Silencing The Rumors Denzel Washington Finally Sheds Light On Things

Jan 15, 2019

Have you struggled with your faith? Most of us have. Whether you grew up in a religious household or wrestled with questions about life and the universe as you got older, finding the courage to choose a path and proclaim it isn't easy.

Actor Denzel Washington is used to dealing with the personal struggles of religion. While he rose to the heights of fame, he wasn't sure where God belonged in his life or if there was any room for Jesus at all. His life journey has ultimately led him to a powerful testimony that he's proudly decided to share with the world, but before we can acknowledge it, let's take a look back at his humble beginnings and the root of his life as a Christian.

Denzel Washington was born on December 28, 1954, in Mount Vernon, New York. The son of a reverend, Washington was no stranger to the church or Christianity. From the time he could speak, he was talking to Jesus and hearing about the power of the gospel. When he wasn't at church, he spent most of his free time at his mother's beauty parlor down the street.

Washington's father was a pastor for over 60 years. While he and his son shared a special bond, that closeness didn't immediately translate to Washington's feelings toward God. As he got older, he began to question the faith he'd been brought up with. When he became a teenager, Washington took to the streets and began living a radically different life than the one his parents and church would have wanted for him.

A troubled teen, Washington spent the majority of his youth running around the streets with his friends, ditching school and flunking out of classes. His parents' divorce when he was 14 triggered a lot of anger and confusion that a young Denzel tried to escape from. Unsure how to channel his frustration, the teenager spent most of his time getting into fights and hanging out with the wrong crowd. His mother, fed up with his outbursts and poor grades, sent him to Oakland Military Academy. This was the start of a transformative period in the young man's spiritual life.

Most people who convert to Christianity describe their "saving" moment when they felt Jesus enter their lives. A song may have touched them in an inexplicable way, or they may have had a chance encounter that made them lifelong believers. For Denzel Washington, that transformative moment occurred when he was visiting his mother's beauty parlor, an imperative setting during his childhood.

At 20-years-old, Washington had flunked out of college with a 1.7 GPA. He had little to no prospects, so he was shocked when a woman who was sitting under the hair dryer at his mother's salon predicted something extraordinary. "'Young man, you are going to travel the world and speak to people,'" Washington recited her words in an interview with the St. Louis American. She told him, "You are going to preach."

The woman's words settled in Washington's heart and motivated him to enroll as a student at Fordham University. An avid athlete, he played football and baseball as he struggled to settle on a major. He initially planned on becoming a doctor, but medicine didn't feel like his true calling. After the initial fuel that propelled him into Fordham dwindled, Washington once again felt lost. He decided to take a semester off school and pursue other interests to get in touch with himself. He became the Creative Arts Director at Camp Sloane in Lakeville, Connecticut. There, he got his first taste of acting.

According to the Camp Sloane website, Washington's acting career started during a camp talent show. A man named Miles Joyce approached Denzel after his performance and asked if he ever thought of becoming an actor. When Washington returned to college a few months later, he decided to study art and journalism. 

With a renewed sense of purpose, Washington graduated and earned a scholarship for his master's degree at the esteemed San Francisco American Conservatory Theatre. Before he could make it there, however, Washington's acting career took off. He returned briefly to New York to visit his family, but soon after, he broke into fame thanks to his role in the Hollywood hit film, "Carbon Copy." After being propelled into the spotlight, Washington starred in dozens of other lead-roles and even wound up winning an Oscar for Best Actor. Despite his struggles, Washington says that God never gave up on him. Thanks to the love of his Savior, he was able to chase after his dreams and experience fame and success beyond his imagination.

Now, Denzel Washington says that God is the reason he's been so blessed in life. His marriage to Pauletta Patterson has been going strong for over 30 years. In an interview with Evangelical Focus, he attributes much of their success as a couple to God.

"Number one: put God first in everything you do. Everything that you think you see in me and everything you think I've accomplished and everything you think I have... everything I have is by the grace of God, understand that. It's a gift."

While Denzel Washington has always been admired for his acting, we now have another reason to look up to him. His bold and unwavering trust in the Lord inspires us to look at our own lives and take a closer look at our own faith.

Has your life been changed by religion? Let us know in the comments and be sure to spread Denzel's words by passing this article on! We could all need a little faith!