Zuko Komisa
On Sunday, Bishop T.D. Jakes revealed his decision to step down as the lead pastor of the influential Potter’s House megachurch.
Jakes, who has led the 80,000-member congregation for years, declared that his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and his son-in-law, Pastor Touré Roberts, will assume joint leadership of the Dallas-based church.
The transition comes months after Bishop Jakes suffered a heart attack while delivering a sermon on November 24, 2024. Although he made a full recovery and returned to the pulpit on New Year’s Eve, the experience appears to have prompted the 67-year-old leader to prioritise the long-term stability of the ministry.
Addressing the congregation, Bishop Jakes expressed his concern for the church’s future, stating,
“I cannot afford, especially after November, to risk something happening to me and you be sheep without a shepherd.” He emphasized the importance of ensuring the continuation of the work built by “all the saints, living and dead.”
He further explained his recommendation of his daughter and son-in-law, saying, “So I’m suggesting to you, I’m recommending to you, that you receive Pastor Touré and Pastor Sarah.”
Bishop Jakes also disclosed that his children have already been actively involved in the church’s operations since his health scare in November, seamlessly stepping in to provide support.
Recounting the day of his heart attack, Bishop Jakes revealed that he was unaware of the severity of the situation until doctors at the hospital informed him.
“The doctor leaned over in my ear and said, ‘You had a massive heart attack.’ And the reason I didn’t realize it is I had no symptoms [of a heart attack]: no numbness, no sharp pain, no anything. I just kind of drifted off to sleep. I didn’t know what it was, but I almost died.”
After nearly five decades in ministry, Bishop Jakes is not retiring entirely. He will continue his work with the T.D. Jakes Group as chairman, shifting his focus to behind-the-scenes initiatives.
“There’s some ways that I want to prepare us for the days ahead that I can’t do it completely from the pulpit.
“Every now and then I think they’ll let me preach, but there’s some work in the vineyard that needs to be done.” Bishop Jakes explained.
The appointment of Sarah Jakes Roberts and Touré Roberts marks a new chapter for Potter’s House, with the legacy of Bishop T.D. Jakes now being carried forward by the next generation of his family.
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