23-time world champion Serena Williams was baptized Sunday as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, in a historic moment for the tennis great who recently retired. The baptism took place at the Society of Jehovah’s Witnesses in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Williams, 41 years old He was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness by her family. For starters, Jehovah’s Witnesses are a sub-sect of Christianity with a membership of around nine million people.
In addition to rejecting the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity, the sect also forbids the celebration of holidays such as Easter, Christmas, birthdays, or any celebration with pagan origins. Williams and her family do not celebrate any of these traditional Christian holidays.
Here are some glimpses of her baptism:
#Anwa _ sports
Serena Williams was baptized as a Jehovah’s Witness on Sunday. Serena retired from tennis 🎾 last year.#Anwa _ sports https://t.co/ugl9urDUVP
Who are Jehovah’s Witnesses and what does Serena Williams think about the practice?
Official WebsiteJehovah’s Witnesses is a sect of Christianity that advocates both the Old Testament and the New Testament in the Bible. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not view Jesus Christ as “Almighty God” but rather the Son of God.
Furthermore, Jehovah’s Witnesses are required to abstain from politics, voting, and other activities mentioned above. They are also prohibited from attending weddings of other religions.
Serena Williams‘ sister Venus Religion also follows, while her daughter Olympia is also being raised with him. Back in 2017, the Major is a 23-time champion Tell Vogue magazine that “being a Jehovah’s Witness” was important to her and that her husband, Alexis Ohanian, was very supportive of her in this matter.
“Being a Jehovah’s Witness is important to me, but I never practiced and wanted to get into it. Alexis didn’t grow up going to any church, but he’s really accepting and taking the lead. My needs come first,” Serena Williams said in 2017.
In 2018, when her daughter, Olympia, turned one year old, Williams reveal it She will not be hosting a birthday party for her daughter that year, or in the future.
“Olympia doesn’t celebrate birthdays,” said Williams. “We’re Jehovah’s Witnesses, so we don’t.”
After winning her sixth Australian Open title in 2015, the American expressed her gratitude to “Jehovah God” during her victory speech.
“I have to thank Jehovah God for this. I was down and he helped me today and I just said prayers, not to win but to be strong and to be healthy and in the end I made it so I have to give glory to Him first and foremost,” Williams said in 2015.
Venus Williams and Father Richard remember one match they were 7-time Grand Slam champions “He should have won.”