MEGACHURCH founder and motivational speaker Bishop TD Jakes suffered a health incident while on stage.
The pastor was delivering a sermon at his church when it happened — here’s everything we know.
Thomas Dexter Jakes is a Christian pastor famous for his Evangelical sermons at his megachurch in Texas.
He founded The Potter’s House church in 1996, which now has 30,000 members.
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.
On top of his pastoral duties, Jakes founded TDJ Enterprises — a publishing company for his books and films.
Five of his books have made the New York Times best-sellers list.
His organization said the holy man suffered from a “slight health incident” on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
The full statement reads: “Bishop TD Jakes experienced a slight health incident and received immediate medical attention following his powerful hour-long message.”
The alarm was raised when Jakes, 67, sat down and started to shake during an hour-long message to his parish.
Jakes received medical attention right after his on stage emergency, the church added.
The megachurch founder had been telling his crowd about his love for preaching before his shocking collapse.
He said: “I still love to preach, I ain’t tired of preaching.
“Ever gone to the hospital to visit somebody and you thought you were going to encourage them and they encourage you? That’s what preaching is like.
Obviously today could have been a tragic day. But it wasn’t by the mercy of God, by the grace of God
Sarah Jakes Roberts
“You think you’re giving out something but you’re getting back more than you gave.”
The speaker’s final words were a prayer.
He said: “Oh Lord, my strength, my redeemer, let him go in peace.”
Jakes’ family released an update on the pastor’s health following the scare.
His daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and her husband Touré Roberts, posted an Instagram video.
They shared that the pastor’s condition was slowly improving.
His daughter said: “Obviously today could have been a tragic day. But it wasn’t by the mercy of God, by the grace of God.
“Bishop is doing well. He’s recovering well.
“He’s under medical care. He’s strong. We’re trying to get him to sit down. He’s the strong Bishop that we know.”
His church also shared a statement on the pastor’s health on X/Twitter.
The statement said: “Bishop Jakes is stable and under the care of medical professionals.
“The entire Potter’s House family is grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support from the community.”
