International! Love Justice International exists to end human trafficking around the world. Every dollar donated will be put saving lives!
But it’s not over! That’s right—if you missed January’s show, you’ve got another chance to experience the magic! Our next Clean Comedy Show is happening in May, and we’re pulling out all the stops to make it even better. Expect a fresh lineup of hilarious performers, brand-new material, and the same high-energy, family-friendly atmosphere that made January’s show such a hit.
So, whether you were there in January and can’t wait for more, or you’re ready to see what all the buzz is about, mark your calendars now! Stay tuned for ticket info and lineup announcements—this is one comedy night you won’t want to miss.
In 2022 I was sitting around with some friends around a campfire and said, “I am going to try to do an open mic.” Everyone in the circle laughed at that idea so I thought I was off to a great start! I’ve worked as a pastor for 25-years and during sermons I have found moments to involve humor but I started to think to myself, “Could I make strangers laugh?”
Creating laughter in a sermon isn’t that hard. Most people in attendance on a Sunday are there to learn about God through His Word, so if the pastor says something slightly funny you can get a pretty good laugh because they weren’t expecting you to be funny. But people show up at a comedy club to laugh and laugh quickly, so I thought trying an open mic in Austin, TX would be a good challenge.
Needless to say, all of 2022 came and went and I never made any progress on that open mic. In 2023 my friend asked me again, “Have you done the open mic?” I said, “What?” He said, “You said you wanted to do an open mic, you should give it a try.” I spent all of 2023 thinking about what I would say at an open mic. It’s harder than you might think. You have 3-4. You get up on a stage. Bright lights are shining in your face and the audience has this attitude like, “Say something funny.” It’s terrifying!
In January 2024 I visited three open mics in Austin, TX; Cap City Comedy Club, Creek and the Cave, and Comedy Mothership. If you don’t know, Joe Rogan moved to Austin in 2020 and opened up Comedy Mothership, so hundreds, maybe thousands of men and women have moved to Austin to try their hand at comedy, so there are plenty of opportunities.
In January 2024 I signed up at Cap City Comedy Club and the host called my name to the stage for me to deliver 4 minutes of what I had spent 12-months thinking about and trying to come up with something funny. It was a blur!
My wife was in the audience. You can go to my Instagram Page to see some of the clips but it was a complete blur. People will tell me that it’s easy for me to try stand up comedy because I am used to being on a stage as a pastor. It is familiar but preaching a sermon and doing stand up feels completely different.
When I was done I walked off the stage and told my wife, “I don’t ever want to do that again.” She said, “Great! You tried something new!” But by the time I got to my car I thought to myself, “I bet I could come up with something funnier.” The next week I signed up again, got picked and it went worse! Honestly, the most painful experience is to stand up in a room full of strangers and try really hard to say something you think is funny and they just sit in silence. It’s horrible!
But the same thing happened again. I got off the stage, regretted trying it again and by the time I got to my car I thought, “I bet I can figure this out.” Eventually through a conversation with another friend she encouraged me to talk about being a pastor. My first thought was, “I am never getting up in a room full of strangers and talk about being a pastor to be funny.” I didn’t want to make fun of my faith. I didn’t want to make fun of people in the room. I didn’t want to make fun of the church. But the next week I had a couple of ideas, so I signed up again, got picked again and actually got a few laughs.
Ever since then I have been trying to pull out the funny of being a pastor. Most people in Austin have never met a pastor and aren’t really sure what pastors do in their everyday lives, so it creates an opportunity for something interesting immediately.
The best part has been meeting the men and women who have moved to Austin to try stand up comedy. People are coming from all over the country and some from all over the world! It’s been pretty fun!
Right now my goal is to try an open mic once a week and try to keep coming up with ideas. 90% of the ideas aren’t funny but every once in a while I will hear a chuckle and it makes me want to keep trying. Along the way I get to talk about my faith with other comedians, answer questions about being a pastor and hopefully give people a different perspective on what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
Most Common Questions:
Are you really a pastor? Most people think I am doing a bit as a “pastor.” Making fun of Christianity / religion is pretty common at an open mic, so most people aren’t sure what to think when I stand up and talk about being a pastor.
What made you want to try stand up comedy? I wanted to see if I could make strangers laugh. It’s pretty fun!
Are you just testing out material for your sermons on Sunday? I have tried ideas from Sunday at an open mic and I have tried ideas from an open mic on Sunday morning and so far they don’t work. I tend to keep them separate.
What makes you think you are funny? I don’t know. I like to laugh. I like to be around people who laugh.
What’s your dream for comedy? I am already living my dream. I get to work as a pastor talking to people about Jesus. Being able to earn the right to do that at a comedy club in Austin would just be a bonus!
How do you reconcile being a pastor at a comedy club where people are talking about things that are offensive? Open mics might be the greatest example of free speech! People say anything at an open mic and the more shock and awe in the joke creates tension and the more tension creates an opportunity for laughter. At this point, I try not to think too much about the content and instead appreciate the man or woman trying to craft something together that could be funny.
Anyone ever told you that you look and sound like Nate Bargatze? Yes! A lot! In 2015 I would have people come up to me after a sermon and say, “Have you heard of a comedian named Nate Bargatze?” I immediately became a fan of Nate Bargatze’s comedy! But I am not trying to look or sound like him. Technically, I am older than Nate, so he looks and sounds like me, just a lot funnier and talented!
Can pastors drink beer? I get this question pretty often because open mics are at clubs / bars and I want to support these locations making space for comedy so I will try to get a beer while I am there. God’s Word is actually neutral about alcohol. Sometimes alcohol is described as a blessing / celebration and sometimes alcohol is described as a curse / grief but drunkenness is clearly contrary to God’s Word.
Can I listen to any of your sermons? Sure! Here’s a link!
What kind of church do you pastor? It’s a non-denominational church. We are really big on Jesus and the Bible, so on Sundays I will teach through books of the Bible and try to go verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter.
Can I come to visit? This question is pretty common! Most comedians are out late on a Saturday, so to turn around and show up to a worship service on Sunday morning is a challenge but it’s been great to see new friends visit on a Sunday morning. Anyone is always invited to show up to a worship service on Sunday morning at 10:30am. We sing 3 songs, I teach for around 30 minutes and then we close with 2 more songs. We’re pretty casual, so just come in what’s comfortable for you!
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