Bishop T.D. Jakes has grow to be the discuss of the timelines once more. This time, it wasn’t due to his sermons nor any sketchy rumored affiliations—however relatively a significant and actually surprising announcement. And belief us once we say, it’s obtained everybody weighing in.
Over the weekend, the megachurch pastor, who’s been the pinnacle of The Potter’s Home in Dallas for practically 50 years, preached in his Sunday morning sermon for the primary time since struggling a significant well being incident onstage throughout service again in November 2024. Although particulars had been at a minimal on the time, Jakes later revealed final month that he suffered a coronary heart assault and if he had not have gotten to the hospital when he did—he would’ve been lifeless on arrival.
Now, somewhat over 5 months from the precise date, Jakes introduced on Sunday that he’d formally be stepping down from his duties and handing over the reigns to his daughter and son-in-law, Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts and Pastor Touré Roberts.
“I talked to the board as a result of I used to be involved I had seen too many males construct one thing and keep so lengthy that they kill what they construct,” Jakes mentioned partly because the service was coming to an in depth. “Now there’s another issues I’m assigned to do each right here and outdoors. However I can not afford, particularly after November, to danger one thing taking place to me and also you be sheep with out a shepherd. I can not afford to let all of the work from all of the saints residing and lifeless, to carry this so tight, so lengthy…that I wither away.
Naturally, as soon as the information of his retirement started to make the rounds on social media, the overwhelming sentiments on-line had been blended. Whereas some had been actually shocked on the announcement and expressed disappointment and shock over the longtime pastor’s choice—different’s felt it was past time and a bit suspicious.
“TD Jakes is stepping down as senior pastor and passing the torch to Sarah and Toure, Lord I must name my Auntie,” wrote one person on X/Twitter.
“TD Jakes RETIRED my nigga?! Is his gown gon be hung within the rafters?!” one other person questioned.
Related sentiments adopted on TikTok with person Chanel Breanna sharing her emotional response to the information.
“That second was so emotional for me as somewhat lady who grew up watching T.D. Jakes and listening to his messages and simply actually being captivated by the knowledge that he delivered to the world and the best way his teachings had been so in-depth and complex,” she mentioned. “Like, I beloved the best way he spoke, his poise, his management. I’ve at all times appeared as much as him as somewhat lady.”
She concluded that she simply needed to make this video to say “ job nicely executed. We will, particularly on this world in media, we may be so fast to gossip, to do no matter. However I need to give this man his flowers. Job nicely executed.”
Added one person within the feedback of her video: “I don’t care what has occurred, his sermons have def helped me.”
Nevertheless, there have been some who felt in any other case.
“Does this should do with Puffy trial arising?” questioned a unique person in the identical feedback part, referencing the upcoming federal intercourse trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs in Could and social media hypothesis of Jakes’ alleged ties.
“He ensuring he don’t get caught up within the Diddy stuff,” one other person wrote partly.
Again on X/Twitter, one different person added: “TD Jake’s Stepping Down… Proper earlier than the Diddy Trial… Think about that… Jesus positively completely satisfied rn lol.”
Added one other, “TD Jakes stepping down. Now we’d like Mike Todd, William Murphy and all these different pretend pastors to do the identical.”
Moreover, in an announcement despatched to The Root, The Potter’s Home detailed extra of Jakes’ subsequent strikes, which embody his continued service because the Chairman of the Board for the church. He’ll even be stepping absolutely into the brand new partnership with iHeartMedia wherein he’ll launch his personal slate of podcasts. The primary one up, aptly known as “My Subsequent Chapter,” will see the bishop discover the shifts taking place in our world and our lives and the way we, collectively, can rebuild what’s been damaged, particularly throughout this time of nationwide uncertainty.