Chet Hanks broke down in tears on MTV’s The Surreal Life as he recalled how he feared he was close to dying young during a “difficult” time in his life, before God saved him.
The 34-year-old rapper, son of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, who previously battled addiction, revealed he encountered God at his friend’s funeral, moments after desperately asking the deceased for a sign.
Speaking to Fifth Harmony singer Ally Brooke, Chet said: ‘I was going through a really tough time and someone close to me died.
‘I went to the funeral and I went up and talked to him and I said, “Hey, the way things are going right now, I’m going to be next in a box, so if you can hear me, if you’re out there, just help me out.”
‘At the end of the funeral, the pastor said, “If there’s anyone here now who wants to give themselves to Christ, let them do so.” I stood up. I was the only person standing up.
Chet Hanks broke down in tears after revealing he feared he would die young before finding faith in Christ.
The 34-year-old shared the emotional moment he found his connection with God on MTV’s The Surreal Life.
“The whole church prayed for me and since that day I have felt different.”
Shortly after sharing his story, Chet became emotional and began to sob.
“You can do it,” said singer Macy Gray, to which he replied: “I don’t have it, God does.”
Macy continued, “But you’re in control of it all, a lot of it you do on your own. I think He still leaves a lot in your hands.”
“Everything changed since Jesus came into my life,” she told Ally and Macy, wiping away tears.
Speaking in her confessional, she said: “They are literally tears of joy.”
‘These are tears of gratitude. I couldn’t even be here. I couldn’t even be alive without my relationship with God.’
Surprised by his emotion, Macy joked, “Well, he wouldn’t want you to cry.”
Speaking to Fifth Harmony singer Ally Brooke, Chet said: ‘Everything changed since I started having Jesus in my life’
He was seen wiping away ‘tears of gratitude’ in the emotional scenes, which aired on Tuesday.
Singer Macy Gray also listened to Chet’s emotional story
Speaking candidly about his faith, Chet, whose real name is Chester, admitted: “My relationship with God is everything to me. God is the controller of all things.
“It gave me this opportunity to make life surreal and show the world what I have to offer. I thank God, I praise God, I give all the glory to God and Christ all the time.”
Reflecting on the moment of the funeral, Chet admitted, “I didn’t have him in my life until that day.”
Before converting to Christianity in his late teens, Chet was an avowed atheist.
Last July, Chet debuted a massive cross tattoo on his chest as his final act of devotion to God.
Alongside a now-deleted image of him inking, he revealed his relationship with God, writing, “There’s only one thing the world needs more of and that’s God.”
Chet debuted a massive cross tattoo on his chest as his final act of devotion to God last year.
The rapper is the son of Hollywood stars Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson (pictured in 2012)
Before converting to Christianity in his late teens, Chet was an avowed atheist.
He also expressed that he believes his struggles, including his struggle with addiction, his infamously erratic behavior, and allegations of domestic violence, were due to the absence of God in his life.
“All the pain in my life has been the result of one thing: the lie of believing that my purpose is anything but to serve God,” the sober star wrote.
Chet concluded the post by admitting that he is unsure of how to best serve God, but he believes God will guide him in the right direction.
“I’m still not entirely clear on how I can best serve Him, but I feel like this level of honesty is a starting point. And I know He will continue to reveal more to me,” she wrote.
He also encouraged his followers to embark on their own spiritual journey by accepting God into their hearts.