Bishop TD Jakes celebrates 50 years in ministry with awe and gratitude
For five decades, Bishop T.D. Jakes has preached, taught, mentored and built ministries that have reached far beyond the walls of a church. On Sept. 13, 2026, that extraordinary journey reached a milestone as The Potter’s House of Dallas celebrated 50 years of Bishop Jakes’ ministry during a special Founder’s Day celebration.
The occasion, billed as "The Sound of 50," was a celebration of Bishop Jakes's devotion to faith, leadership and helping others discover purpose.
In 1996, Bishop Jakes founded The Potter’s House in Dallas. Over the following decades, the humble minister from West Virginia grew his church into one of the country's most prominent mega-churches and became an international Christian thought leader.
The 50th anniversary arrives during an important inflection point for Jakes and The Potter’s House.
In 2025, Jakes announced plans for Pastors Touré Roberts and Sarah Jakes Roberts to become the church's next senior pastors after Jakes suffered a a massive, near-fatal heart attack on November 24, 2024.
He has described the transition to Pastors Toure' and Sarah as a generational transition designed to carry the ministry into its next chapter.
Moreover, for Jakes, the celebration offered a moment of gratitude as he reflected on the sacrifices made by his family and many around him as he pursued his calling and ambition.
During the ceremony, Bishop Jakes thanked Pastors Toure' and Sarah, Pastor Oscar Williams, all the visiting pastors (including one from Nigeria), his associate pastors, and his children and grandchildren who were all in attendance to witness the momentous occasion.
He became especially emotional as he thanked his wife Serita who Jakes acknowledged for remaining by his side during both good and bad times.
Reflecting on five decades of ministry, Jakes emphasized that his story, the Potter's House story, is bigger than himself as be vowed that the church's mission will continue for years to come.
The 50 year celebration was an appreciation of the quintessential American story of a young man from the coal mines of West Virginia who dared to pursue his dreams and act on his God-given purpose.
Fifty years later, that young man can appreciate how far he's come.
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