T. D. Jakes
American non-denominational Christian evangelical pastor and motivational speaker T. D. Jakes Sr. was born on June 9, 1957. From 1996 until 2025, he served as the head pastor of The Potter’s House, a non-denominational American megachurch located in Dallas, Texas. The Potter’s Touch broadcasts Jakes’ evangelistic speeches and church services. In addition to producing movies, he is the author of numerous books.
Bishop T. D. Jakes’s biography
Born in South Charleston, West Virginia, on June 9, 1957, T. D. Jakes was raised in Charleston, West Virginia’s Vandalia area.
Potter’s House
T. D. Jakes, then 25 years old, was appointed pastor of the ten-member Greater Emanuel Temple of Faith, a storefront church in Smithers, West Virginia, in 1982. He became a member of Bishop Sherman Watkins’ Higher Ground Always Abounding Assemblies denomination in 1988. After Jakes relocated to South Charleston, West Virginia, in 1990, his congregation once more expanded, reaching 300 members. He relocated to Cross Lanes, West Virginia, in 1993.
He established “TDJ Enterprises” in 1995, which produces his movies and publishes his books. Jakes hosted “Get Ready,” a weekly radio and television program that was syndicated nationwide, from 1995 to 1996. T. D. Jakes established a non-denominational church called The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas, in 1996. The Potter’s House, which is situated on a 34-acre hilltop site, has staff offices and an auditorium with 5,000 seats.
He traveled with President George W. Bush to the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Jakes presided over President Barack Obama’s early morning prayer session at St. John’s Church in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2009.
He collaborated with Phil McGraw, Jay McGraw, and CBS Television Distribution to produce a syndicated talk show in 2009, however the show never debuted because of financial difficulties in the syndicated television industry.
T. D. Jakes, a new secular talk show hosted by Jakes, will debut on Tegna stations in Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas, and Minneapolis from August 17 to September 11, 2015, according to a July 2015 announcement from Tegna, Inc. and Debmar-Mercury. Tegna declared on May 10, 2016, that Jakes’ show would debut on September 12 in more than 50 areas nationwide. The chat show’s low clearances and low ratings led to its cancellation on March 15, 2017.
Jakes said on April 27, 2025, that his daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts and son-in-law Touré Roberts would take over the leadership of the Potter’s House Church.
T. D. Jakes Ministry Philosophy
In an interview with Mark Driscoll in 2012, T. D. Jakes disclosed that he affirms the Trinity despite having been converted and ordained inside Oneness Pentecostalism. However, T. D. Jakes did not affirm the eternality of the individual persons of the Trinity, which Oneness churches deny.
He is an advocate for sexual abstinence and has appeared on Dr. Phil and Good Morning America to support the cause.
T. D. Jakes said in 2015 that his opinions on LGBT rights and homosexuality are changing. Jakes, however, claimed that his remarks were misunderstood and that he “respect[s] the rights that this country affords those that disagree” even though he opposes same-sex marriage.
T. D. Jakes’s Net Worth
Although this amount changes depending on the source, T. D. Jakes’s estimated net worth is $50 million. He earns money from his activities as a television personality, author, and pastor through appearances and book sales.
T. D. Jakes Books
Some selected books by him are:
- Before You Do: Making Great Decisions That You Won’t Regret, 2008, Atria Books
- The Memory Quilt: A Christmas Story for Our Times, 2009
- Let It Go: Forgive So You Can Be Forgiven, 2012
- Instinct: The Power to Unleash Your Inborn Drive, 2014, Hachette Book Group
- Destiny: Step into Your Purpose, August 2015, Hachette Book Group
- Soar!: Build Your Vision from the Ground Up, 2017, FaithWords
- Crushing: God Turns Pressure into Power, April 2019, Hachette Book Group
- Disruptive Thinking, May 2023, FaithWords
Buy T. D. Jakes DVDs
- Woman Thou Art Loosed (1997)
- Live from the Potter’s House (1998)
- The Storm Is Over (2001)
Filmography
- 2004: Woman Thou Art Loosed — As himself (based on Jakes’s novel of the same name)
- 2009: Not Easily Broken — Allen (based on another Jakes novel)
- 2011: Jumping the Broom — Reverend James
- 2010: Munya — Reverend Brian
- 2012: Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day – As himself
- 2012: Sparkle – Producer
- 2014: Heaven Is for Real – Producer
- 2014: Winnie Mandela – Producer
- 2016: Miracles from Heaven – Producer
- 2018: Faith Under Fire – Executive Producer
- 2021: Seven Deadly Sins – Executive Producer
Marital Status
T. D. Jakes got married to Serita Jakes in 1982 and they are blessed with children and grandchildren.
Legacy and Honours
He has been listed as one of America’s “Top 10 Religious Leaders” by PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly. On September 17, 2001, Jakes was featured on the cover of Time magazine, which posed the thought-provoking query, “Is This Man the Next Billy Graham?”
At the 46th Grammy Awards in 2003, Jakes’ album A Wing and a Prayer took home the “Best Gospel or Chorus Album” honor. For the gospel album Live at the Potter’s House, he was also nominated for a Grammy and a Dove Award. He was honored with the NAACP President’s Award in 2004. Jakes was included in Oprah’s 2016 SuperSoul100 list of notable leaders and visionaries.
