Veteran Hollywood actor Denzel Washington has publicly committed his life to Christ and was baptized over the weekend.
The 69-year-old actor received baptism at Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ, located in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. In addition to his baptism, Washington was presented with a minister’s license, paving the way for him to be ordained in the future.
Reflecting on the milestone, Washington shared, “In one week, I turn 70. It took a while, but I’m here.”
During the service, Washington recounted a prophetic encounter from his youth. At 20 years old, while sitting in his mother’s beauty parlor, he met a woman named Ruth Green. “She said, ‘Boy, you are going to travel the world and preach to millions of people,’” he recalled.
“She wouldn’t even spell the word prophecy. My mother wrote the word prophecy…50 years later. Look at God. If He can do this for me, there’s nothing He can’t do for you. The sky literally is the limit and there’s no limit to the sky.”
“To God be the glory. Hallelujah!” Washington exclaimed.
“Anything I can do, I will do for this church, the Almighty. I just want to be in that number when the saints go marching in.”
According to Fox News Digital, Washington was baptized by Archbishop Christopher Bryant at Kelly Temple on Saturday. Bryant also celebrated the moment in a Facebook post, sharing photos and writing: “We celebrate the addition of Minister Denzel Washington into the clergy, having received his minister’s license in the Church of God in Christ today, in a truly uplifting moment,” the post read.
Washington, who stars in the upcoming Gladiator II, has been open about his faith but acknowledges the challenges of discussing religion in Hollywood.
“When you see me, you see the best I could do with what I’ve been given by my Lord and Savior,” Washington told Esquire. “I’m unafraid. I don’t care what anyone thinks.”
“See, talking about the fear part of it – you can’t talk like that and win Oscars. You can’t talk like that and party. You can’t say that in this town,” Washington added.
“I’m free now. It’s not talked about in this town. It’s not talked about. It’s not talked about. It’s not fashionable. It’s not sexy. But that doesn’t mean people in Hollywood don’t believe
“There’s no such thing called Hollywood anyway. What does that even mean? That to me means a street called Hollywood Boulevard,” he wrote.
However, the actor isn’t sure how many other actors believe in God.
“It’s not like we all meet somewhere and discuss what we believe. So, I don’t know how many other actors have faith. I didn’t do any poll. How would I find that out? I mean, there’s no Church Actor Meetings I’ve been to.”
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.