*Lester Holt, anchor of NBC Nightly News, has always found strength in his faith to navigate the often overwhelming tragedies and challenges he encounters as a journalist.
In a 2017 essay for Guideposts, Holt shared that his faith provides a foundation for his work, especially in the face of suffering around the globe.
“It’s a question any person of faith struggles with… You see misery in the world, terrible suffering, and wonder how it can be fair,” he remarked.
His Christian upbringing, heavily influenced by his parents, who were devout churchgoers, instilled in him a strong moral compass. Holt credits his church background for helping him become comfortable speaking in front of crowds, a skill vital to his broadcasting career.
“My dad was in the Air Force for twenty-some years, and he retired near Sacramento, where he immediately went back to school, got his degree and returned to the workforce. Same with Mom,” he said about his upbringing.
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“She went to school while working full-time in her government job. I was one of four kids, and the unspoken message was: ‘You’ve got to make something of yourself,'” Holt explained.
“Church on Sundays? No arguing about that. My parents were two-times-on-Sunday-and-Bible-study-on Wednesday folks, and they remained faithful,” he added.
“I can also thank my parents for giving us a good grounding in the Bible. I credit my church upbringing, in part, with helping me become comfortable working in front of a crowd. Valuable training for a future broadcaster.”
Despite the emotional toll of his reporting, particularly when covering tragedies like the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake, Holt feels a deep sense of purpose in his work. Reflecting on the aftermath of the disaster, where over 200,000 lives were lost, he expressed his concerns about exploiting human suffering. But after speaking with a counselor, Holt realized the significance of his role.
“What if no one had reported the story? No one would know about it,” he thought. This moment of clarity reaffirmed his belief in the importance of shining a light on such crises.
In his personal life, Holt remains grounded in his faith, attending the Manhattan Church of Christ and offering his talents as a song leader, though he humbly downplays the role.
“As for my faith, it is not something I share on the air, though I hope it permeates what I do. When I was working on the ‘Weekend Today’ show a couple of years ago, I mentioned on air that I had to hustle after leaving the studio to get to worship on time.
“I don’t know what viewers thought, but Mom was quick to say, ‘Lester, you just showed the world that you are not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.'”
Read his full essay here.
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