Speaking back in 2015 about his Christian faith during an appearance at the Church of God in Christ, actor and pastor’s son Denzel Washington opened up on his faith and how he has seen God impact his life. He said, when speaking on the matter, that there has never been a moment that he didn’t feel God’s presence shaping his life, even at the times when he knew he wasn’t acting faithfully.
Washington’s declaration of faith came when, as the keynote speaker of the event at the Church of God in Christ, he said that he would “get up and speak about what God has done” throughout his life. What followed was a wonderful attestation of faith and description of God’s omnipresence.
Speaking on the matter, Washington said, “There’s never been a time where God didn’t direct, protect, and correct me.” Continuing, and further describing how he felt God’s presence throughout his life, he said, “There may have been times where I was less than faithful to Him, but He had faith in me.”
Further, Washington described how a chance encounter with a woman at his mother’s beauty shop led him back to his Christian faith, which had been developed over the six decades that his father was a preacher. Describing that interaction, he said, “She said, ‘Young man, you are going to travel the world and speak to people?'”
He continued, saying, “Now mind you, I was 20 years old, with a 1.7 grade point average and had flunked out of school. She said, ‘you are going to preach? In this 40-year journey, I guess she was right. Through my work I have spoken to millions of people. In 2015, I said, ‘I’m no longer just going to speak through my work. I’m going to make a conscious effort to get up and speak about what God has done for me.”
Washington also spoke about how his mother reminded him of all those who prayed for him when he was in need, saying, “I remember saying to my mother at a time when I was feeling myself, ‘Ma did you ever think that I was going to become this.’ She said, ‘Boy, do you know all the people who have been praying for your behind … all the prayer cloths, and prayer meetings?’ And she made me clean the windows.”
Presiding Bishop Charles Blake, Washington’s pastor, had introduced him by explaining his faith, saying, “I thought I would introduce him to you in this way. You are aware of the great roles that he has played for some of the most significant and some of the great movies of our time. And, he has an extensive resume describing the roles that he has played and awards that he has received. But, as his pastor, I just want you to know him. Here is a man who has shown great love and great respect for his church and his pastor.”
Watch the video here:
Featured image credit: By Photo: Harry Wad, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12302111