Think Saturday Night Live, minus
Saturday, minus the TV and minus the
off-color humor.
Here's what you got: "Friday Night Live"
at Schomburg Road Baptist Church featuring
"Comedy With Purpose" with Lanny Moody, and
the Rev. Buddy Lamb performing "The Funny
Side of Life." Lamb is the pastor of the
north Columbus church, who for years has
performed his own comedy through a clown
named Budzo.
"I'm telling my people, 'Bring your
friends who never come to church,' " said
Lamb. "It's just another way to get the
message out."
Moody is a native of Covington, Ga., and
lives in nearby Conyers. Moody and Lamb
recently performed their comedy acts
together at another Georgia church.
On Moody's Web site, the beginning of his
"doctrinal statement" says: "I believe the
Word Of God is infallible, and was inspired
by God. I believe that the Word of God and
the Holy Spirit will never contradict each
other.... I believe that there is no other
way to find favor with God except through
the blood of Jesus Christ."
The Friday event kicks off three days of
activity at the church over the bridge from
Shaw High School. The weekend serves as the
church's annual revival. On April 2, the
church hosts a block party, as it does
routinely in the church's neighborhood as
well as off-site; and April 3 features the
Rev. Eddie Beach, formerly of Glenn Anthony
Baptist Church, as the preacher at the 10:30
a.m. service.
The point for these events, especially
the one Friday and a week from today, is to
introduce non-churched folks to the church
in a non-threatening way. Think of it as a
revival with laughs.
"Eighty-three percent of people in
Muscogee County will not be in church on
Sunday morning," said Lamb, striking a
serious tone. "Within three miles of
Schomburg Road, that's 26,000 people. We're
not on their radar."
But live comedy, the pastor hopes, might
put them there.
Lanny
