Veteran actor Denzel Washington marked a spiritual milestone on Saturday as he was baptized and received a minister’s license on the same day.
The ceremony, held at Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ in Harlem, New York City, was livestreamed by the First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Eastern New York.
As he approaches his 70th birthday, the two-time Academy Award winner reflected on his faith journey.
“In one week I turn 70. It took a while, but I’m here,” Washington said during the service, expressing gratitude to his wife, Pauletta Washington, who attended in support
“If [God] can do this for me, there’s nothing He can’t do for you. The sky literally is the limit.”
The “Training Day” star’s wife, Pauletta Washington, also spoke about how proud she was of her husband of 41 years taking this big step in his religion.
“Forty-six years later, here I’m still standing next to him as only God will have it,” the actress — who shares kids John, 40, Katia, 37, and twins Olivia and Malcolm, 33, with Denzel — said as her husband sat on the steps of the pulpit, seemingly wiping away tears.
“So, I’m very proud of you. You are the head of our house and you have set a great example for our children, who are now adult children who know the difference because we have shown them the difference.”
Denzel, who was dressed in a gray T-shirt and black sweatpants, also posed for a photo with his minister’s license and his certificate of baptism.
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Recalling a life-changing encounter from his youth, Washington shared a story about a prophecy delivered by Ruth Green, a woman he met in his mother’s beauty parlour when he was 20.
“She said, ‘Boy, you are going to travel the world and preach to millions of people,’” Washington recounted.
“My mother wrote the word ‘prophecy.’ Fifty years later, look at God. If He can do this for me, there’s nothing He can’t do for you.”
Washington, known for his unwavering Christian faith, has spoken openly about his beliefs, even as religion remains an uncommon topic in Hollywood.
In a recent essay for Esquire, he described his resolve to share his spiritual convictions, saying, “I’m unafraid. I don’t care what anyone thinks… It’s not fashionable. It’s not sexy. But that doesn’t mean people in Hollywood don’t believe.”
Bryant shared photos of the moment Washington gave his life to Christ in a Facebook post.
“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.
“He is dressed that way because, in the same service, he received water baptism,” Bryant added. “Both the baptism and the licensing took place at the Historic Kelly Temple in NYC, a place close to his heart. Denzel Washington attended this church as a child and testified to being filled with the Holy Spirit after visiting another church with actor Robert Townsend in the 80s.”
