Love Never Fails

Queen of Clean discusses comedy, readies for Lubbock

Christian comedian Chonda Pierce has been dubbed by some The Queen of Clean for her expletive-free comedy.

Pierce has written several books, was featured on “The Wanda Sykes Show,” “The View,” “The Huckabee Show” and has enjoyed small roles in the movies “Your Love Never Fails” and “The Dog Who Saved Halloween,” due for release in October.

Pierce will bring her trademark humor and cackling laugh to Southcrest Baptist Church on Friday.

She spoke with The Avalanche-Journal about finding humor despite a challenging upbringing, how she pushes the envelope while remaining Christian, and why many were surprised at her appearance on The Wanda Sykes Show.

Q: (On your website) you say: “I come straight from the world of wooden pews and hell fire preaching. Some of it probably did a little damage — that’s where I get my warped sense of humor — but most of those days gave me solid roots.” Can you expand a little on what you mean by your “warped sense of humor”?

A: Well you know in a very religious atmosphere, you either become quite religious, or legalistic is what they call it in the Christian world. If you don’t develop a sense of humor, everything is somewhat frightening. What we called good old-fashioned shouting and praise the Lord and waving a hankie — when you’re about 4 or 5 and you see that happen a few times on Sunday, that scares you to death. If you don’t develop a sense of humor or a tough skin, it can be a big turnoff.

Q: You (have experienced) difficult times. You had two sisters who died and a father who battled depression before leaving the family; you battled depression. I read that you said people have become alcoholics over a lot less. But you became a comedian instead.

A: I do think at one time my comedy probably masked my pain a lot, which is a lot (of) what alcohol does. Until I really started dealing with some of my pain and my grief, and dealing with it in healthy ways, then the comedy became not just a just a lifeline, but a way to make a living, and I enjoyed it more.

Q: Do you change what you say (when you perform in comedy clubs)? I always imagine the language in a comedy club is very explicit.

A: You know, it really is, but at the same time, as a Christian, that usually dictates what comes out of your mouth — or it should. I don’t change my material because my faith regulates who I am 24-7. Now, my humanity regulates how many times I mess it up. But for the most part, if you walked in on me at a comedy club and caught me in there, you’d hear the same story you’d heard at a Chonda Pierce concert. I did “The Wanda Sykes Show” and she was so sweet, and the ladies on “The View” said the same thing: “Funny is funny.

Love Never Fails: A lock of love

Before I left from Australia, some of my closest friends there surprised me with the most amazing going-away present. Just a mere 24 hours before I left the country, they took me to Mt. Keira (one of the main attractions in Wollongong) where they presented me with a lock, engraved with my name and a message. This is a tradition of the mountain where a person(s) locks their lock around the railing of the mountain and it stays there for as long as the owner would like it too! There were so many locks of all different shapes, sizes, ages, and messages. It was amazing to see how many different people had done this tradition and interesting to think about where their lives are at now. The girls gave it to me in hopes of one day coming back to it and showing my family and children how I once lived in this amazing place.

Love Never Fails

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