Helen Tomblin

Funny side of faith

If you haven't heard the one about the clean comedy club at Stirchley, Birmingham, run by a Christian youth adviser, the chances are you've missed the opportunity to enjoy an evening of inoffensive entertainment at its very best.

'I just woke up in the night and I thought yeah a clean comedy club,' enthuses Helen Tomblin, whose response to a talk on Fresh Expressions of church was to use humour to engage with the people in her neighbourhood.

'I live just round the corner from the pub,' she continues, 'so this is my local, this is my community, and I want to build and encourage and support good stuff in my local community.'

Interestingly, the local council is backing an initiative to make the area cleaner, greener and safer, so Helen's Laughing Sole Comedy Club - a monthly extravaganza at the British Oak pub comprising three clean comedians of various faiths and none and comedy compere Barbara Nice - is a welcome addition to Stirchley's entertainment offering.

'Jesus said he wanted us to have life to the full,' Helen says, thinking about why clean comedy is good for you, 'and I think laughter is part of that.'

Naming Jo Enwright, Tim Vine and Shazia Murza as her favourites on the circuit, the Essex-born comedy club manager initially considered a career in education via an art and RE degree and a primary school PGCE; these days she works fulltime for Birmingham Diocese as Bishop's Adviser for Youth Ministry, supporting churches developing youth work, training youth workers, and organising Reunited - a regular worship event in the centre of Birmingham attracting over 600 young people.

Given her vision for getting alongside people with Fresh Expressions of church, she has so far avoided training to be a vicar, joking that she wouldn't suit a dog collar.

'You don't have to be ordained,' she concludes, contributing a valuable point on the subject of vocation, 'to be out there to be a Christian living in the real world, making a difference for your faith.'

You can hear this interview now by clicking here