American Christian comedian Kerri Pomarolli always wanted to be in show business.
After trying out as a dancer and a soap opera actress, she opened up her Bible and prayed.
The words ‘Stand Up Comedy’ popped into her head, and her new career took off as a ‘clean’ comic.
Kerri has been a divorced mother of two for the past decade and says: “God has used my brokenness for good.”
She wrote in Guideposts that the more she said yes to God, the more doors opened.
She said comedy is empowerment — with no topic off limits — as long as it’s funny and it’s clean.
“The more my childhood faith deepened, the bigger the gulf seemed to grow between the roles my agent wanted me to audition for and the person God wanted me to be,” she recalled.
“I said no to so many opportunities. I would imagine my parents sitting in a theatre watching me onscreen. If they got up and ran out, the part wasn’t for me.”
“Within a year of my first gig, I was making a living as a stand-up comedian.”
“Being as authentic onstage as I was offstage gave me opportunities to pray with, and for, other comics and for people I met at my shows. People who might never set foot in a church.”
Kerri also wrote several books, including Confessions of a Proverbs 32 Woman.
There are only 31 chapters in Proverbs.
“I think it’s for all the women out there that read Christian books about farm-to-table, Pinterest women with matching Tupperware and perfect hair, and those who feel unworthy to be valued in today’s society,” she told CBN News.
“Basically I have tagged myself #HotMessForJesus because I really relate more with those types of women, and I didn’t see a lot of books out there.”
“I’m a single mum and I really feel like there needed to be a book that no matter what life stage you’re in, you can really laugh your head off and feel God’s grace and that God loves you in the middle of your hot mess.”
Kerri married a fellow Christian comedian, and the couple share two daughters.
“Things hadn’t worked out as we planned. Life threw some curveballs. Hiding under my covers, I was divorced and alone, feeling lost and broken.”
“Hadn’t I said yes to the plans God had for me? After 10 successful years as a stand-up, why was he disqualifying me? Was I no longer worthy of serving him?”
It was then that she heard God’s voice says: “Get back to work, Kerri. You think I can’t give you a career at 40? You have a whole new group of people you can reach now. Buckle up, buttercup!”
“I should’ve known God would use my brokenness for good,” she reflected.
“I just celebrated 20 years as a stand-up comedian and another birthday with a zero after it. I’ve appeared on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hollywood red carpets, and I have a new Dry Bar Comedy Special.”
“I’ve written film scripts for the Hallmark Channel and authored five more books.”
“God is still opening doors that blow my mind. He is my agent. When he says go, I just pack a bag and say yes. I’m sure he’s having a good laugh about that.”
