Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 6, 1995 TAG: 9504070006
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS HENSON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
And no amount of pinching or scolding or crayons can stop it. Kids will squirm, giggle, talk and mug to the old ladies in the pew behind them. They'll whisper jokes and make up new words to old hymns and pick at scabs on their elbows.
Mark Lowry was no different, even though his mother was the pianist and his daddy a deacon.
"The ushers were always on my case," he says. "I was 7 before I realized my name wasn't 'settle down!'"
Lowry has been able to find the humor in all that seriousness. At 36, the Houston native is still a church cut-up.
It's his living.
Lowry will perform his unique Christian comedy Friday night at the Roanoke Civic Center Auditorium.
Most stand-up comics fight their way through the ranks to make it big, endlessly traveling the legendary comedy club circuit. Lowry sort of stepped sideways into stardom.
After graduating from Liberty University he pursued a singing career.
"I started singing in churches," he says. "I had to do something while the little old man in the back of the church was changing soundtracks, so I started talking. I noticed people were listening more when I talked than when I sang ..."
In fact, they were laughing.
Lowry sang with the Gaither Vocal Band, helping to win a Grammy and a Dove award for the "Homecoming" release in 1988. In addition, he has written and co-written several popular inspirational songs, including "Mary, Did You Know?" sung by country star Kathy Mattea.
These days his act combines music and comedy.
"Mouth in Motion,'' Lowry's recent video release, features sendups of a few popular contemporary Christian artists. Amy Grant's "Every Heartbeat" becomes "Every Teacher,'' a humorous tale from the blackboard jungle. He also "reworks" favorite songs by Sandi Patti and Michael W. Smith.
On stage, Lowry gives his story-telling style a visual edge. He fidgets and smirks and mugs for the people right in front of him, just like when he was a kid in church. Only now he doesn't get slapped.
His energetic performances avoid the usual funnyman fodder - politics and current events - and focus on spiritual truths laid out in a clean environment.
"I do shows for all kinds of audiences," says Lowry. "But, my stories are so wrapped up in the church that God gets in there anyway. People don't mind you giving them the Gospel as long as you do it naturally. The Gospel is throughout all of my experiences. The message can't help but get out."
Mark Lowry will be performing with the "Comic Belief" comedy tour Friday night at 7:30 at the Roanoke Civic Center Auditorium. Other performers are Chonda Pierce and Mark Steele. The show is sponsored by WRXT (90.3 Spirit FM). There is a $5 suggested donation at the door. For information, call 774-9798.
When I was a kid my family drove six miles to Norton just about every Sunday to go to All Saints Episcopal Church.
I think part of the draw was Father John Krulis. He was a charismatic and handsome young man - he looked like Bill Bixby in "The Courtship of Eddie's Father.'' He smoked unfiltered cigarettes and drove a burgundy MG with the top down and bred Alaskan Huskies.
He had a grand singing voice with a tone that came from deep within a smile. We always looked forward to Easter Sunday. He put a lot into his ``hallelujahs.''
One Sunday, Father Krulis announced that he was being called by God to go to Ecuador for a year. When I got home from church that day I looked for Ecuador in our atlas so I would know where he would be living.
He couldn't have been there more than a few weeks when we learned that his Jeep went over a cliff and he had broken practically every bone in his body. I remember having trouble with the idea of him being called away just to wreck in a Jeep. It seemed like he could have done that in Norton.
He returned after a year with two adopted sons in tow. By this time I was a church acolyte. Wearing the robes made me feel mature, and I loved to light the candles. Sometimes I arranged the kneeling cushions for Communion and helped prepare the wine.
Maybe the best duty, though, was carrying the cross in the front of the procession at the beginning of services. Plus, we acolytes had special pews to sit on up by the altar where we were close by to lend whatever assistance should be needed.
It was in one of these special pews that I awoke mid-sermon to find the entire congregation staring at me.
"He looks so comfortable," said Father Krulis. "Maybe we shouldn't disturb him." It was too late. I sat bolt upright and tried desperately to hide my embarrassment.
I got a lot of laughs that day.
Sadly, I have not been able to parlay the event into a career.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***