T. D. Jakes

Infobox Person
name = T.D. Jakes

---

caption =
birthname = [Thomas Dexter Jakes]
birth_date = birth date and age|1957|6|9
birth_place = South Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.
occupation = Preacher
Evangelist
Life Coach
Author
nationality = flagcountry|United States
spouse = Serita Ann Jakes
website = [http://www.tdjakes.org/ T.D. Jakes Ministries]
footnotes =

Thomas Dexter "T. D." Jakes Sr. (born June 9, 1957) is an American pastor of the The Potter's House, a 30,000 member church in Dallas, Texas.cite web
title = Biography
work = Bishop T.D. Jakes
publisher = T.D. Jakes Website
date =
url = http://www.tdjakes.com/site/PageServer?pagename=about_biography
format = HTML
doi =
accessdate = 2007-12-22] It is a non-denominational megachurch.

His church services and evangelistic sermons are broadcast on "The Potter's Touch", which airs on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, Black Entertainment Television [http://www.trinityfi.org/press/tdjakes01.html Washington Post Article] ] and The Word Network, . Other aspects of Jakes' ministry include an annual revival called "MegaFest" (which draws more than 100,000 people during that period of time), an annual women's conference called "Woman Thou Art Loosed", and gospel music recordings.

Early Life and History

Thomas Dexter Jakes was born on June 9, 1957 in South Charleston, West Virginia to Ernest Jakes,Sr., a janitor and entrepreneur [http://www.trinityfi.org/press/tdjakes01.html Washington Post Article] ] , and Odith, an educator. Even as a child he was known in his West Virginian neighborhood as "the Bible boy." He was also told he would never be able to preach because of his bad lisp. cite web
title = Cover Story: Bishop T. D. Jakes
work =
publisher = PBS
date = January 14, 2000
url = http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week320/cover.html
format = HTML
doi =
accessdate = 2008-05-28] Shortly after his father's death from kidney failure, Jakes decided to go into ministry. [http://www.trinityfi.org/press/tdjakes01.html Washington Post Article] ] In 1979, with very little funds of his own and with only ten initial members, he founded Greater Emmanuel Temple of Faith as a storefront church in Montgomery, West Virginia. Jakes maintained his day job digging ditches in order to support his ministry until the church was able to support him. During its first 10 years, the church grew to over 1,000 members. [ [http://www.christnotes.org/_td-jakes.asp Christ Notes] ] In 1982, Jakes turned to full-time ministry. [http://www.trinityfi.org/press/tdjakes01.html Washington Post Article] ]

By 1990, his church had moved twice, first from Montgomery to the nearby community of Smithers, and from there to his hometown of South Charleston. In 1993, the church moved yet again within the Charleston area, to Cross Lanes.cite web|url=http://www.thepottershouse.org/_downloads/TDJ%20Timeline%200507.pdf |title=Bishop T. D. Jakes - Timeline |publisher=The Potter's House |accessdate=2008-07-02]

In 1995, when he was 38 years old, Jakes started his television ministry. cite web
title = Cover Story: Bishop T. D. Jakes
work =
publisher = PBS
date = January 14, 2000
url = http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week320/cover.html
format = HTML
doi =
accessdate = 2008-05-28] In 1996 Jakes founded The Potter's House in Dallas, Texas, with about 50 families that had relocated with him from his former congregation in Cross Lanes. In its 12-year existence it has grown to over 30,000 members.Fact|date=May 2008 Both Jakes and his Potter's House church are unrelated to the Potter's House Christian Fellowship, a Pentecostal denomination founded in Arizona in 1970.

Family and Heritage

In 1981 he married Serita Ann Jamison. [http://www.trinityfi.org/press/tdjakes01.html Washington Post Article] ] They have five children together (Jamar, Jermaine, Cora, Sarah, and Thomas Jakes Jr.). Jakes is a strong advocate of abstinence and has made appearances on the subject ranging from Good Morning America to Dr. Phil.

For the 2006 PBS program "African American Lives", Jakes had his DNA analyzed; his Y chromosome showed that he is probably descended from the Igbo people of what is now Nigeria . [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20060205/ai_n16051142?lstpn=article_results&lstpc=search&lstpr=external&lstprs=other&lstwid=1&lstwn=search_results&lstwp=body_middle COMMENTARY; Reclaiming black heritage by using DNA] ] [ [http://ethnicloft.com/?p=85 EthnicLoft - Sharing and celebrating the treasures of our heritage and culture] ] According to his family history, it was also suggested that he was descended from the Igbo people through his paternal grandmother. [ [http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/mulatto/vpost?id=1193362&goto=nextnewest African Ancestry & DNA Tests: The Results] ] [ [http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060201/NEWS/602010410/1021 Oprah Winfrey's ancestry traced to Liberia] ]

Criticism

Critics have accused him of promoting views on God that derive from Oneness Pentecostalism, but he has denied this.cite web
title = My Views on the Godhead
work = Jakes responds to Christianity Today article, Apologetics Journal Criticizes Jakes
publisher = Christianity Today Magazine
date =
url = http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/februaryweb-only/13.0b.html
format = HTML
doi =
accessdate = 2007-12-22]

Jakes subscribes to "Prosperity Gospel" theology, which in essence teaches that God rewards His faithful followers by overt material means.Fact|date=June 2008 As such, Jakes is unapologetic in amassing expensive clothes, luxury cars, and property. His detractors, however, argue that the Jesus of the Bible did not practice such an indulgence in material wealth, and as such, Jakes is teaching a contra-Biblical message.

