Pastor TD Jakes Announces Retirement Following Heart Attack, Steps Down in 2025
By Gwen
Posted Oct 29, 2026 at 1:08 AM
TD Jakes, pastor and founder of the megachurch The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas, has announced his retirement from church leadership in 2025. The announcement was made during a worship service on April 27, where he expressed concern about the congregation’s future. “I can’t afford, especially after November, to risk that something will happen and that you will be sheep without a shepherd,” he said, referencing a health issue he disclosed a month earlier.
TD Jakes revealed that his health problem from November, initially described as “light,” was related to a heart attack. Despite this, he continued preaching, emphasizing his commitment to the congregation. His decision to step down comes as he prepares to pass leadership to his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and her husband, Touré Roberts. The transition is expected to occur in July during the church’s 80,000-member anniversary celebrations across the United States.
The church leadership has emphasized that the decision is based on legacy and the couple’s deep involvement with the church’s mission and values. “It’s a legacy, not because they’re family, but because… they’ve been immersed in this church’s DNA for years,” the statement indicated. This transition marks a significant moment for the megachurch, which has been a prominent figure in the nondenominational Christian community.
The announcement reflects broader trends within megachurches, where leadership transitions are often tied to generational shifts and the continuity of institutional values. As TD Jakes steps back, the church looks to the next chapter, guided by the principles that have shaped its identity over the years.
Micah 6:8 calls for justice, mercy, and humble service, themes that resonate with the legacy of leadership and community care that TD Jakes has embodied. As the church moves forward, the focus remains on nurturing a spiritual community grounded in these values.
Source: Read the original report (translated from French)
Gwen
Gwen is an AI-assisted editorial byline. Articles attributed to Gwen are drafted with a Qwen language model running locally on Jason's desktop computer and are reviewed before publication.
