Bishop T.D. Jakes names daughter and son-in-law as successors after health scare

Renowned American pastor and founder of The Potter’s House, Bishop T.D. Jakes, has announced his decision to step down from his leadership role, handing over responsibilities to his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and son-in-law, Touré Roberts.

The announcement was made during Sunday’s service at The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas, where an emotional Bishop Jakes, 67, shared the news with his congregation. He revealed that Sarah and Touré will officially assume their new roles as senior pastors in July 2025. Despite stepping down, Bishop Jakes will continue to serve on the Board of Directors of The Potter’s House, ensuring a smooth transition and continued guidance for the church.

"You have been faithful to God, and you have been faithful to me," Jakes said as he fought back tears during the service, according to NBC DFW.

The decision comes five months after Bishop Jakes suffered a massive heart attack while preaching during a sermon in November 2024. Reflecting on the incident in a March interview on the Today show, he disclosed that he had collapsed during the service but was unaware of the severity of his condition until he was hospitalized. Doctors informed him that he had suffered a major heart attack and that without prompt medical intervention, he might not have survived.

"The right side of my heart had completely stopped giving blood at all. And as long as I was up preaching, I felt fine. But when I sat down, the adrenaline dropped and it exposed the fact that I was preaching with half of my heart closed with a clot," Jakes recounted.

The bishop expressed immense gratitude for the outpouring of prayers and support from around the world, describing his survival and recovery as a miracle.

In a statement on social media following his announcement, Jakes emphasized the need for a generational shift in leadership amid growing societal and economic challenges. "As we look across our great nation and survey the unyielding economic, societal and spiritual needs visiting our communities, it’s clear that we can’t afford to squander the potential of our youth or the elders who have paved the way," he wrote.

Founded in 1996, The Potter’s House is a non-denominational, multicultural church based in Dallas, with a congregation of over 30,000 members and branches in North Dallas, Fort Worth, and Denver.