Comedian Matt Perry

By MARK SPENCLEY

CHEBOYGAN - On Friday and Saturday the pews of First Congregational Church will be rumbling with laughter - at least that's the hope of the Rev. Chris Surber.

Surber's church will host a Christian comedy show starting at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Matt Perry and Mike McClain, both from the Greater Detroit area, will be the entertainment.

“I have seen these guys at a church that I was a member of in Minnesota and they are both great,” chuckled Surber. “They will both perform for about 30 minutes with a 15 minute intermission.”

Laughter is the obvious goal of any comedy show, but Surber hopes this two-night event will achieve more than a round of giggles.

“The biggest reason we are doing this is to get people into our doors and show them the new things that are happening in our church,” said Surber. “We want to get our vision out into the community.”

The pastor went on to explain the vision, which included lifting up the name of God and being open to all who want to enter the church doors.

“Everyone is welcome, regardless of race, color or creed,” Surber passionately explained. “We want to cast off the old, dry religion in favor of a vibrant, new celebration of God.”

Parking will be available in First Federal Bank .

Admission is $12. Surber suggests that the audience be 12 years old and above because there will not be day care available.

First Congregational Church is located at 308 S. Main St.
- Cheboygen Daily Tribune

by Sami Marasigan
Teens from all over the area came to laugh and rock their socks off at Grand Rapids: First UMC on Feb 24. The night opened with the dynamic Christian band, RevelAsians, rocking us out. Sandwiched between the rocking was a whole lot of laughing with Christian comedian, Matt Perry. Over 100 teens from Middleville UMC, Aldersgate UMC, Holland UMC, Grandville UMC, Muskegon: Community UMC, Central Christian Church, and Living Hope joined the First UMC students for the night.
Not only was the music and comedy awesome; the night also included Matt Perry’s person testimony that reminded our teens that even when bad stuff happens, God is always present.
The entrance fee was $5 and a pair of socks (to donate to a local mission). If you’d like to learn about the band or comedian, or are interested in inviting them to your church, please vist: www.revelasions.org or www.mattperryonline.com.
- The Methodist Advocate

COMEDIAN KEEPS IT CLEAN

Who’s your Matt-daddy? Do you even know what a Matt-daddy is?

A Matt-daddy is a cross between a mac-daddy, another word for an attractive male, and Matt Perry, a 24 year old Lincoln Park comedian who can be heard from time to time saying, “Who’s your Matt-daddy?”

Perry has been performing his comedy routines mainly for private audiences all over the Michigan and Ohio since he was 18.

He describes his routine as sarcastic, energetic, clean and appropriate for all ages.”

There is no cussing, no explicit descriptions of sex and no insults.

How does he keep his scripts devoid of the vulgarity often found in comedy routines. “I always think to myself, ‘Is this something my grandma would like to see?” he said. “If my grandma was in the audience, what would she say?”

Jeff Raithel, Perry’s friend for more than eight years, said, “He does clean comedy because that was how he was raised. That’s the way he is.”

Perry’s comedic material is inspired by the everyday frustrations of life - little things like being late for work, forgetting to call his girlfriend and ordering coffee - strike ideas in his head for a new skit.

He said he thinks about how he feels when something happens to him, slaps some sarcasm on it and, to him, it’s comedy. “I think that’s what’s funny; that’s whats’ real,” Perry said. “Everyone relates to it.”

Don Keith is the director of J2 Entertainment, a division of J2 Ministries, a group with a mission to develop and maintain alternative ministries for the teachings of Jesus Christ. He helps schedule shows for Perry and has seen his performance on several occasions. “I like his bluntness and his ability to laugh at himself,” Keith said.

Perry usually performs for community groups, churches and youth rallies. He said he’s very popular with senior citizen groups. “Why try to get into a comedy club that’s hard to get into?” he said. “Go out into the community.”

His ideal audience is college-age students with religious backgrounds. He likes to talk about how it can be frustrating to be a Christian in modern society. “We have to deal with a lot and that can be funny,” Perry said.

He tries not to prepare too much before a show. Perry prefers to put some ideas together in advance and then get on stage, connect with the audience and take it from there.

He tries to model himself after celebrity comedian Jack Black. “I like how he just stands there and he is funny,” Perry said. “He’s funny even when he’s not even trying to be funny; I want to be like that.”

Keith says his favorite part of Perry’s performance is his parody of the popular song, “Hey Yeah” by Andre 3000. Raithel especially enjoys Perry’s skit about his experiences in Thailand with an outside toilet. Raithel could hardly describe the bit because remembering it made him laugh so hard.

Perry would like to perform comedy routines for churches and private groups acroos the country as a full-time job, he said. His dream is to work out in Nashville, where there are many companies that market comedians and public speakers.

