Bishop T.D. Jakes, a towering figure in American Christianity, announced on April 27, 2025, that he will retire from his role as senior pastor of The Potter’s House, the 30,000-member Dallas megachurch he founded nearly 30 years ago. In an emotional service, the 67-year-old revealed that his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and her husband, Pastor Touré Roberts, will assume leadership as senior pastors in July, during the church’s anniversary celebrations.
The decision follows a heart attack Jakes suffered while preaching in November 2024, which highlighted the need for a succession plan that had been in development for years. “I cannot afford, especially after November, to risk something happening to me,” Jakes told the congregation, “and that you be sheep without a shepherd.”
Jakes emphasized that the transition is about legacy, not nepotism, noting that Sarah and Touré have been immersed in the church’s operations for years. The couple, who relocated from Los Angeles to Dallas three years ago, have been managing leadership duties since late 2024. Jakes will remain chairman of the church’s board, shifting his focus to community development and entrepreneurial initiatives.
The Potter’s House, a nondenominational beacon in televangelism, has been shaped by Jakes’s dynamic preaching, cultural relevance, and business acumen. His influence extends beyond the pulpit through relationships with figures like Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, film projects like Miracles from Heaven, and community development efforts.
Sarah Jakes Roberts, 36, brings a relatable authenticity to her new role. She has openly shared her struggles, including a teenage pregnancy at 13, working at a strip club, and navigating divorce in her 20s. “Think we can all agree this isn’t how we saw my life playing out,” she said tearfully. “God showed me you all didn’t know if you had what it took either. But God gave you the GPS to find what it took to [do] the assignment.” She expressed confidence that divine guidance would lead her and Touré, while thanking her father for his service and upcoming rest.
Touré and Sarah, parents of six, previously led a thriving Los Angeles congregation, bringing extensive ministry experience to their new roles. Jakes underscored the necessity of stepping back to preserve the church’s vitality. “I’ve seen too many men build something and stay so long that they’ve killed what they’ve built,” he said.
In an Instagram post, Jakes reflected on the transition’s careful planning, noting milestones like the 2022 shift from Woman, Thou Art Loosed to Woman Evolve and the 2023 appointment of assistant pastors. He highlighted the church’s evolution and his ongoing commitment to community upliftment through the T.D. Jakes Group, which focuses on job creation, workforce readiness, and neighborhood revitalization.
As Sarah and Touré step into leadership, Jakes expressed confidence in their ability to guide The Potter’s House into a new era while he accelerates his broader mission to strengthen communities nationwide.
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