Texas Governor Rick Perry was baptized in a private ceremony last month.

The announcement of the governor’s baptism was released after the ceremony as a way to keep the event for members of his family and his church.

“Governor Perry has a deep and abiding faith in God,” Perry spokesman Felix Browne said in a statement.  “Like many people of faith, the governor wished to reaffirm his commitment in a way that holds great personal meaning.”

The governor had previously told reporters that he was baptized as a child in the Methodist church where they only sprinkle water on infants.  He had never been baptized through immersion as Christ had been baptized.

Perry was baptized in Little Rock Creek near Independence, Texas.  The spot was the same location where Sam Houston, the first president of the Republic of Texas, had been baptized.

The Texas governor has been outspoken in his faith in Christ during his time in office and has repeatedly mentioned Jesus in speeches around the state and nation.