At 69, Denzel Washington Gets Baptized and Becomes a Minister

The Oscar-winning Hollywood star Denzel Washington was baptized on Saturday. He then received his ministry license. This came after Washington markedly admitted that Christianity is “not fashionable” in Hollywood.

Washington Baptized

Washington was baptized at the Kelly Temple in New York City at the ripe young age of 69 – proving it’s never too late! Beforehand, he also spoke to the congregation about his strong Christian faith.

“It took a while, but I’m finally here,” Washington reportedly said. “If [God] can do this for me, there’s nothing He can’t do for you. The sky literally is the limit.”

Washington’s wife Pauletta, who he’s been married to for 41 years, also spoke at his baptism.

“Forty-six years later, here I’m still standing next to him as only God will have it,” she said as she wiped 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.”

Indeed, Washington and his wife are parents to John, 40, Katia, 37, and twins Olivia and Malcolm, 33. You can certainly check out Washington’s baptism for yourself in the video below.

Related: Denzel Washington, 69, Comes Unglued – Lashes Out At Fans In Heated NYC Exchange

Archbishop Speaks Out

Meanwhile, Archibishop Christopher Bryant took to Facebook to celebrate Washington’s baptism.

“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,” Bryant additionally wrote.

“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.”

Related: Denzel Washington Totally Biffs It As He Meets King Charles For the First Time – ‘I Didn’t Know!’

Washington Is ‘Unafraid’ After Finding God

This comes one month after Washington opened up about his faith in a major interview.

“When you see me, you see the best I could do with what I’ve been given by my lord and savior. I’m unafraid,” Washington told Esquire.

“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 continued. “I’m free now. It’s not talked about in this town. It’s not talked about…It’s not fashionable, it’s not sexy. But that doesn’t mean people in Hollywood don’t believe.”

Washington later claimed that there is “no such thing” as Hollywood.

“What does that even mean? That to me means a street called Hollywood Boulevard. It’s not like we all meet somewhere and discuss what we believe,” he said. “So I don’t know how many other actors have faith. I didn’t do no poll. How would I find that out? I mean, there’s no Church Actor Meetings I’ve been to.”

We applaud Washington for taking such a major step in his Christian journey. God bless you, Denzel Washington!