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Durell Comedy

comedy_durell.jpg“If I hadn’t been involved in the CCO’s ministry, I probably would be just going through the motions and mentioning God when convenient,” says Durell Comedy. “Like the Pharisees, I would have probably separated myself so much from other people that I wouldn’t have been able to relate to anyone. I would have probably memorized so much knowledge of the Bible but would have never conformed into the heart and mind of Christ.”

Durell recently moved to New York City, where he is pursuing a career as a professional dancer. He graduated magna cum laude in 2008 with a BFA in dance performance from George Mason University, where he was a leader in the fellowship, but he first came in contact with the CCO during his freshman year at Point Park University in Pittsburgh.

“When I first arrived at Point Park, I connected with students and a CCO representative who were beginning a Bible study on campus,” says Durell. “I was one of its first members. It became such a large gathering and a great opportunity to fellowship with other believers and to share my faith with others, something I enjoyed. When I transferred to Mason after that first year, Amy from Pittsburgh immediately connected me to [CCO staff member] Kayla Gray the very first week of school, which was such a blessing to me. It made me feel that, despite my leaving, Amy was willing to make the transition a smooth and a God-filled one.”

Durell and Kayla hit it off right away, and she became like a “big sister” to him. After helping to start the fellowship at Point Park, Durell became a founding member of the “Commuter Connections” ministry at George Mason, “helping to bring other commuter students together and making us feel like Mason was a place to call our own.”

“Many people are intimidated by Christians and Commuter Connections made those who didn’t know Christ feel loved and supported,” Durell says. “Commuter Connections ignited a fire in me to become more passionate about evangelism, because I saw that it worked. Kayla also introduced me to other Christians in the area, including Carlous, who is CCO rep at Howard University, where I formed a whole new college family with believers from that campus.”

As Durell transitions from his home in Maryland to his new pursuits in New York City, he is eager to join the Brooklyn Tabernacle and get involved in whatever areas are available, even as he anticipates a busy travel schedule.

“My time as a CCO student has helped me to share the joy of the Lord with others,” he says. “What is encouraging to me is to find other believers, not by them telling me that they are Christians, but just by them living their lives just as Christ would. It’s encouraged me to do just that, and when conversations move in a direction where I can mention Christ, I do. I continually tell others about Christ’s love and his saving power. I’ve invited others to church and have allowed them to see how we fellowship as one body.

“I am relational person, and beyond studying the Word, I grow spiritually when I know that I have true friends in my life who are sincerely praying for me. Kayla and everyone that she has introduced to me have helped me to overcome past areas of sin and have helped me to be much more compassionate to others, both believers and non-believers in Christ. The CCO ministry gave me a family beyond my natural family at home. It has helped me to realize that I am no better than anyone else just because I have embraced Christ. It’s helped me to become a selfless person, totally focused on God’s plan and purpose for my life and how it affects the body of Christ.”