Candid View: Sherri Shepherd Talks Religion, Abortion & Weight Loss

'The View' host Sherri Shepherd covers the latest issue of Precious Times magazine.

In an eight-page feature story in the Christian women's lifestyle publication, the 41-year-old comedienne shares candid revelations about her faith, including her conversion from being a Jehovah's Witness to Christianity.

"Before I converted to Christianity, I was a Jehovah's Witness. In 1993, my mother was dying from diabetic complications. My sister was heavy into drugs, and we would have to go and get her from crack houses. I was in a very physically abusive relationship. I was sleeping with a lot of guys and had more abortions than I would like to count. I had very low self-esteem and just wanted to die. I felt if someone killed me, it wouldn't even make a difference. But God showed me that it would make a difference," she told the glossy.

The Chicago-native, who is currently embroiled in a divorce and custody battle with her husband Jeffrey Tarpley, also confessed that it is hard being taken to task about her faith on the live ABC talk show.

"Oh sometimes I say, 'Lord, Juanita Bynum or Joyce Myers would be so good at this table. They could lay hands on Barbara Walters and get her saved,'" she declared. "I ask the Lord, 'Why am I here?' I have to trust God when He says, 'Because I said so.'"

The former 'Less Than Perfect' star, fresh off a hosting stint at the 'Daytime Emmy Awards,' has lost more than 30 pounds after being diagnosed as a diabetic.

Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Barack Obama, Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd & Elizabeth Hasselbeck

"One day on 'The View' I noticed that we had a lot of big girls in the audience," she recalled. "I told them to stick around because we were going to have a large woman fashion show. They looked at me and said, 'Sherri, you are not a big girl.' I was so embarrassed. However, a lot of women look at me and say I give them hope. I really want them to be healthy. We carry sixty extra pounds on our joints when we're overweight. Some things are just not okay."

In addition to hosting 'The View,' Shepherd will voice two characters in 'Madagascar's' sequel, 'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.' She also appears in Lee Daniels' forthcoming film, 'Precious,' which stars Mo'Nique, Lenny Kravitz and Paula Patton.

For more information on Precious Times, visit www.PreciousTimesMag.com.