Speaking during a recent interview on Fox News about Lent and his Christian faith, actor Mark Wahlberg explained why he thinks Americans need to find ways to come together again and how he thinks that prayer will help Americans do that. He appeared for the interview alongside Jonathan Roumie, the “Chosen” actor with whom he appeared in an ad for a prayer app called Hallow.
That came during an interview on “Fox and Friends” on Wednesday, February 14, the beginning of Lent. To kick things off, Wahlberg was asked, “God is moving across our country to watch the Superbowl and see so many faith based ads, that Hallo ad was really, really touching. What’s your reaction to this spike?”
Responding, Wahlberg said, “We just want to continue to encourage people to grow closer to God. So it’s been amazing ever since I was fortunate enough to get involved with a Hallo app, right around the release of father stew. You know, really his is allowed me to contribute as much as I possibly can and use the platform that I have to encourage people to have a relationship with God.”
Later, Wahlberg commented on why he thinks Americans feel disconnected from the church and how Hallow might help them, saying, “And, and so many things have caused the disconnect over the years, especially with COVID. I mean, I hadn’t gone to church for over a year it was I was a very difficult time and people, people are really looking to reconnect and find something that will fulfill that need. I must say, though, I wish we had mass this morning, Jonathan did the second reading. And I was just listening to his voice. And it was just, it was different. So soothing.”
He also spoke about Lent and how he’s trying to improve in life, saying, “And also all of us needing to do more. I mean, you know, people always asking, ‘What are you giving up?’ I’ve given many things up for Lent, whether it be you know, alcohol or something, you know, sweet, but for me, it’s really about trying to do more, you know, trying to be better trying to grow as a person as a servant of God, father, husband, you know, as an example, you know, in using all that real-life experience that I have. I think it gives me a bit of credibility with people who have been struggling and who have faced adversity. And so you know, we just want to be able to do more.”
Continuing, he commented on how Americans need to be brought together and prayer might help them with that, saying, “And I think, what better than to have Ash Wednesday fall on Valentine’s Day, because where do you get more love than with the Lord. And we’re in a time where there’s such a disconnect. We need things to bring people together. And the power of prayer is doing that.”
Watch the interview here:
Mark Wahlberg on Lent:
“It’s about trying to do more. To be better, to grow as a person, as a servant to God, as a father, as a husband, to grow as an example. What better than to have Ash Wednesday fall on Valentine’s Day because where do you get more love than with the Lord?" pic.twitter.com/6c3omZL0dP
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) February 14, 2024
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video