Comedian Seeks to Serve Through Laughter

FROM THE HOLY LAND TO USA

Nazareth was born in the Holy Land and his family moved to Kuwait when he was three years old. He has been honing his talents as a comedian for over 30 years. At 19, he moved from Kuwait to the United States to attend college at the University of Toledo, Ohio. 

His passion for comedy began when he asked himself what he would do if he never got paid for it. Making people laugh was the only thing that came to mind. The next day, he signed up at a California comedy club for the open-mic night. He took the stage before a crowd of nine drunks. Nazareth recalls them laughing so hard that one of them fell off their chair. From the moment that he discovered his talent for bringing comic relief, his desire to do it for a living was without question.

After he graduated from college, he landed a job in an accounting firm. He also investigated American life complete with drugs, alcohol, and women. But he knew in his heart that he wanted comedy. So, he moved to LA and began waiting in line at comedy clubs for three hours or more to do his standup routines – often after midnight to a drunken audience. 

When you ask Nazareth how he got saved, he quips, “I was Caller Number Nine on the Christian radio and the prize was (salvation) …then he laughs heartily. But the truth goes more like this. On one occasion he met a Japanese American comic who invited Nazareth to church. Nazareth always wanted to fit in so Nazareth thought, "Why not" and he went. The message that day was on tithing. His companion was hugely embarrassed and apologized over and over thinking that Nazareth would be offended. Instead, Nazareth was drawn to the preacher’s openness and forthrightness. During that next week, Nazareth says even strangers would come up to him and say, “You need Jesus,” like the checkout clerk at the grocery store who asked him if he wanted Jesus in his heart.

FINDING CHRIST

As it turned out, the pastor who preached on tithing was moving to a different church. Nazareth was so attracted to the man’s heart that he followed the pastor, but when he went into the church, he sat in the back with the deacons in case he needed to make a hasty retreat. He says he doesn’t remember anything that was spoken that morning until the pastor made the altar call and Nazareth ran down the aisle as fast as he could to get saved. The next week Nazareth was baptized. He was so excited he immediately led a Marine named Adam to the Lord.

FINDING PURPOSE

The pastor and Nazareth became friends and the pastor began to tell Nazareth that he wanted to come and hear his routine. Nazareth had begun trying to clean up his act, but of course, he still performed in clubs with other comedians who had no regard for a clean act. So Nazareth held the pastor off. Nazareth told him that he planned to leave comedy. The pastor was surprised at such an announcement and encouraged him that his comedy was a gift from God and he shouldn’t so readily give it up. An elderly person in the church came to him and told him to use his comedy for the glory of God. The pastor had been thinking of having a church comedy night and wanted Nazareth to perform. Nazareth agreed and they set up and planned for 15-20 people. The first night just by word of mouth, 400 people came to hear him.  

But the road wasn’t easy. Nazareth says he was hung up on hundreds of times, he starved, and pastors routinely responded incredulously, “…comedy in the church???” In the midst of all this, Nazareth had determined he would not date. He told the Lord that he couldn’t trust himself around women after the past he’d led.

A GOOD WIFE WHO CAN FIND?  

When Naz's father became ill, he asked his son to travel to Gaza to attend to some family business there. Nazareth resisted at first but then honored the dying man’s request. Nazareth was met at the airport by his married cousin. The cousin, his wife, and his wife's sister took Nazareth to dinner. The cousin warned them that Nazareth would probably try to convert them because he was now a born-again Christian. At once the cousin’s wife’s sister chimed in, “So am I,” to which Nazareth responded, “Will you marry me?” She assured him she would pray and fast for three days and give him an answer. After three days she came to him saying, “I’m hungry, let’s do it!” Nazareth returned to the US and the couple did not see each other for one year during which they talked and emailed. Now Nazareth has been married to Maha for 27 years and they have three children.

LAUGHTER FOR ALL

A comedian by profession but an evangelist at heart, Nazareth witnessed thousands of first-time commitments to Christ following the invitation he offers towards the end of his comedy shows. His Laughter for All offers free outreaches at stadiums and arenas around the country where he brings laughter, encouragement, and hope to under-resourced people in hurting communities around the US. 

Nazareth's motivation for hosting this event is to see people who cannot afford to go to a movie or a concert come together as a family, laugh together, and be encouraged. At the end of the night, each under-resourced person leaves with a gift and a food box. This sought-after performance draws crowds as big as 5,000 people.  

Nazareth has visited over 200 prisons and death row facilities in the United States, bringing laughter to even the most unexpected places. 
His latest project 40 Years in America finds humor in our everyday shared experiences. Hope in 24 Hours is still a big seller. 

Be inspired by Nazareth and find out more information here: NazarethUSA.com. For information about Nazareth's free outreach, Laughter For All, please visit: LaughterForAll.org.