These celebrities were lost in a world of sin but got out of their pit when they renewed their faith in Jesus Christ. Once they found Him, their focus in their personal and professional lives began to shift, and their faith grew stronger as a result of it. Some of these celebrities even left Hollywood behind in an effort to develop a closer relationship with Jesus. Here are six celebrities who turned their life around for Jesus and were transformed in the process.
Manny Pacquiao
Before world champion boxer Manny Pacquiao's spiritual transformation, he lived for years in a world of sin. He ignored his marriage vows and lived a reckless lifestyle. Eventually, he reached rock bottom, and at one of his lowest points, he heard God’s voice in his dreams and knew he needed to turn his life around. He was born-again, and his life was transformed by it. Now, Manny is recognized for his faith as much as he is for his boxing success, never shying away from speaking openly about his faith or love of Jesus Christ.
Vanity
Denise Matthews, popularly known as Vanity and Prince’s protégé, was the lead singer of Vanity 6, known for their hit “Nasty Girl” and recognized for their racy performances. She also had an acting career, appearing in a number of movies, including "The Last Dragon" and "Never Too Young to Die." But years of crack cocaine addiction in the late ’80s caused her life to spiral out of control. After almost dying from the effects of crack cocaine abuse, she found God and was born again. She has been very open about her transformation, saying candidly in an interview, “With the devil breathing down my neck, trying desperately to snatch and strangle me from hell, I repented.” She left Hollywood behind and is now an evangelist.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor and producer Dwayne Johnson exudes confidence on and off the camera, but on the inside has dealt with an ongoing battle with depression. In an interview with Oprah, he emphasized how his faith was instrumental in combating his depression, saying, “You have to hold onto that fundamental quality of faith. Have faith. And on the other side of your pain is something good.” Dwayne counts his blessings every day because he wouldn’t be where he is today without Jesus.
Montell Jordan
The singer we can thank for the popular ’90s anthem ‘This is How We Do It’ left his music career and fame behind in an effort to reconnect with his family and his faith. Montell said the Lord spoke to him and said he needed to lay down the life he was currently living. After following this call, his family became members of Victory World Church in Atlanta, and his experience transformed him. Today, he is a worship minister and has released a gospel album.
Angus T. Jones
From the outside looking in, young actor Angus T. Jones appeared to have it all. One of the highest-paid child actors as the little boy from Two and a Half Men, he was setting the ground for major Hollywood success. But the child star grew distant from the show once his faith began to transform. In a 2012 YouTube clip, he called the show “filth” and abandoned the show, saying he felt like he was a paid hypocrite and it was difficult being a part of something that was making light of topics in the world that were problems for many people. He left fame behind to work with the World Harvest Outreach Church in Houston and feels a stronger sense of purpose since he moved closer to Christ.
Chris Tucker
Chris Tucker is a comedian and actor who left the secular entertainment industry to become a Christian celebrity. He rose to prominence after starring in the “Rush Hour” film series with Jackie Chan. However, despite his success and popularity, it never satisfied him, and that’s when he found Jesus. He’s one of the well-known Christian actors who turned down significant sums of money, totaling $12 million, because of his Christian beliefs. Apparently, there may have been a scene where he needed to smoke weed or cuss.
Rick Moranis
Rick Moranis was a well-known comedian in the 1980s who suddenly disappeared from the spotlight in the 1990s. At that point, he decided to step back from fame and draw closer to God after losing his wife in 1991. Later, he chose to leave the entertainment industry for good, and his relationship with God deepened.
Kirk Cameron
Kirk Cameron used to be an atheist teen actor before encountering Jesus at 17 years old. It started when he starred in “Growing Pains,” where he discovered the truth about God. Since then, Cameron has been a transformed man who is dedicated to sharing Christ with others. However, he didn’t leave the entertainment industry; instead, he used his talents to produce faith-based films for God’s glory.
Stephen Baldwin
Stephen Baldwin is the youngest of the famous Baldwin brothers. His faith journey to Christ started after the September 11 tragedy. Soon after, he began a journey to deepen his Christian faith and redirected his career path away from the entertainment industry into a more conservative one. He turned to work with a conservative radio station and shared his faith through it.
Amidst popularity, success, and fame, some celebrities have found themselves depleted once they reach the top. They’re searching for the truth and find themselves facing God. Since then, they’ve never been the same. Several celebrities have started boldly sharing their faith and meeting with God with their fans, hoping that they'll retain the message and find Christ themselves.
