Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
The Jonas Brothers singer revealed that his father had to step down from his pastoral role, which led to the family losing their home as the band chased their music career.
Nick Jonas recently opened up about how his faith was tested during his early rise to fame, after feeling “betrayed” by his longtime church and losing the family home.
In the early 2000s, Nick, 33, along with his brothers Kevin, 38, and Joe, 36, began pursuing careers in music. At the time, their father, Kevin Jonas Sr., served as senior pastor at Wyckoff Assembly of God in Wyckoff, New Jersey.
After the Jonas Brothers signed with Columbia Records in 2005, Kevin Sr. was essentially forced to step down from his pastoral role, and the family had to leave the church-owned parsonage where they lived.
Speaking on the Jay Shetty Podcast, Nick reflected on how the experience shaped both his faith and his personal life.
“Our dad was at that church for 10 years,” he said. “It was a real safety net for us and a place where we felt part of a community.”
Nick explained that some long-standing members of the congregation were resistant to their father’s leadership and actively worked to have him removed. “So effectively, he lost his job while also funding this dream of ours,” he recalled.
The family relocated to a small rental in Little Falls, New Jersey. Nick said the homeowners allowed them to stay for very little while they navigated the transition.
During this time, the Jonas Brothers were touring local schools in New Jersey to promote their music. Nick revealed that around this period, he began experiencing health issues that were later diagnosed as Type 1 diabetes.
“We would show up at 8 a.m., load in our own gear, and play a 30-minute assembly,” he said. “I started losing weight, I was constantly thirsty, using the bathroom all the time. I thought it was just a growth spurt or puberty. Obviously, it wasn’t — it was a diabetes diagnosis.”
On top of health struggles, the family faced financial challenges. In 2006, the Jonas Brothers released their debut album, It’s About Time, but Columbia Records dropped the band after sales fell short, leaving them in significant debt.
The combination of personal, professional, and financial stress led Nick to question his faith. “It all kind of collided at the same time,” he said. “Life just looked very different. It took a lot of faith — and even questioning faith at that time — going from the safety net of the church to feeling betrayed and having to redefine your relationship with God while going through some of your toughest moments.”
Things began to turn around in 2007 when Hollywood Records, under the Disney umbrella, signed the band. Soon after, the Jonas Brothers appeared on the Disney Channel, launching a period of rapid success.
Looking back, Nick said that while the experience caused him to rethink organized religion, he never lost his belief in God. He credited the challenges with helping him grow both spiritually and personally.