Wherever his career may take him, there will always be life’s little frustrations for Perry to poke fun at. There will always be groups of people who aren’t fond of the overuse of four-letter words. And there will always be Christians who can relate to Matt-daddy’s personal experiences.

- Crystal Kusiak

I was just thinking how hard it must be a travel from place to place, just to try to make people laugh. What happens when your feeling down or sick? And then I thought about the world, and how no matter what direction you turn- the world is in horrible chaios...

Let me tell you something. Before this comedy show I was so up-to-date with all the politics, all the latest on the war, all the Bible prophesies that I didn't THINK to laugh. I have been without a job for over a year (just recently landed a job about 5 working days ago) but up until that time, I was surrounded with questions about how my husband and I will ever get out of debt. Also, some spiritual warfare going on in our marriage (not marital- but we have been trying to believe God for a miracle. I have been told I will never conceive and have a baby).

So back to why I even messaged you. For just one night ALL my problems were gone. I was so full of joy that night. A feeling I hadn't had in so long. My stomach hurt I laughed so hard.... For one night the whole wide world disappeared- and all my problems were no where to be found. It was as if time had froze in that auditorium and the joy of God was all that surrounded me. I say the joy of God filled me simply because through YOU (and the others) God was able to minister joy to me.

I am glad I was able to get a picture of you and Darren. It was really unexpected- but I am thankful for the picture because ever since that night all I could tell myself was: just smile, Amy. I am not going to worry anymore... I want to continue feeling the same way I did that night- full of joy! So what if the whole world falls apart around me... I look at you guys and all of a sudden I am inspired all over again. You guys travel through all kinds of storms- weather & other life storms and you continue to press into joy. I know that God wants me to do that very same thing. THANK YOU for being an example of something that MOST people never try to grasp. Joy.

So... I put you on my top as my own reminder to keep pressing through and keep laughing. I put you on my top list because I am SURE your page will offer more smiles and laughs as your journey throughout your life.... as a comedian.

I think Christians, much like myself- we forget to laugh during times like this. You guys are VERY MUCH needed in today's world. I believe that with my whole heart.

Matt. I can't thank you enough!!!! I love you in Him and may God bless you with new humor so that HE can continue to make HIS people full of joy- through you.

I hope you come back to Rockford! I demand it :)

*warm hugs*

Amy
- from Amy

Again ~ Thanks for the add! So glad that you got home okay, even if it did take longer. My husband and I went up to Schaumburg, which is a suburb of Chicago, on Sunday and that is when we saw the message sign over the toll way that announced that I-94 was closed at some point in Indiana and we hoped that you would be able to make it back home. It was a lot of hassle for you both coming and going, and it did not go unappreciated by those of us in the audience! At least I can speak for my husband and I. By the way, we made it into the picture of the audience that you posted!! Cool! We almost didn't go that night. We've been having a rotten year and many days where nothing seems to go right and we have dealt with much loss. So on Saturday I did some laundry and was tempted to just stay home. But something kicked in and said to me that I needed to go, so I got myself ready and off we went. So glad that we did! I have always felt that laughter is the best medicine and I can't tell you how much better I have felt since then! It was nice to chat with you at Culver's and to get one of your t-shirts. You also gave me one of the bracelets that you had, and I think that had something to do with my turn around. When I saw what it said about Remember Who You Are, I was instantly reminded that I am a child of God. To make a long story short, many years ago I had asked God at a low point in my life to let me see me as He saw me. When I sat quietly, it was like a movie playing on the inside of my eyelids and He showed me a little girl running care free through a field of wild flowers. I've never forgotten that, but yet I have forgotten it at times and the bracelet was a reminder for me. So between that and when Darrin (hopefully I spelled that right) spoke about the lives that have been touched by 101QFL, I knew that I was to be there so that God could remind me that laughter IS the best medicine and that I have to let some of the drama go that we have been dealing with for so long and just keep moving forward and trusting in Him. In fact, when we went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner yesterday (for our 34th wedding anniversary), when the waiter asked us how we were doing, I found myself saying, "Excellent, thank you. How are you?" I've never said that, but it just goes to show how light hearted I have been feeling since Saturday night! Praise God!! That isn't to say that things are going to get any better, but my attitude will help me through it a little easier. I tell people that my life has been like a bad soap opera that I call "As The Stomach Churns" and some days it just seems like it will never end. People tell me that I should write a book about everything that has happend, but I don't think I could relive much of it. I try to keep my sense of humor and to find the lighter side of most situations just to get through. Anyway.... I won't bore you with anymore. Just wanted to let you know that we appreciate what you do in following your dream and taking God along with you and for touching our lives with your great sense of humor!!

Take care!
Michelle
- from Michelle