Bishop T.D. Jakes: A Life of Ministry and Influence

Bishop T.D. Jakes, whose full name is Thomas Dexter Jakes, is an American pastor and motivational speaker. He is the senior pastor of The Potter's House, a non-denominational church located in Dallas, Texas.

He was born on June 9, 1957, in South Charleston, West Virginia, and grew up in the Vandalia neighborhood of Charleston, West Virginia. Raised in a working-class family, Jakes showed an early interest in ministry. He briefly attended West Virginia State College (now West Virginia State University) before completing his undergraduate degrees through correspondence courses.

After dropping out of school, Jakes felt a call to full-time ministry. In 1982, at the age of 25, he founded the Greater Emmanuel Temple of Faith, a church in Smithers, West Virginia. At the time, the church had only ten members, and Jakes had to work multiple jobs to support both his ministry and his family.

His preaching, centered on faith, healing, and empowerment, began attracting more congregants. During this period, he developed a deep concern for people struggling with emotional and spiritual wounds. This focus led him to start preaching about healing and restoration, laying the foundation for his future bestselling book and conference, Woman, Thou Art Loosed!

By 1988, Jakes' ministry had grown, prompting him to relocate his church to Charleston, West Virginia. His congregation continued to expand, drawing in hundreds of people inspired by his messages.

In 1992, Jakes launched a conference based on his teachings called Woman, Thou Art Loosed!, which focused on healing emotional wounds. The conference gained widespread recognition beyond West Virginia.

In 1993, he took another significant step by founding T.D. Jakes Ministries, a digital platform that enabled him to reach a national audience through radio, television, and large-scale conferences. As his congregation continued to grow, he moved his church again in 1994—this time to Cross Lanes, West Virginia. By then, the church had reached around 1,000 members, and his reputation as a dynamic preacher and author was spreading rapidly.

In 1995, Jakes was invited to speak at a major conference in Dallas, Texas. His message resonated deeply with the audience, and prominent Christian leaders encouraged him to move his ministry there, where he could reach a larger and more diverse audience. After much prayer, he felt led to relocate and start a new church from scratch in Dallas.

In 1996, Jakes and about 50 members from Greater Emmanuel Temple of Faith in West Virginia moved to Texas, where he founded The Potter's House, leaving his former church in the hands of new leadership.

T.D. Jakes chose to start a new church rather than move Greater Emmanuel Temple of Faith from West Virginia to Texas because he wanted a ministry independent of the Oneness Pentecostal tradition—a movement known for its emphasis on holiness and spiritual gifts and its rejection of the doctrine of the Trinity.

Since Jakes was trained in Oneness Pentecostal beliefs, his earlier ministry naturally reflected those doctrines. However, with The Potter’s House, he sought to establish a church with a doctrinal foundation that would appeal to a broader audience.

The Potter's House provided him with more freedom, a larger audience, and greater influence in Christian media and leadership. The church sits on a 34-acre hilltop campus and features a 5,000-seat auditorium, as well as offices for employees and staff.

T.D. Jakes has also authored numerous books, including:

Woman, Thou Art Loosed! (1993)
Can You Stand to Be Blessed? (1993)
He-Motions: Even Strong Men Struggle (2004)

In 2005, Jakes accompanied President George W. Bush on a visit to areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina. On January 20, 2009, he led the early morning prayer service for the inauguration of President Barack Obama at St. John's Church in Washington, D.C. In 2011, he gave remarks at a White House Easter Prayer Breakfast.

Over the years, he has met with global leaders, including President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana and President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria. He has also been a guest of King Abdullah of Jordan, President George Maxwell Richards of Trinidad and Tobago, and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, among others.

T.D. Jakes is married to Serita Jamison. They tied the knot on May 29, 1982, when Jakes was 24 years old. Today, they have been married for over 40 years and have five children together.