Dallas Jenkins and his wife, Amanda, joined actor and podcaster Russell Brand on Brand’s new weekly special, “Break Bread,” Tuesday where the three took communion together. Brand asked Dallas about how the success of “The Chosen” has impacted him, and Dallas and Amanda shared the signs they saw that led them to believe Brand would become a Christian.
“Why did you two think that I was going to become Christian then?” Brand asked the couple. “When is it that you guys thought, ‘Oh this person is going to come to the Lord or the Lord’s gonna come to this person?’”
Russell Brand to Dallas Jenkins: How Are You Handling Success?
Russell Brand is an influencer, stand-up comedian, actor and former radio host who was baptized as a Christian last April. He regularly processes his thoughts on faith online, asking his followers their opinions. The actor at times attracts controversy for some of his stances and decisions, such as when Brand drew criticism last fall for performing a baptism while wearing only his underwear.
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Last summer, Brand had his friend, Jonathan Roumie, who stars as Jesus in “The Chosen,” on his podcast, “Awakened Wonders.” On Jan. 13, Brand announced on X that he would be having a conversation with Dallas Jenkins to “talk about the Lord, and we’ll talk about this revival that’s taken place and in which you’ve been so significant.” Dallas Jenkins is creator, director, and co-writer of “The Chosen,” a series dramatizing the life of Jesus.
“Brother Russell,” Dallas responded in Brand’s video announcement, “I would love to come on your podcast. As I’ve mentioned to you, my wife Amanda and I have predicted your conversion for several years. And so, I’d love to talk about that and Jesus and life and all of that.”
During the interview, the majority of which is behind a paywall, Dallas told Brand that “years ago” when he observed Brand doing PR appearances, he noticed “the energy and the anger that you had, it seemed, towards Christianity, towards conservatives, towards people who were in other tribes,” adding, “sometimes, when that energy gets stopped, something hits you.”
Somehow, Dallas and Amanda Jenkins KNEW I would come to know Jesus 🤯 pic.twitter.com/83nBNy7sxn
— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) January 15, 2025
Then Amanda started listening to Brand’s podcast and thought Brand seemed “open to other voices,” said Dallas. “And it’s like, yeah, once you’re open to other voices, the train starts to leave the station.”