T.D. Jakes announced who the next senior pastors of the Dallas megachurch will be in a Sunday service.
DALLAS — T.D. Jakes, the founder and senior pastor of The Potter’s House in Dallas, is turning his leadership role with the church over to a new generation.
Jakes founded The Potter’s House, a non-denominational megachurch in the 6700 block of Kiest Boulevard near Dallas Baptist University, in 1996. The church now has more than 30,000 members.
In a service Sunday, Jakes announced his plan to install his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and her husband, Touré Roberts, as senior pastors of the church he founded. They’re expected to take over later this year, after moving to Dallas in 2022 and having served as assistant pastors of The Potter’s House since 2023.
“For nearly 50 years, I’ve had the honor of connecting with and serving the local and global community as a pastor, global faith leader and unwavering truth teller,” Jakes said. “As I enter my 50th year in the public spotlight, I recognize the urgent need to address more challenges of our time, particularly the looming threat of a disappearing middle class, social unrest and closing opportunity gaps.”
Jakes will remain as Chairman of the Board and “spiritual overseer” of The Potter’s House and continue as Chairman of the T.D. Jakes Group, which consists of T.D. Jakes Real Estate Ventures, T.D. Jakes Enterprises and the T.D. Jakes Foundation. He’s also set to launch a slate of podcast shows as part of a new partnership with iHeartMedia, according to a press release.
“Elevating Pastor Touré and Pastor Sarah as the new senior pastors of The Potter’s House, we will honor our rich history while embracing a future that demands innovative ministry for the coming age,” Jakes said. “This elevation is not a departure but a rebirth. I will never stop preaching and will continue to minister. This moment isn’t an ending, it’s an expansion. We are not only passing a mantle we are multiplying impact. Leadership is not static, it is dynamic. It demands the courage to evolve.”
Touré and Sarah say they intend to carry the church’s ministry into the future.
“We are committed to building a ministry that carries the heart of Bishop Jakes into a future that is both faithful and forward-thinking,” Touré said.
“This is not just a call to serve. It’s a mandate to lead with compassion, clarity, and courage,” Sarah added.
Jakes’ announcement comes after he suffered a heart attack while delivering a sermon last year. In his sermon Sunday announcing the change, Jakes grew visibly emotional while reflecting on his decades-long career as a pastor and preacher.
“Everything we said we were going to do, we did it,” Jakes said. “And we built it right here in South Dallas. There’s more to do, but I want to pace myself.”
Sunday afternoon, longtime churchgoers reacted to the news.
“This place means a lot,” Chris Howell told WFAA.
Howell has been going to The Potter’s House for 27 years.
“It was a mixture of emotions,” he told WFAA hours after Bishop Jakes’ announcement. “Certainly sadness was one of them, but I was also excited.”
Howell said he knows his future lead pastors are more than equipped. “I’m looking forward to them really being able to spread their wings and show their leadership style the way I know they will,” he said.
He also wanted to thank Bishop Jakes for all he did for him in the role.
“It was coming in here Sunday after Sunday and seeing him get up in that pulpit, and he would deliver in such a way to make sure we received what we needed.”
Arthur and Yemi Solomon have been members since 2010.
“The Potters House means a whole lot, a whole lot to us,” Arthur told WFAA.
“Mixed feelings,” his wife Yemi explained. “Definitely will miss him every Sunday, but we know [he’s] gonna be around.”