In a cellphone interview with Fox Information Digital on Monday, Los Angeles-based actor Jonathan Roumie spoke of his Christian religion, his prayer life and his hope that others could discover peace and serenity throughout this Creation season of 2023 — as a result of “any opportunity to connect to Jesus is a welcome one,” he mentioned.
Roumie, maybe greatest recognized for his position as Jesus Christ in “The Chosen,” has paired up with Hallow, the No. 1 prayer app on the planet, for a special Advent prayer challenge for this holy season of preparation for Christmas. The 25-day prayer problem started Monday — and as a part of the hassle, each he and actor Liam Neeson information individuals by way of a wide range of prayers, meditations, Bible readings and extra.
That is no mere gig, nonetheless, for Roumie.
He’s a committed Christian and Catholic, along with his personal private story of rising nearer to God and persevering with to take action every day.
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Individuals can “disconnect from the chaos of the real world, the divisiveness, the anxiety” that exists, mentioned Roumie, by connecting with Jesus by way of prayer.
They’ll discover “peace and a deeper relationship with Christ, and I believe that is actually the purpose of the prayer challenge,” he mentioned.
Roumie mentioned that constructing a behavior of prayer “is easier than people think.”
Actor Jonathan Roumie seems in an advert for Hallow, the Catholic prayer app. He mentioned that tapping into the behavior of prayer permits individuals to “experience much more peace, tranquility and serenity” of their lives. (Hallow)
He added, “As you consistently tap into that habit, you find your relationship with Jesus growing deeper and deeper, just automatically. And as a result, you then experience much more peace, tranquility and serenity in your life and the ability to really muscle through some of the most difficult obstacles and challenges that life can throw at you,” he mentioned.
Right here is extra of Fox Information Digital’s dialog with Roumie in regards to the 25-day prayer problem throughout Creation, which began on Monday — and about Roumie’s personal religion beliefs.
‘Deep gratitude’
Fox Information Digital: Within the midst of a number of the most attempting instances at present, how do you — and the way does anybody — maintain a give attention to prayer, on God, on a reference to God? It is very, very straightforward to get distracted in at present’s world.
Jonathan Roumie: Sure, and I believe that for me, I am very simply distracted — and technology is one of the issues that contributes to that distraction.
However on this case, I’ve such a deep gratitude to the know-how that is arrived in the form of this app — of the Hallow app. I can actually go to my cellphone and if I discover myself or my thoughts wandering — or my nervousness constructing — all I’ve to do is actually click on on the app and simply begin praying or meditating on one of many challenges or one of many prayers.
There are literally thousands of prayers on this app. And I am immediately transported right into a sacred house, regardless of the place I’m.
It doesn’t matter what, if you happen to dwell in a significant metropolis or if you happen to dwell in a spot that is simply actually busy, you’ll be able to pop in your headphones and hook up with the app. You begin praying with a meditation and also you’re immediately simply transported.
Liam Neeson (left) and Jonathan Roumie (proper) are main a 25-day prayer problem for Creation this 12 months on Hallow, the world’s No. 1 prayer app. (Hallow)
That is one thing that I have been so grateful for — and particularly as we go into the hubbub and the busyness of the Christmas season, it is one thing that I am counting on each day, to have the ability to simply minimize by way of all that noise.
‘Transformative for people’
Query: Are individuals reaching out to you about your involvement with the app and asking you extra about it?
Roumie: I’ve had so many individuals say they’ve cultivated a relationship with Jesus by way of prayer as a result of they heard me speak in regards to the app, or as a result of they watched “The Chosen” after which they began seeing this pop up elsewhere.
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They usually’ve gotten launched to the app and to a extra deeply cultivated prayer life — and in some instances it has been completely transformative for individuals.
Some individuals who’ve by no means been to church began going to church. Some individuals who have not been to church for 20 years have come again to the church. Individuals have transformed — and all as a result of they’ve fallen in love with the richness, the depth and the tradition of the Catholic Church.
Jonathan Roumie is pictured in “The Chosen,” wherein he performs Jesus Christ. “I literally was on my knees and I said, ‘Jesus, I surrender myself to you. Take care of everything.’ And He did,” Roumie advised Fox Information Digital. (“The Chosen”/YouTube)
And clearly [the Hallow app] is authentically Catholic, however it’s for all Christians — Christians of all denominations. There’s one thing there for everyone, which is what makes the app so universally interesting.
‘Simple act of surrender’
Query: You’ve got described an expertise earlier in your life wherein you prayed about leaving your entire anxieties and worries apart, and as an alternative trusted that God would deal with issues — after which after that got here the role of Jesus in “The Chosen” for you. Is there a bigger message right here for individuals, issues that others may study out of your expertise?
Roumie: I believe all of it comes all the way down to the easy act of give up to God in an individual’s life. And I went by way of this in a really visceral, substantial and transformative approach in my life 5 years in the past.
I actually was on my knees and I mentioned, “Jesus, I surrender myself to you. Take care of everything.” And He did.
“It’s a matter of tapping into [our] faith and allowing Him to be more involved in our lives — and surrendering is the first step to getting there”
After which three months later, I received referred to as to do “The Chosen.” It was a degree that I believe my life was constructing to when that occurred — and I noticed that attempting to micromanage God was not one thing that was working in my favor.
And as soon as I let him take the wheel, all the things modified. The decisive second was that easy prayer of give up.
And I believe that is actually tough for individuals, particularly after we really feel so uncontrolled. Once we activate the information and see what is going on on at present, it appears like we’ve got no management in our personal lives.
“The Chosen” star Jonathan Roumie is proven in a scene from season 2. (Courtesy of “The Chosen”)
However God hasn’t forsaken us. He isn’t deserted us. He is trustworthy to us to the very finish. And it is a matter of tapping into that religion and permitting Him to be extra concerned in our lives — and surrendering is step one to getting there.
After which, to proceed to domesticate that relationship by way of prayer — that is how we maintain that give up.
The Hallow app and particularly this Creation problem is a lovely strategy to kickstart that, particularly if an individual has never tried praying constantly earlier than.
‘So many options’
Query: For individuals who have not used it but, are you able to describe how the app is just not a substitute for Scripture however really affords sturdy entry to the Bible?
Roumie: I narrate a lot of the New Testomony within the app, so you’ve got entry to the Bible right here, by way of many works and passages of Scripture and thru [other people] as properly.
And if you’d like one thing that is very particular, it’s right here. Plus, there are assets for mental health.
Jonathan Roumie, middle, star of “The Chosen.” He mentioned his position within the collection has “caused me to examine what exactly is my relationship with [Jesus] — and how can I go further in that relationship, how can I get close to Him, how can I grow deeper in communion with Him.” (Courtesy of “The Chosen”)
There may be music.
And for me as a musician, music is so transportive and nourishing for the spirit — to have the ability to take heed to music that form of will get you within the mindset for prayer and worship.
There are simply so many choices that folks have that it is form of mind-bending.
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Query: How has taking part in the role of Jesus in “The Chosen” modified your life and adjusted you?
Roumie: It is allowed me to go deeper into my very own relationship with Him.
It is triggered me to look at what precisely is my relationship with Him — and the way can I am going additional in that relationship, how can I get near Him, how can I develop deeper in communion with Him.
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So it is challenged me on that stage.
However because it challenges me, it additionally permits me to go additional in that relationship — and to deepen my prayer life.
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