A STAR pastor who founded a megachurch with a global footprint has held back tears as he stepped down after suffering a heart attack mid-sermon.
Bishop TD Jakes, 67, revealed his successor in an emotional speech to parishioners one year after he was just minutes away from death.
On Sunday, Jakes opened up about the future of The Potter’s House, which is based in Dallas, Texas, in an emotional message to the 30,000 members.
Jakes stunned the congregations by revealing that he would be stepping down as he named his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and son-in-law Toure Roberts as his replacements.
He said the move had been in the works for six years.
“I have seen too many men build something and stay so long that they kill what they built,” he told the crowd, according to The Dallas Morning News.
“I cannot afford, especially after November, to risk something happening to me and you be sheep without a shepherd.”
Jakes’ stepping down came after he suffered what he described as a “massive heart attack” while preaching on November 24.
Disturbing video of the incident captured the pastor collapsing mid-sermon and being rushed to the hospital.
Doctors told him that five minutes later, he would have been dead on arrival, Jakes shared during a Today show interview in March.
He said he hadn’t felt typical heart attack symptoms and only realized the severity when adrenaline wore off and he collapsed onstage.
“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 said.
Jakes said the experience left him overwhelmed by the global outpouring of prayers and support.
At Sunday’s service, Jakes said, “There’s some things I wanna do in the community before I get too old to do it.”
“I wanted to introduce to you your pastors,” he told congregation before embracing his daughter and son-in-law in front of roaring crowd.
“I know the crown is heavy,” Jakes said.
“But I also know that if God is for you, who can be against you?” he added.
Sarah, overcome with emotion, said, “I believe that, collectively, we can turn this city upside down and right side up.
“I’m grateful, I’m honored, as your daughter. I’m so happy you’re going to get some rest,” she told the church.
PASTOR’S HISTORY
Jakes founded The Potter’s House in 1996.
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”
BISHOP TD Jakes
He will remain chairman of the TD Jakes Group, which oversees his real estate ventures, foundation, and social impact companies.
Jakes is famous for his Evangelical sermons at his megachurch in Texas.
His parish also has campuses in Fort Worth, Frisco and Denver, Colorado.
Jakes is married to Serita Jamison Jakes, who serves alongside her husband as the executive director of their church’s women’s and children’s affairs.
Jakes also founded TDJ Enterprises – a publishing company for his books and films.
The preacher rose to fame with his book Woman, Thou Art Loosed, which sold over 2 million copies and sparked massive women’s conferences and a 2004 film.
Five of his books have made the New York Times best-sellers list.
In 2001, Time magazine asked if Jakes was “the next Billy Graham,” while The Atlantic called him “perhaps the most influential [Black] leader in America.”
PHILANTHROPY
Jakes built a reputation for philanthropy, launching the TD Jakes Foundation in 2020 to help connect underserved communities with new opportunities.
The Potter’s House hosted mass COVID-19 vaccinations, administering nearly 54,000 shots at its Dallas location.
Foundation, has partnered with giants like Coca-Cola and Goldman Sachs, and awarded millions in grants for economic initiatives.
In 2022, Jakes handed over his women’s ministry to his daughter Sarah, whose 2023 “Woman Evolve” conference drew more than 40,000 attendees.
Sarah Jakes Roberts and Toure Roberts, will take over as soon as July.
