TD Bishop Jakes announced a major leadership turnaround and gradually retired at his Porter home in Dallas months after the life-threatening heart attack.
During an emotional service on Sunday (April 27), Jacks revealed that he was handing over the role of a senior pastor to his daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts and sontouré Roberts.
“I can’t keep all the work, life and death of all the saints so closely that I withered,” Jacks said to the congregation. “I suggest you receive Rev. Touré and Rev. Sarah.”
The 67-year-old spiritual leader clarified that this transition is not withdrawal, but evolution.
“This elevation is not about leaving, but about rebirth,” he explained. “We are not only passing through the mantle, but also reproductive influence.”
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The decision collapsed at Porter’s home after Jakes suffered a “massive heart disease” on November 24, 2024.
He later explained that he had no warning signs, saying, “I was just a little overwhelmed. I don’t know what that was.” The doctor found a clot blocking blood flow to the right side of his heart, warning him, “Five minutes later, I died when I arrived.”
Despite being frightened, Jakes returned to the pulpit on New Year’s Eve 2024 and told his congregation: “I think I did. [die]but God… brought me back. ”
Despite returning from day-to-day operations, Jacks will continue to serve as chairman of the board and spiritual supervisor for the Porter family. He promised, “I will never stop preaching and will continue preaching.”
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The timing of leadership change coincides with the anniversary celebration of Porter House. Jacks stressed the importance of preparing for the future. “There is some work in the vineyard that needs to be done,” he said. “I want to prepare for the days ahead.”
TD Bishop Jacks says Sarah and Toure “run the church” behind the scenes
Sarah and Touré have been quietly leading behind the scenes since the end of 2024. “Step forward from November, they have been running the church,” Jakes revealed.
In a shared open letter, Jakes and Robertses described the transition as a “sacred transfer of generations” designed to ensure “innovative ministry of future ages.”
The announcement comes after the International Leadership Summit for Guard Change in April 2025, where Jacks meets the challenge of preparing for the next generation of leaders.
Jacks also plans to focus on a wider initiative through the TD Jakes Group and the new IheartMedia Podcast partnership and address issues like “economic empowerment, social unrest and closed opportunity gaps”.
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