Denzel Washington has taken a significant step in his spiritual journey. The 69-year-old “Gladiator II” actor was baptized on Saturday, December 21, at Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ in Harlem, New York City.
The ceremony was live-streamed by the First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Eastern New York, capturing the moment he was baptized and received his baptism certificate.
During the same event, Washington was also granted his minister’s license, a milestone that positions him for future ordination.
Speaking to the congregation before his baptism, Washington reflected on his faith and the significance of the moment. “In one week, I turn 70,” he shared. “It took a while, but I’m here.”
Later in the service, Washington recounted a pivotal moment from his youth. At 20 years old, while sitting in his mother’s beauty parlor, a woman named Ruth Green told him, “Boy, you are going to travel the world and preach to millions of people.”
Reflecting on her words, he said, “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.”
Washington expressed deep gratitude for his wife, Pauletta Washington, who supported him from the congregation. “To God be the glory. Hallelujah!” he said. “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.”
In a November essay for Esquire, Washington opened up about his faith journey, recalling his early experiences in church and a life-changing moment at West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles. “God is real. God is love. God is the only way. God is the true way. God blesses,” he wrote.
He also emphasized his commitment to sharing his faith, stating, “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.”
Unconcerned about public opinion, Washington added, “I don’t care what anyone thinks. 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.”
The actor’s baptism and ministerial licensing mark a profound chapter in his life, underscoring his unwavering dedication to his faith and community.
