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Former ET Host John Tesh Shares His Testimony of Faith in Suffering

Photo courtesy of John Tesh via Facebook

Former ET Host John Tesh Shares His Testimony of Faith in Suffering

By Cooper Dowd, Contributing Writer

John Tesh, the successful American pianist, composer, radio show host, and television presenter, recently published a book titled “Relentless.”

The book is a timely testimony of faith in God in the face of sickness.

Movieguide® previously reported on Tesh’s cancer battle:

Tesh was told he had a rare prostate cancer in 2015. During that time, Tesh said he drank too much and it almost ended his marriage.

“I almost lost my wife because I walked out. I walked out of the house and I went on a bicycle journey to try and figure myself out,” said Tesh.

However, Connie held fast to her marriage vows even while her husband was ill.

“Fortunately, she forgave me because that was nothing more than disrespect to her because she had been working so hard as an advocate. Feeling sorry for yourself will also get you killed,” said Tesh.

Tesh mentioned he was “angry with God,” but ultimately rested on the fact that God only wants what’s good for His children.

In a recent interview with LIFE TODAY TV’s Randy Robison and Sheila Walsh, the devout Christian shared insights of his struggle with cancer and finding his way, which he hopes can encourage those suffering under the effects of COVID-19 and quarantine.

At the age of 20, Tesh got kicked out of school because he faked a professor’s signature while trying to switch his major from textile chemistry to music and entertainment.

“I ended up in a tent for like six months in Raleigh North Carolina pumping gas and working construction,” Tesh said.

Despite the difficult start to his career in entertainment, Tesh said that his experience living alone in a tent confirmed the Holy Spirit’s work early on in his life.

“This is how I know there’s a Holy Spirit; within 36 months of me being in that tent I had five different jobs and I was anchoring the news at WCBS-TV in New York City in the same building as Walter Cronkite,” Tesh said.

In 2015, after succeeding in radio, television and music, Tesh began his battle with cancer, which he claims revealed a lot about his faith and his dependence on scripture.

“An amazing amount of revelation and faith was born, and we stood on Mark 11:23, and two years later, there’s not a trace of cancer in my body,” Tesh said.

Tesh said, “you could walk into my house any time when I was sick,” and would hear him yelling out Psalm 118.

“I really concentrated on renewing my mind,” Tesh added. “I kept myself away from reading about cancer. I kept myself away from seeing anything negative. I worked as hard on getting the unbelief out of my head, as I did on having faith that God wanted me well.”

He also said that his realization that Jesus died not only for his sins, but for his sickness and pain as well, shaped the way that he viewed his suffering.

“Nobody really taught me that when Jesus went to the cross he not only took our sins and it was worth salvation, but he also took our griefs, our sorrows, and our sicknesses,” Tesh said.

During this time, Tesh befriended actress Connie Sellecca. Tesh says that Sellecca’s role as a prayer warrior is why he’s alive today.

“We became equally yoked in our belief that God wanted me well,” Tesh said. “God didn’t put the sickness on me, God’s true nature was healing. There really is something in first Peter 2:24: by His stripes you were healed and Isaiah 54, no weapon against you son shall prosper. We believed together and we prayed together with that understanding.”

Tesh conceded that his testimony lies in the redemptive work that God accomplished in his body and not in his own words. Tesh still does tours with his band, performing almost 30 secular concerts a year where Tesh tells the story of faith, grit and hope in the final 12 minutes.

“I’m not a preacher. I’m not a pastor. But I do have that healing testimony which a lot of people take as being powerful,” Tesh said.

Posted by John Tesh on Friday, March 30, 2012

 

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.