One of the most celebrated actors in Hollywood, Denzel Washington, had a deeply personal and transformative moment when he decided to take a major step in his spiritual journey, baptized at the Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ in New York City on December 21, 2024.
This was the beginning of his new era of faith and the start of his training to receive a license to minister. In the presence of family, friends, and church members, Washington’s baptism was one of the most powerful means of stating his renewed commitment to faith and publicly declaring his spiritual path.
Bishop James Pullings Jr. officiated the service and baptized Washington. During the baptismal rites, Washington’s most heartfelt words for all those present were,
“If God can do this for me, there’s nothing He can’t do for you.”
This ended Washington’s testimony in front of everybody there and cemented Washington’s strong belief in faith’s ability to transform lives.
Raised in a Christian household by a Pentecostal minister father, Washington has never been shy about his faith. But this baptism will be different. In an emotional address following the swearing-in ceremony, he confessed how long it had taken him to reach this moment, saying,
“It took a while, but I’m here.”
With tears in his eyes, he spoke of his journey, the struggles, and the unwavering faith that had guided him all along.
‘Only what you do for Christ will last”,
he reminded everyone, encouraging the audience to seek out their spiritual pursuits with enthusiasm and zeal.
His wife, Pauletta Washington, stood proudly by when he made an important declaration. She thanked him and said,
“You are the head of our house, and you’ve just set a great example for the kids.”
The four grown children, Katia, John David, Olivia, and Malcolm, were in attendance to support their beaming father, proud of this spiritual milestone. United in faith, the Washington family showed admiration and support as Denzel stepped into this new role of minister in training.
After decades in the limelight, Washington moves into a new role outside of the camera. A licensed minister in training, he is committed to using his influence to inspire others with messages of hope and service that go way beyond Hollywood. His entry into the ministry is an overall commitment: to guide others in faith and lessons learned in life, giving back to the community on a much deeper and more meaningful level.
Denzel‘s faith has always been a cornerstone in his life, guiding his values and professional choices. He often speaks about gratitude, humility, and recognizing God’s purpose in everything.
His commitment to God was reflected in his personal life and work, from his commitment to prayer on film sets to selecting roles that agree with his moral and spiritual values. Washington’s faith has been an integral part of his career. Even in filmmaking, he introduces prayer into the sets, believing it builds a positive and transformative environment for everyone involved.
But, if ever he was to make a very faith-based decision, a fine example would be A Journal for Jordan, which was released in 2021 and told a semi-biographical story about the life of a soldier driven by faith and love. He did not want merely to shoot a film; he wanted to pay respect to that character’s memory first and foremost and share with humanity a reason to have hope. Equally deep-rooted in his upbringing would be his having to consider Washington’s connectivity to the Church of God in Christ, COGIC.
Arguably most indicative of such faith-driven decisions is his 2021 film A Journal for Jordan, a semi-biographical story of the life of a soldier guided by faith and love. He did not just want to make a movie but to respect that character’s legacy and share hope with the world. Equally deeply ingrained in his upbringing is the idea that Washington’s connection to the Church of God in Christ, COGIC, needs to be considered.
From baptizing to devoting his life to the ministry now, Washington prepares for a direct service of helping other people find their hope and strength in faith. He looked upon his career as methods of serving God as actor and spiritual leader. He also thought of it as that other chapter in life-so this wasn’t retirement; he would use the platforms to help others rise again and live purposefully with conviction.