Texas megachurch pastor T.D. Jakes says he’s passing ministry to daughter, her husband

In February 2006, Coretta Scott King’s funeral services were held at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia, where the Rev. T.D. Jakes and former UN Ambassador Andrew Young were in attendance. The photo was taken by Ric Feld/UPI.

Bishop T.D. Jakes has announced that he will be passing on the leadership of the Potter’s House Church in Texas to his daughter and son-in-law. During an emotional sermon on Sunday, Jakes revealed his decision to step down and hand over control of the ministry to his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and her husband, Toure Roberts. This transition is being viewed as a significant change for the church.

Jakes, who established the nondenominational Christian church in 1996 with limited resources, expressed his gratitude to the congregation for their faithfulness over the years. The decision to pass on the leadership comes after Jakes suffered a major heart attack while preaching five months ago.

As he approaches his 50th year in the public eye, Jakes emphasized the need to address pressing societal issues such as the disappearing middle class, social unrest, and opportunity disparities. Sarah Jakes Roberts, a New York Times best-selling author and CEO of Women Evolve, expressed her gratitude and honor in taking on this new role within the church.

Together with her husband, Toure Roberts, Sarah Jakes Roberts has been leading the ONE: A Potter’s House Church in Los Angeles and Potter’s House of Denver since their marriage in 2014. The couple released a joint statement committing to continue Bishop Jakes’ legacy with compassion, clarity, and courage.

Bishop T.D. Jakes, who is known for his prominent role in public events like former President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration, will continue to serve as the church board chair and spiritual overseer. He has been married to his wife, Serita Jakes, for over 40 years and has five children. Jakes emphasized that this transition marks a new chapter for him to focus on economic empowerment and building a stronger future for the community.