John Crist a big joker on Jam tour

Once we’ve reconnected after the phone interview with Christian comedian John Crist suddenly drops, I suggest the cause of the interference: “It’s Satan doing it.”

“Totally. The enemy at work,” he delivers in the same dry drawl he uses when he embodies the “Lady Who Has a Bible Verse for Every Situation,” a recurring character in his wildly successful viral videos. When at the mall: “No, thank you, I don’t need any skin care samples — I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Oh there’s Starbucks, thank heavens, streams in the desert!” When in Vegas: “Look at how she

is clothed — not in strength and dignity!”

Crist is part of Winter Jam 2018 Tour Spectacular that will be performed today at 6 p.m. at North Little Rock’s Verizon Arena. He’s the funnyman in a lineup that features Christian musicians, worship leaders and speakers, including headliner Skillet, and Kari Jobe (featuring Cody Carnes), Building 429, KB, NewSong, Jordan Feliz and Nick Hall. A pre-Jam party features Dan Bremnes, Mallary Hope and Westover.

Central Arkansas is toward the end of the tour that started Jan. 5 and concludes March 31. By no mistake, Crist says.

“They organize the Winter Jam by what city has the best Christians. You guys are like way down on the list, you know what I’m saying?” he says, adding with a sinister laugh, “I’m joking. I’m just joking. I’m joking.”

It’s what he does best after all.

While he now lives in Los Angeles, Crist was born in Georgia. And so was his comedy.

“Whether you are a mainstream comic or Christian comic or black comic or urban comic or white comic, male, female, the best comedy is always going to be the comedian that writes about what he knows about, what he thinks about, what he lives. …

“As a comic who grew up in church, I was homeschooled, and I worked at Chick-fil-A and my dad’s a pastor with eight kids … in the South. I’m suited to kind of razz this community that we all live in and grow up in. And luckily it’s been well-received.”

Like his video “Christian Alexa: The Believer’s Alternative to the Amazon Echo.” In it, Crist, about to serve dinner to a date, says, “Let’s eat!” Christian Alexa pipes

John Crist