EXCLUSIVE: John Tesh is determined to keep his faith during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The former co-host of “Entertainment Tonight” told Fox News that he has always relied on the Bible to provide comfort during difficult times.
And the 68-year-old man is very familiar with the personal obstacles in his life. In 2015, Tesh was diagnosed with a rare form of prostate cancer and was only 18 months old. During treatment, he and his wife Connie Sellecca read the scriptures together.
“At that time, I was trying very hard to believe that everything would be okay,” reflected Tesh. “I was begging God for healing. And when Connie and I read the scriptures together, we learned that God wants us to have health and well-being, healing and prosperity. And the Bible speaks the truth. It’s the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.”
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Former ‘Entertainment Tonight’ host John Tesh with Mary Hart.
(Paramount Television / courtesy of John Tesh)
“I think people will be really surprised to read what the Bible has to say if they take a break on the phone and just read the scriptures every day,” shared Tesh. “I really recommend the Book of Romans and just take a deep breath.”
Tesh admitted that, like many people, he was a victim of “scroll of doom” or reading non-stop negative and moving news articles and social media posts. Test said that self-destructive behavior can easily affect a person’s mental health in unprecedented times.
“I think it is extremely important to stay informed and educated,” he explained. “But I also think it’s so important to step back and disconnect. You can’t constantly consume all the negativity all day, every day.”
“It may seem ridiculous coming from me, because I fell for it myself, but I found myself being pulled in many different directions,” he continued. “We need to take care of ourselves and our hearts. And reading the Bible does it for me. It helps me understand my truth and connects me with my family, especially in difficult times.”
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John Tesh was only 18 months old during his battle with cancer.
(Photo courtesy of John Tesh)
Tesh said he takes the time to connect with fans on social media, where he often talks about his battle with cancer. In February 2020, he released a book entitled “Relentless: Releasing a Life of Purpose, Courage and Faith”, which detailed his journey to healing.
In his memoirs, Tesh also described the many ups and downs he faced over the years, including being homeless and recording a song that would send his kids to college.
“I am cured and I feel well,” said Tesh. “I take care of myself. But when you go through so much suffering, you can never really forget. And it makes me thankful every day that I can wake up every morning and be with my family. I thank God every day for my I can’t just let go of the suffering I experienced. It’s a part of me. And it taught me that when I face an enemy, I’m strong enough to wield that sword. “
Tesh is aware that when it comes to staying positive today, it is easier said than done. But he said that spending more time than ever at home gives us the gift of reconnecting with our faith – as well as with loved ones.
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Connie Sellecca and John Tesh take the stage during the inauguration ceremony of the Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2019 at Gotham Hall on November 8, 2019 in New York City.
(Photo by Michael Kovac / Getty Images for Radio Hall of Fame)
“Socialization is curative at any level, whether it’s through Zoom or a simple phone call,” said Tesh. “This is advice I would give to anyone right now. Find a way to call someone who hasn’t heard from you in 10 years. Check how your loved ones are doing. I know when I socialize with my loved ones, I certainly feel well.”
In 2020, Tesh spoke to Fox News about how he struggled with his cancer diagnosis and the treatments that came with it.
“We were very smart and started to find doctors who could help save my life,” he said at the time. “But I was not prepared for suffering. People who had chemo know what it is about. When I had chemotherapy, I did something called androgen deprivation therapy, in which they take testosterone out of your body, which basically causes male menopause. So I had two major surgeries and I had complications from those surgeries. “
“So I was almost ready to just go out, grab some weights from my backyard and hook them to my ankles and jump in the pool,” admitted Tesh. “I was a terrible, terrible patient and the only reason I managed to get out of this was my wife, who was not only my advocate, but also helped me to present some powerful scriptures that when I manifested them and when I received the revelation from those, I he knew he could be healed. “
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John Tesh said he is healthy and feeling well today.
(Photo by Lyn Alweis / The Denver Post via Getty Images)
However, Tesh said that embracing his faith during cancer was not so easy.
“[Initially], I was angry with God, “he explained.” I was angry at everyone. And for some reason, I was angry with my wife. I was drinking too much Scotch. When you are diagnosed with cancer like this, you become very popular and people are whispering around you and you can achieve anything. You can get Vicodin if you want. You can drink as much as you want and you can feel sorry for yourself as much as you want. “
“And when that happened, I almost lost my wife because I left,” he shared. “I left the house and took a bicycle trip to try to find out. Fortunately, she forgave me because that was nothing more than disrespect to her, because she had worked so hard as a lawyer. Feeling sorry for herself will also kill you .
“If I stayed with Connie and stayed firm in the faith and the scriptures that could heal me, this is where God wanted me to go. I was angry with God at first because I thought maybe God had put this disease to teach me a lesson. or for me to have a ministry, but there is no place in the new covenant in the Bible that says that God wants anything other than good. “