Jakes has also been criticized for not speaking on racism by Cain Hope Felder, dean of the Howard University Divinity School, and others. [http://www.trinityfi.org/press/tdjakes01.html Washington Post Article] ]

Awards and Accomplishments

Jakes has received numerous honors, including 13 honorary degrees and doctorates. He has also received Grammy and Dove Award nominations for Gospel album "Live at The Potter's House." PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly named Jakes among America's "Top 10 Religious Leaders." Time magazine featured Jake on the cover of its September 17, 2001 issue with theprovocative question: "Is This Man the Next Billy Graham?". [ [http://www.christnotes.org/_td-jakes.asp Christ Notes] ]

Christian Ministry

Jakes is a charismatic speaker and preacher whose sermons are broadcast nationally and internationally over television and satellite television. Jakes is also a prolific author and has written over 30 books, many of which have been featured on the New York Times best-selling list. Jakes is also a songwriter, a playwright, and performer. He founded a Christian record label (Dexterity Sounds [ [http://www.dexteritysounds.com/aboutus.html About Dexterity Sounds] ] ) as well as a theater and movie production company.cite web
title = When T.D. Jakes Talks...
publisher = Christianity Today Magazine
date =
url = http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2005/001/16.42.html
format = HTML
doi =
accessdate = 2008-05-27]

Jakes' church, The Potter's House, is very active in ministry and outreach both locally and internationally. The Potter's House sends drug and alcohol counselors to the inner city, volunteers to the elderly, to prostitutes and victims of domestic abuse. cite web
title = Cover Story: Bishop T. D. Jakes
work =
publisher = PBS
date = January 14, 2000
url = http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week320/cover.html
format = HTML
doi =
accessdate = 2008-05-28] Jakes also has a special interest in the continent of Africa, and The Potter's House launched an initiative that brought water wells, medicine, and ministry to thousands of people in and around Nairobi in Kenya.cite web
title = When T.D. Jakes Talks...
publisher = Christianity Today Magazine
date =
url = http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2005/001/16.42.html
format = HTML
doi =
accessdate = 2008-05-27]

Jakes hosted several popular national conferences, including "Woman, Thou Art Loosed," "ManPower," and "God's Leading Ladies." Recently, Jakes combined those into a single event called "Megafest." Jakes regularly draws capacity crowds at his conferences and ministry events.cite web
title = When T.D. Jakes Talks...
publisher = Christianity Today Magazine
date =
url = http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2005/001/16.42.html
format = HTML
doi =
accessdate = 2008-05-27]

Books

* "Can You Stand To Be Blessed?"
* "Naked And Not Ashamed"
* "Loose That Man And Let Him Go"
* "Loose That Man And Let Him Go Work Book"
* "Positioning Yourself To Prosper"
* "Reposition Yourself: Living a Life Without Limits"
* "He-Motions: Even Strong Men Struggle"
* "Help! I'm Raising My Children Alone: A Guide for Single Parents and Those Who Sometimes Feel They Are"
* "Ten Commandments of Working in a Hostile Environment"
* "Promises From God For Single Women"
* "Woman, Thou Art Loosed: Healing the Wounds of the Past"
* "The Lady, Her Lover, and Her Lord"
* "Maximize the Moment : God's Action Plan For Your Life"
* "So You Call Yourself a Man?: Finally Devotional for Ordinary Men With Extraordinary Potential"
* "God's Leading Lady"
* "His Lady"
* "Daddy Loves His Girls"
* "The Greatest Investment"
* "Mama Made the Difference"
* "TD Jakes Speaks To Men
* "Before You Do : Making Great Decisions That That You Won't Regret", Atria Books, 2008. ISBN 978-1416547280

Movies

* "Woman Thou Art Loosed" (based on Jakes' novel of the same name)cite web
title =Woman Thou Art Loosed
work =
publisher = Internet Movie Database Inc.
date =
url = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399901/
format = HTML
doi =
accessdate = 2007-12-23]
* "Not Easily Broken" (based on another Jakes' novel).cite web
title = Not Easily Broken
work =
publisher = Internet Movie Database Inc.
date =
url = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0795438/
format = HTML
doi =
accessdate = 2007-12-23]

References

External links

* [http://www.tdjakes.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.tdjakes.org/ T.D. Jakes Ministries]
*
* [http://lightsource.com/ministry/the_potters_house/ Official T.D. Jakes The Potters House Broadcast Online]
* [http://www.equip.org/site/c.muI1LaMNJrE/b.3187297/ The Man, His Ministry, And His Movement: Concerns About The Teachings Of T. D. Jakes]