Faith-based comedian Mickey Bell set to perform at North Monroe Baptist Church on Feb. 22

A popular faith-based comedian is coming to northeast Louisiana.

Comedian Mickey Bell will be performing Feb. 22 at North Monroe Baptist Church, 210 Finks Hideaway Rd. in Monroe, as part of the Lift Your Voice tour.

The tour is headlined by Christian artists David Phelps and Jason Crabb and supported by Bell and singing trio The Martins.

Performing more than 150 shows a year, Bell produces clean comedy acts perfect for the entire family.

"I want it [material] to be clean, and the reason I want it to be clean is simply for the fact that I want the entire family to be able to come and enjoy it," Bell said. "I want Mom and Dad to be able to bring Grandma and Grandpa. I want them to be able to bring the kids and the teenagers and not feel embarrassed about what is said. That's not to say that we're not going to push the envelope a little bit, but it just means that you're not going to turn red-faced because you're embarrassed about something that was said or alluded to. I think that we need more family-oriented events, and I have geared my comedy career around that."

Bell said he started performing standup shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the shut down afforded him the opportunity to focus on writing, incorporating his own struggles into his act.

"One of the main things that I do is that I focus on my bout with mental illness," Bell said. "I just really wanted to give up. I did not want to live another day and I talk about that. I'm open about that in hopes that I can encourage other individuals that are maybe struggling with that to let them know that they are not alone. But when they see me up there having a good time and they see me laughing and they see me doing what I do, I want that to be a testimony to the fact that even though you're dealing with depression and even thought you're dealing with your bouts of mental that there is a way to have a life full of joy."

Bell said people are going to enjoy the music and comedy, and going to leave the concert encouraged and feeling as if they can accomplish anything.

The show will start at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at nextbiglive.ticketspice.com.

Follow Ian Robinson on Twitter @_irobinson and on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3vln0w1.

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This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Comedian Mickey Bell to perform at North Monroe Baptist Church Feb. 22