Denzel Washington Baptized, Becomes Minister Ahead of 70th Birthday

As a fervent admirer of the captivating world of Hollywood, I find myself consistently inspired by the fascinating lives and beliefs that shape the careers of its most prominent figures. Among these, there are few as intriguing as the spiritual journeys undertaken by some of our favorite stars. One such individual is the incomparable Denzel Washington, whose life story has captivated me for years.

Denzel Washington‘s faith journey is taking flight.

Actor from “Gladiator II” was baptized and obtained his minister’s license prior to his 70th birthday at the Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ, Harlem, New York on December 21st. This license enables him to be ordained if he decides to do so in the future.

In the church service live-streamed on Facebook, Denzel, aged 69, was accompanied by his wife, Pauletta Washington, who took a seat among the congregation.

“In one week I turn 70,” he said during the livestream. “It took a while, but I’m here.”

During the awards ceremony, the Oscar winner shared insights about his religious beliefs, reminiscing on a moment when, after roughly the eighth or ninth time he didn’t win an Academy Award, his late mother, Lennis Washington, consoled him by saying “Humanity bestows the award, but God grants the true reward.

Additionally, Denzel shared a tale about a prophecy he got from a lady called Ruth Green when he was just twenty years old, during his visit to Lennis’ beauty parlor.

“She said, ‘Boy, you are going to travel the world and preach to millions of people,’” he shared. “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.”

The actor from the movie Training Day, concluded his speech by pledging loyalty to God, stating, “Whatever tasks I can undertake, I will complete for this church; I long to be a part of the congregation when the faithful walk together in procession.

His remarks echo what he wrote in a recent essay reflecting on his religious beliefs.

In an article for Esquire last month, Denzel expressed that the statements about God which he repeated as a young boy during church services, are now understood differently by him. He affirmed, “God truly exists. God embodies love. God is the only path. God is the correct path. May God’s blessings be upon us.

He stated, “My role is to exalt God, to offer Him praise, and to ensure that every person I interact with throughout my life recognizes His influence in my life. In essence, when you observe me, you witness the best I can achieve, given the gifts bestowed upon me by my divine guide.

As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but share my thoughts on the captivating portrayal of Malcolm X by an actor who dared to delve into the sensitive topic of religion in Hollywood, a realm often shrouded in unspoken taboos. However, this courageous performer has reached a stage where he fearlessly declares himself “unafraid” to openly discuss his faith, breaking the silence that typically veils such conversations in the movie industry.

He asserted, “I’m indifferent to people’s opinions,” he said. “Notice, when discussing the fear aspect, you can’t speak like that and win awards. You can’t speak like that and socialize. Such words aren’t suitable here.

Keep reading for more celebs who are outspoken about their religion.

In a YouTube video for Forerunner Chronicles, the actor from Two and a Half Men disclosed his participation in the Seventh-day Adventist ministry. He further criticized his popular sitcom as “immoral content” and encouraged viewers to refrain from watching it.

Shortly after Madonna was initiated into Kabbalah in 1996, some rabbis deemed her practice of Jewish mysticism as blasphemous. However, this did not deter her; she continues to be a devoted and vocal adherent. In fact, the group acknowledges her as a significant contributor to their substantial celebrity fan base.

The muscular football celebrity is deeply religious and often discusses his faith at public events. Notably, he has a distinctive practice called Tebowing – kneeling with a clenched fist pressed to his forehead in prayer, which he occasionally does on the field during matches.

As a devoted adherent, I’ve often shared that the Church of Scientology played a significant role in my journey to conquer dyslexia. However, controversy arose in 2005 when I suggested that Brooke Shields might have managed her postpartum depression better with vitamins rather than Paxil, an approach endorsed by the organization founded by L. Ron Hubbard. There were also whispers of Scientology’s involvement surrounding my divorce from Katie Holmes in the context of the Mission: Impossible series.

Since he was 17, he has been a committed Christian, and his acting career took off on the show “Growing Pains”. However, his religious beliefs have recently sparked much discussion as he publicly expressed his opposition to same-sex marriage and labeled homosexuality as detrimental to many fundamental aspects of society.

In his twenties, the man known for playing the lead role in “Pretty Woman” started exploring Buddhism. He not only enjoys a close friendship and support with the Dalai Lama, but he is also a vocal advocate among Hollywood figures, championing human rights issues in Tibet.

The Purple One gave up performing his more risqué hits after becoming a Jehovah’s Witness in 2001.

Previously aspiring contestant of “Dancing With the Stars” openly shared recently that Scientology played a significant role in her overcoming a cocaine dependency, an accomplishment she achieved about thirty years ago after joining the church.

A man who referred to himself as a “Jesus Follower” converted to Christianity following the events of September 11th. He detailed his transformation in his 2012 memoir, titled “An Unusual Suspect“, and has since emerged as a frequently consulted expert by media outlets regarding Hollywood and faith matters.

The Oscar-winning individual, known for his contentious reputation, has never been reluctant to discuss his firm Roman Catholic beliefs. However, his faith garnered widespread attention when he produced The Passion of the Christ, a 2004 film depicting the final hours of Jesus’ life, which some critics criticized as potentially anti-Semitic. Additionally, Gibson constructed a chapel on his extensive Malibu property and has expressed a preference for attending Masses conducted entirely in Latin.

The couple openly discussed being Scientologists, and they returned to the church in November 2012. During an appearance on “The Doctors,” Preston admitted that their late son, Jett, had autism. However, the church doesn’t acknowledge this condition as it believes mental and emotional disorders are not genuine illnesses.

2024-12-23 22:19

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