LEFT: North Hills member Serena Mangunsong realizes she is out during the improv game “Bippity Bop.” MIDDLE: Monkey Butler instructor Tim Cress gives constructive feedback to students during the discussion portion of class. RIGHT: Monkey Butler student John Weber acts out a scene as a greedy televangelist while implementing storytelling instructions by the other participants during the game “Action, Color, Emotion.”
LEFT: North Hills member Serena Mangunsong realizes she is out during the improv game “Bippity Bop.” MIDDLE: Monkey Butler instructor Tim Cress gives constructive feedback to students during the discussion portion of class. RIGHT: Monkey Butler student John Weber acts out a scene as a greedy televangelist while implementing storytelling instructions by the other participants during the game “Action, Color, Emotion.”


In 2007, members of Mosaic church in Los Angeles decided to put their years of improv experience to good use and create a community that benefited others while maintaining a spiritual foundation. They founded Monkey Butler, a non-profit comedy company that provided free workshops to the public, similar to famous schools like The Groundlings and The Upright Citizens Brigade. Tim Cress, pastor of North Hills church, joined the group after its formation and became an instructor. Having past improv experience himself, he eventually helped bring Monkey Butler to places like Denver and Boulder, Colorado, where he previously pastored. Now, he teaches improv at the North Hills church on a weekly basis.

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‘Fun’ is often not a word that people associate with church and spirituality, but it should be because God created us to play.

Tim Cress, North Hills senior pastor

This Tuesday night workshop guides a diverse group of people through various improv games, resulting in authentic and unfiltered creativity. One of the main elements of a typical improv class includes the creation of spontaneous scenes from prompts provided by audience members. The inclusive nature of improv also makes it a powerful tool for community building. “It gets us emotionally connected to one another,” Cress noted. “‘Fun’ is often not a word that people associate with church and spirituality, but it should be because God created us to play.”

Luke Blueford, a student of Monkey Butler, shared that this type of gathering allows him to interact with church members differently. “It lets me see that we are all one family, oriented toward making laughter a part of our lives as well as enjoying each other’s presence,” he said.

Improv is not just about comedy; it’s also about personal growth. Participants have learned to think on their feet, communicate effectively, and work as a team. Aldrich Mamora, an Adventist police officer, shared how the classes have impacted his professional life. “I’ve developed more patience for people, getting out of my comfort zone, and learning interpersonal communication,” he said. “It helps people reach their creative potential.”

“Improv brings people together like nothing else I’ve ever seen,” said Cress. “It has changed my life for the better. If you are vulnerable, you will discover things that you would never learn otherwise.” This sentiment has resonated with many of his students who formerly believed that they weren’t creative people, only to discover those misconceptions quickly crumbling. Monkey Butler is a testament to the power of humor and creativity in bringing people together in bold ways. As Cress aptly put it, “Improv changes life.”