Bishop T.D. Jakes is an American non-denominational Christian evangelical pastor, motivational speaker, author, filmmaker, and entrepreneur. He is best known as the founder and former senior pastor of The Potter’s House, a non-denominational megachurch based in Dallas, Texas, which has approximately 30,000 members. Jakes served as senior pastor from 1996 until July 2025, when he officially stepped down and installed his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and her husband, Touré Roberts, as co-senior pastors.
Born Thomas Dexter Jakes Sr. on June 9, 1957, in South Charleston, West Virginia, Jakes began his ministry in 1982 as the pastor of a small storefront church in Smithers, West Virginia, with ten members. He later founded TDJ Enterprises in 1995, which publishes his books and produces his films. His church services are broadcast globally through “The Potter’s Touch” , and his influence extends through various media ventures, including a self-titled talk show that aired nationally in 2016, though it was canceled in 2017 due to low ratings.
Jakes is a New York Times bestselling author, having written numerous books such as Woman, Thou Art Loosed!, Destiny: Step into Your Purpose, Soar!, and Crushing: God Turns Pressure into Power. He has also produced or executive produced several films, including Heaven Is for Real, Miracles from Heaven, and Faith Under Fire. His work has earned him recognition from Time Magazine, which named him “America’s Best Preacher,” and from Oprah’s SuperSoul100 list in 2016.
In November 2024, Jakes suffered a life-threatening health emergency during a church service, requiring emergency surgery and ICU care, but he later shared a recovery update with his congregation. Following his health incident, he announced his transition from the senior pastoral role, continuing in a leadership capacity as chairman of the T.D. Jakes Foundation.
Jakes is married to Serita Jamison, whom he has been with since 1982, and they have five children and eight grandchildren. He is also recognized for his global humanitarian work through initiatives like the Texas Offenders Reentry Initiative (T.O.R.I.) and United MegaCARE (UMC).
T.D. Jakes is the pastor of The Potter’s House and teaches the prosperity gospel and modalism which is a Trinitarian heresy. These are some heresies that Jakes teaches and promotes:
Prosperity Gospel Emphasis: Jakes teaches the error that faith leads to wealth success and physical well-being. This teaching suggests that God desires all Christians to be wealthy and healthy, which negates the biblical understanding of suffering and sacrifice in the believers life.
Word of Faith Theology: Jakes promotes Word of Faith teachings that emphasize the power of so called faith filled positive words and the belief that these words can create one’s reality.
Modalism: Jakes affirms “Oneness Theology,” which denies traditional Trinitarian doctrine and instead teaches “Modalism” a Trinitarian heresy that say God changes mode when it was needed and therefore has manifested Himself in the modes of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit and that these are not three separate divine persons in the one God but rather that God is only one person who transforms into The Son and The Holy Spirit in redemptive history.
