American non-denominational Christian evangelical pastor and motivational speaker, Thomas Dexter Jakes, better known as Bishop T.D. Jakes on Sunday, announced during a service at The Potter’s House megachurch in Dallas, Texas,, that he is transitioning leadership to his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and her husband, Touré Roberts.
His decision follows a heart attack he suffered in November and the filing of a defamation lawsuit against a man who accused him of sexual assault.
At the close of his sermon, Jakes told the congregation, “I cannot afford, especially after November, to risk something happening to me and you be sheep without a shepherd.”
Expressing his desire to safeguard the church’s future, Jakes continued, “I cannot afford to let all the work of all the saints, living and dead, to hold this so tight so long that I wither away. So I’m suggesting to you, I’m recommending to you, that you receive Pastor Touré and Pastor Sarah,” a statement that was met with loud cheers and applause from the congregation. He emphasized that the transition marks a continuation of the church’s “legacy.”
“Not because they’re kin but because … they’ve immersed themselves into the DNA of this church for years. Sat quiet, preached,” Jakes explained. “What you didn’t know from November forward, they’ve been running the church anyway.”
This leadership transition announcement to the 80,000-member congregation comes just a month after Jakes publicly disclosed that the “slight health incident” he experienced while preaching on Nov. 24, 2024, was actually a heart attack.
Recalling the terrifying moment during an interview on NBC’s “Today” show, Jakes shared that he entered a “cloud-enveloped space” during the near-death experience.
“You know, I didn’t really realize what was happening to me on stage until I got to the hospital in an ambulance. And [I was] fussing that it happened on stage, by the way, because I didn’t want it to happen,” he said.
“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,” Jakes explained.
Sarah Jakes Roberts and Touré Roberts will now take the reins of The Potter’s House, a church founded by T.D. Jakes himself.
On Sunday, Jakes made it clear to members that while the couple will not replace him, their leadership could very well prolong his impact.
He told the church, “they may extend me,” and expressed hope that the leadership shift would be finalized by the church’s anniversary celebration later this year.
His focus, he said, is shifting toward other community-driven endeavors.
“There’s some things I want to do in the community before I get too old to do it, and the clock is ticking,” he shared.
“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.”
Jakes, who has dedicated nearly half a century to ministry, will remain chairman of the T.D. Jakes Group.
In a related statement, he reflected on his journey and future plans.
“For nearly 50 years, I’ve had the honour of connecting with and serving the local and global community as a pastor, global faith leader and unwavering truth teller,” he said.
“As I enter my 50th year in the public spotlight, I recognize the urgent need to address more challenges of our time, particularly the looming threat of a disappearing middle class, social unrest and closing opportunity gaps. This pivotal moment calls me to focus on a legacy of economic empowerment, serving as a bridge between community, culture, and corporate alliances to help position our nation for a stronger future,” Jakes added.
He stressed that appointing Sarah and Touré is not about stepping back, but rather moving the ministry forward.
“Elevating Pastor Touré and Pastor Sarah as the new senior pastors of The Potter’s House, we will honour our rich history while embracing a future that demands innovative ministry for the coming age. This elevation is not a departure but a rebirth. I will never stop preaching and will continue to minister. This moment isn’t an ending, it’s an expansion. We are not only passing a mantle we are multiplying impact. Leadership is not static, it is dynamic. It demands the courage to evolve.”
