American actor, Denzel Washington has been presented with a minister license after giving his life to Christ, and publicly getting baptized.
The “Gladiator II” star, 69, was baptized on Saturday, Dec. 21 at Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ located in the Harneighbourhoodhood of New York City.
The First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Eastern New York live-streamed the service on Facebook, including the special moment he was baptized and later received his certificate of baptism.
The actor also received his minister’s license at the same time in the weekend ceremony. The license will allow him to be ordained in the future.
Reflecting on the momentous occasion, Washington said, “In one week I turn 70. It took a while, but I’m here.”
Later in the service, the actor recalled a story from when he was 20 and was sitting in his mom’s beauty parlour when he encountered a woman named Ruth Green.
“She said, ‘Boy, you are going to travel the world and preach to millions of people,’” he recalled.
“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 then expressed his gratitude for his “loving, faithful wife,” Pauletta Washington, who was there supporting him from the congregation.
“To God be the glory. Hallelujah!” he continued. “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.”
