Actor Mark Wahlberg released an amazing video on Instagram in which he encouraged his fans to “stay prayed up”. In the video, he said that he’s “been getting a lot of messages from people who have been praying every day and finding peace,” and that he’s been using an app called the Hallow app to guide his prayer time, something that has led to fans “sending wonderful messages about doing the rosary with me.”
Though it’s safe to be a Christian in America, for now, at least, it can be hard for actors in Hollywood to be open about expressing their faith.
Actor Matthew McConaughey, for example, said when speaking to Joe Rogan: “I have had moments where I was on stage receiving an award in front of my peers in Hollywood, and there were people in the crowd that I have prayed with before dinners many times, and when I thanked God, I saw some of those people go to clap, but then notice that, ‘bad thing on my resume’ and then sit back on their hands.”
Fortunately, both he and Mark Wahlberg are open about their faith and have used their platforms to encourage others to remain strong in the faith and continue praying.
Wahlberg, beyond the Instagram video, even went so far as to produce a movie called “Father Stu” in which he reminds viewers of the necessity of grace and shows a beautiful story of redemption. Speaking about that message, Wahlberg said:
“This movie has a very clear message that we are not going to give up on people. We are not going to turn our backs on people because of mistakes that they’ve made. We are going to tell people and encourage people that nobody is beyond redemption and that we support you, we love you, we accept you for who you are.”
“You cannot give up on people. And people are so quick to turn their backs on people. And negativity as a whole has just been amplified in a way that it’s really hard to remind people of the importance of loving and supporting people. People can do incredible things.”
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“If this is a movie that really changes people’s lives and motivates them and inspires them to do great things — you know, all I really gotta do is convert one person, and I get to go through the pearly gates. So If I can continue to do that in a major way, remaining humble and just doing it for all the right reasons, then I would much rather have that be my legacy than being the biggest box office star in the world. I would like to have a legacy that I had a positive impact on some people.”
So, Wahlberg is open about his faith and doesn’t cover it up to try and push along his career in Hollywood. Rather, he uses the platform he’s worked so hard for to emphasize God’s glory rather than his, acting as a true inspiration and role model in doing so.
Featured image credit: screengrab from the Wahlberg Instagram video