Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com | Inset: @donniewahlberg / Instagram

Donnie Wahlberg is celebrating a year of spiritual transformation, sharing that his growing faith in Jesus Christ has changed his priorities, renewed his joy and led both him and his wife, Jenny McCarthy, to baptism.

The New Kids on the Block singer and “Blue Bloods” actor marked his August 17 birthday by posting a video looking back at the past year. Set to Elevation Worship and Chandler Moore’s “God I’m Just Grateful,” the montage included career highlights alongside some of Wahlberg’s most meaningful faith moments.

Among them were clips of Wahlberg attending a Forrest Frank concert and being baptized alongside McCarthy, who also underwent baptism. Wahlberg also recently lent his voice to Frank’s collaborative album, “Jesus Is Alive.”

For Wahlberg, however, the birthday post was less about celebrating another year of success and more about giving thanks for what he believes God has done in his life.

“To all who have wished me a Happy Birthday today – I thank you!” Wahlberg wrote. “To my family, my friends and my dearest Blockheads – I love you!”

He then described a sweeping change in his life over the past year.

“Looking back over the past year of my life, the Lord has been renewing my mind, rebuilding my spirit, rearranging my priorities, recentering my focus, recharging my energy, reshaping my heart, refining my faith, restoring my joy and redeeming my life!” he wrote.

Wahlberg ended the message with an unmistakable declaration of his Christian faith.

“I don’t know where I would be without Jesus, but I know where I will be with Him! All the glory is His! Thank you again, and God bless you all!”

His public testimony drew encouragement from fellow Christians in the entertainment industry. “Full House” star Candace Cameron Bure responded enthusiastically to Wahlberg’s post.

“Crying over here,” Bure wrote. “Praise the Lord!!! Jesus is King. Keep proclaiming it, Donnie – happy birthday.”

“The Chosen” star Jonathan Roumie also offered his support, writing, “Birthday love brother!!”

Wahlberg, who first rose to fame as a member of New Kids on the Block before building a successful acting career in shows including “Blue Bloods” and “Boston Blue,” has become increasingly open about his faith.

Earlier this year, he told “The George Janko Show” that professional success had not brought the fulfillment he expected. Despite appearing to have everything from the outside, Wahlberg said he felt spiritually empty and eventually turned to McCarthy for help.

“I sat down with my wife one morning,” he recalled. “And to the outside world, it’s like, you are at the top – and I felt at the bottom.”

That realization led to a defining decision.

“I talked to my wife, and I said, ‘I have to connect with Jesus. I have to give my life to Him now.’ And she was like, ‘Of course.'”

When Janko later asked Wahlberg why he believed he would get into heaven, the entertainer gave a simple answer centered on the foundation of his newfound faith: “because Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior – and it’s by His grace.”

More from Beliefnet and our partners