Denzel Washington has already made his dreams come true, and now he's following his heart. The Academy Award winner was baptized at the Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ on Saturday, December 21, a week before his 70th birthday. He was also presented with his minister license.
The church, located in Harlem, New York, livestreamed the event on its Facebook page. Washington looked deeply moved as he took this next step in his religious journey. Denzel's life has always been rooted in religion; he was raised in a Christian household, with his father serving as a Pentecostal minister.
“It took a while, but I’m finally here,” he said, according to Archbishop Christopher Bryant, per Page Six. “If [God] can do this for me, there’s nothing He can’t do for you. The sky literally is the limit.”
His wife Pauletta says she's proud.
Denzel and his wife of 41 years, Pauletta Washington, share 40, Katia, 37, and twins Olivia and Malcolm, 33, with Denzel. She also took the microphone to share her happiness. “Forty-six years later, here I’m still standing next to him as only God will have it,” the actress said.
“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," she continued.
What can Denzel do as a licensed minister?
As a licensed minister within one of the largest Pentecostal denominations, the Gladiator II star can preach, teach, serve in church ministries, and assist pastoral leadership, working under the guidance of ordained elders or pastors.
If he wanted to keep moving up within the church, he could one day become a religious leader, like an ordained elder or pastor, taking on greater responsibilities like officiating weddings, baptisms, and communion, as well as leading a congregation.
As Mark Wahlberg did with Father Stu, Denzel might use his storytelling prowess to produce faith-based films or events.
Denzel's recent headlines
The Equalizer actor’s baptism comes amid the Diddy scandal, with the actor's name being one of the few stars to come out in a positive light. There have been multiple reports that he once confronted the disgraced producer at one of his infamous parties.
Brandon T. Jackson also shared on the “Breaking the Machine” podcast in January that the actor once advised him to leave Hollywood parties early, saying, “You leave 30 minutes before the devil get there. OK?” Which has since gone viral.
More than a month ago, Denzel also spoke about religion in Hollywood, telling Esquire he was "unafraid" to discuss it. “I don’t care what anyone thinks. See, talking about the fear part of it — 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," he said. “I’m free now."