Friendly Atheist

Here’s a nifty story.

Jessica Ketola, a “37-year-old mother of four, church music director, songwritin’ daughter-of-a-preacher man” had the chance of a lifetime to sing on stage with Sting recently when he pulled her up on stage with him after hearing her sing a few bars during the soundcheck.

But even a preacher’s daughter might need forgiveness for a bit of nervous idol worship.

The stage manager didn’t help.

“Sting never shares a microphone,” he muttered to Ketola as she waited in the wings before the concert. “So don’t [expletive] up.”

But in true fairy-tale tradition, a white knight swept in with a bottle of water and a few reassuring words. “He says that to me every night, too,” Sting confided.

About five songs into the concert, Ketola was summoned from the wings as Sting proclaimed her “My Discovery!” In the video, she strides confidently onto the stage.

Here’s that video:

You can also watch video of the sound check that brought her to Sting’s attention.

As it turns out, she works closely with my friend (and soul-buyer!) Jim Henderson and his group Off the Map.

This weekend, [Ketola will] be performing at the Born Again Church Tour at the Calvary Christian Assembly in the Roosevelt area.

“It teaches evangelicals how to be nice, how to listen, and learn how to talk about their spirituality in a way that is relevant and not offensive,” Ketola explains, adding, “About time, huh?”

One of the founders of the Born Again Church Tour is Ketola’s longtime friend and former pastor, Jim Henderson, who expects 200-300 people to attend.

“We’re the only Christian event that feattures non-Christians,” says Henderson, who is known for his straight talk (such as asking evangelicals, “How can we be more real, better listeners, and generally less weird?”) and for encouraging discussion between Christians and those who for, whatever reason, feel like “outsiders.” Most famously featured in The Wall Street Journal, Henderson bid $504 to have a fellow known as the “eBay Atheist” visit and provide an online critique of churches across the country.

Hey, that’s me


Kudos to Jessica for making the most of an awesome opportunity!

(via Kottke)