Just days before his 70th birthday, Denzel Washington, the two-time Academy Award-winning actor known for his captivating performances in films like Training Day and Gladiator II, embraced a profound milestone in his spiritual journey. On Saturday, December 21, the iconic actor was baptized at Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ in Harlem, New York City.
The ceremony, steeped in emotion, was live-streamed by the First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Eastern New York. It wasn’t just a baptism, Washington also received a minister’s licence, hinting at the possibility of ordination in the future.
Addressing the congregation, Washington’s voice was filled with reverence and gratitude. “In one week I turn 70. It took a while, but I’m here,” he shared, his words resonating deeply with the audience. The actor’s reflective tone hinted at a long journey marked by both challenges and divine purpose.
Washington’s spiritual journey is rooted in a prophetic moment from his youth. At the age of 20, while visiting his mother’s beauty salon, he encountered Ruth Green, a woman whose words would shape his life. According to The Guardian, Green delivered an unforgettable prophecy: “Boy, you are going to travel the world and preach to millions of people.”
Recalling this moment during the service, Washington said, “She wouldn’t even spell the word prophecy. My mother wrote it down…50 years later, look at God. If He can do this for me, there’s nothing He can’t do for you.”
Pauletta Washington, Denzel’s wife of 40 years, watched the ceremony with pride radiating from her. Her unwavering support was evident, and Washington took a moment to honour her. “I’m grateful for my loving, faithful wife,” he said. His gratitude extended beyond his family. “To God be the glory. Hallelujah! Anything I can do, I will do for this church, the Almighty.”
Denzel Washington has long been vocal about his faith. In a recent essay for Esquire, he chronicled his spiritual evolution. Raised attending church, he admitted he didn’t fully comprehend the weight of altar calls or the concept of “being saved” as a child. However, a life-altering moment at the West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles reshaped his understanding.
“Things I said about God when I was a little boy, just reciting them in church along with everybody else, I know now,” he wrote. “God is real. God is love. He is the only way.”
This transformation fuels his purpose. “It’s my job to lift God up, to give Him praise, to make sure that anyone and everyone I speak to the rest of my life understands that He is responsible for me.”
Main Image: Rolling Stone
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