⁠When was The Potter’s House founded? TD Jakes steps down as lead pastor

Bishop TD Jakes is stepping down as lead pastor at The Potter's House megachurch and announcing his successors.

Jakes announced on Sunday that he would be handing over leadership of the congregation to his daughter and son-in-law, pastors Sarah Jakes Roberts and Toure Roberts. His announcement comes months after he suffered a massive heart attack while delivering a sermon on stage.

Visibly emotional, TD Jakes told the congregation during Sunday morning's service at the Dallas-based, non-denominational, multicultural church:

“You have been faithful to God, and you have been faithful to me. And I’m so grateful.” “I’m grateful, I’m honored, as your daughter,” said Sarah Jakes Roberts. “I’m so happy you’re going to get some rest.”

Bishop TD Jakes reflects on tapping his daughter and son-in-law as his successors, and on his harrowing medical scare: Read more

TD Jakes founded The Potter's House, which now boasts over 30,000 members, in 1996. The pastor, who turns 68 this June, served as a pillar of the local community for almost 50 years. His announcement on Sunday drew a round of applause and a long, standing ovation.

During his 30-minute-long announcement, he reflected on the transitional period and the weight of handing over control of the church and having his family accept it. He welcomed the couple with a quote from Romans 8, “If God is for you, who can be against you?”

Pastors Touré and Sarah Roberts released a statement on their official website, saying,

"Preparing for this announcement over the past several years has allowed us as a family and a global church family to carefully balance the needs of our community worldwide and the pace at which we performed each step of our plan.”

The pair will assume their new roles this July, People Magazine has reported. I a statement on social media, TD Jakes said:

"As we look across our great nation and survey the unyielding economic, societal and spiritual needs visiting our communities, it’s clear that we can’t afford to squander the potential of our youth or the elders who have paved the way."

He added,

"The hardships of first-time home ownership, the dire need to invest in the growing entrepreneurial landscape and a younger generation needing a home for their faith walk in the midst of increasing skepticism; these issues we face are not a tale of despair; they are a clarion call for change."

The faith leader suffered a heart attack back in November 2024, as he was delivering a sermon that was being broadcast live. This March, he reflected on the medical scare during an appearance on Today:

“I didn’t really realize what was happening to me onstage until I got to the hospital in an ambulance,” he said on the show's March 26 episode. “And the doctor leaned over in my ear and said, ‘You’ve had a massive heart attack.’ "

TD Jakes didn't exhibit any of the typical symptoms of a heart attack, which he said was odd to him:

“I just kind of drifted off to sleep. I didn’t know what it was,” he explained. “[The doctor] said five minutes later I’d have been dead on arrival.” Jakes continued: “The right side of my heart had completely stopped giving blood at all. And as long as I was up preaching, I felt fine. But when I sat down, the adrenaline dropped and it exposed the fact that I was preaching with half of my heart closed with a clot.”

He added,

“In retrospect, it was such a privilege to stand on the other side to get a little glimpse of what that might be like or at least what it was like in that moment for me,” he added. “I think it was absolutely amazing. And then I had my whole church — and when I say my whole church, I mean global not just the congregation, even people who didn’t go to my church — people everywhere sending prayers. I’m so thankful.”

TD Jakes' daughter and son-in-law shifted from Los Angeles to Dallas back in 2022, and the following year, they were tapped as assistant pastors of The Potter’s House.

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