With touring on hold for most live performers this past year, the comedian known as Nazareth found other ways to bring laughter to people. Nazareth reached over one million views from his Dry Bar Comedy video, received over eight million views on TikTok, and started a live Facebook show featuring comedians like Chonda Pierce, Mark Lowry, and Tim Hawkins.
Nazareth says making people smile during a pandemic has become a priority.
“If there is one thing we have all needed this past year, it is laughter,” says Nazareth. “I started the Live with Naz show the day the quarantine started in March of last year, and it has reached people in over six different countries. I have had people dealing with depression and anxiety say the show has lifted their spirits. While I have missed interacting with people in person, this has been a great opportunity to minister to people.”
Nazareth has always seen his comedy as a means to an end. For nearly three decades, he has used his platform to help raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Crisis Pregnancy Centers and other non-profit organizations around the United States. He serves as a director for a ministry that supports Christians in the Holy Land and is a co-founder of a ministry that reaches out to thousands of refugees fleeing Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Iran to find refuge in Southern California. About seven years ago, he created a series of comedy shows called Laughter For All that came to a halt last year, but he hopes they will start up again soon.
“The Laughter For All events are always free events,” says Nazareth. “We produced four stadium events at the 66ers Stadium in San Bernardino, California, two large events at the Henderson Pavilion in Las Vegas, an event at the Del Mar Race tracks, several events at large churches, as well as prisons and homeless shelters in Texas, California, and the D.C. area. Before the pandemic, we planned on numerous events in California because we feel like if we can change California with the Gospel, we can change the nation. At the end of each of these events, I tell the audience about Jesus, what He has done for my life and what He can do for their lives. There is nothing I have done or will ever do that is more important than sharing the love of God.”
Born in Israel, Nazareth began his comedy career after moving to the United States to attend college in Ohio. He has worked with legendary performers such as B.B. King, Tim Conway, The Temptations, and the Righteous Brothers, and shared comedy stages with Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, and Kevin James. He has appeared on various TV shows and networks, including Comedy Central, NBC News, and CBS, and has performed in world-famous venues such as The Improv and The Grand Ole Opry and on U.S. military bases across the globe. For more information, visit http://www.nazarethusa.com.