Appeal of Laughter praise report
Laughs and gifts from the heart
.jpg)
Dan Kulp performing in The Gathering Place at Hope Church in Greece, NY.
Thursday, Feb. 11 began with a lake effect warning. Snow and blowing snow. So-called “hazardous travel.” In other words, Climbing For Christ fundraiser weather.
On 390 near the Vintage Lane exit in Greece.
If you asked local comedian Dan Kulp or any of the “Appeal of Laughter” organizers in the minutes before the scheduled starting time for a guess at the event’s turnout, none of them would have come close. Within minutes after starting there were 50 souls in the room, listening to Gary Fallesen’s short sharing on what Climbing For Christ is and does and then Dan’s family-based stand-up routine, all while enjoying dessert.
Dan, also a pastor, was blessed to grow up in a family with four siblings with Down syndrome. His upbringing – and a mission-minded wife – prepared his heart to become a father of four beautiful children, three of whom have special needs. Those three were rescued from places where unwanted children are inhumanely discarded. They were rescued from injustice just like the children Climbing For Christ is hoping to release from servitude in one of the many countries where this ministry is working that Jesus is not welcome. This commonality led Dan to urge those attending this fundraiser to become “super heroes” through financial giving.
“Not everyone can GO where others cannot or will not,” he said. “But everyone can support those who are GO-ing.”
Dan at work.
Dan’s audience responded by contributing $2,639 to Climbing For Christ. We give thanks for Dan’s humor, his commitment to the least of these, and for those who weathered the storm to become his heroes.
“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” – Romans 15:1-2 (ESV)
3535