LOS ANGELES, CA – Nick Jonas struggled with his faith during the early years of his career. The Pop recording artist recently sat down with Jay Shetty of On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast to talk about his church’s rejection that made him question his religion.
Kevin Jonas, Sr., was the senior pastor of Wyckoff Assemblies of God Church in Wyckoff, New Jersey, during the early 2000s. He invested time and money into his sons, which also meant funding their budding music careers.
Nick Jonas and his brothers, Kevin Jr. and Joe, established the Jonas Brothers music band before signing with Columbia Records in 2005. The deal between the Jonas Brothers and the record label is what led to Pastor Kevin Jonas being forced to resign from the church.
“Our dad was at that church for 10 years,” Nick Jonas told Jay Shetty on his podcast. “It was a real safety net for us and a place where we felt a part of a community,” the recording artist added.
“Some of the families that were there prior to our arrival did not like my dad and made it their mission to get him pushed out of the church,” Nick Jonas shared in reference to why he believed his father was forced to resign.
“So effectively, he lost his job while also funding this dream of ours.”
In addition to losing income, the Jonas family also lost their home. “We had to move out of our home because we were living in the church parsonage, which is owned by the church,” Nick Jonas shared.
The Jonas Brothers lost their contract with Columbia during this transition period due to their first album failing to meet sales benchmarks.
“We were hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, credit card debt, money that we did not have because there’s no money in in ministry really,” Nick Jonas revealed. “We had to sort of figure something out.”
Things began to improve after Hollywood Records decided to sign the Jonas Brothers. Such a connection led to other opportunities within the Disney empire.
“Throughout those years following our exit from the church, I really questioned faith and what relationship I would have to organized religion at all, which is something that I can say now knowing that my relationship with my God is totally intact and that my belief is totally intact,” Nick Jonas said when reflecting on his relationship with faith.
“And I think it’s important for everyone to go on that journey of self-discovery.”