Friday, October 14, 2011

T. D. Jakes, Biography


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thomas Dexter "T. D." Jakes Sr. (born June 9, 1957) is the chief pastor of 
The Potter's House,non-denominational American megachurch, with 30,000
members,located in DallasTexas.
T.D. Jakes church services and evangelistic sermons are broadcast on 
The Potter's Touch, which airs on the Trinity Broadcasting NetworkBlack Entertainment 
Television, the Daystar Television Network,The Word Network and The Miracle Channel in 
Canada. 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.

On January 20, 2009, Jakes led the early morning prayer service for President
 Barack Obama at St. John's Church in Washington, D.C., according to NBC News.


 ]
Early life and history

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;
 the building having been formerly a bank.
In 1995, when he was 38 years old, Jakes started his television ministry. 
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.


Jakes purchased the property, which was previously Eagle's Nest Family Church,
 from W. V. Grant, after Grant was sentenced to 16 months in prison for tax-related crimes.
 In its 12 year existence, it has grown to over 30,000 members.
Both Jakes and his Potter's House church are unrelated to the Potter's House 
Christian Fellowship, a Pentecostal denomination founded in Arizona in 1971.

[edit]Family and heritage

When he was 24 in 1981, he married Serita Ann Jamison.They have five 
children together (Jermaine, Jamar, 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.
On the PBS program African American Lives, Jakes had his DNA analyzed; 
his Y chromosome showed that he is descended from the Igbo people of Nigeria. 
According to his family history, it was also suggested that he is descended from them through his 
paternal grandmother.
He is a second cousin once removed of vocalist Will Wheaton and first cousin twice
 removed of actor James Wheaton.

[edit]Christian ministry

Jakes' sermons are broadcast nationally and internationally over television and
 satellite televisionHe 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 the 
Christian record label Dexterity Sounds as well as a theater and movie production
 company.
Jakes' church, The Potter's House, is active in ministry and outreach both 
locally and internationally. 
The Potter's House sends drugs and alcohol counselling to the inner city,
 volunteers to the elderly,to prostitutes and victims of domestic violence. 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.
Jakes hosted several popular national conferences, including "Woman,
 Thou Art Loosed," "G Unit: 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.


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 Jakes on the cover of its September 17, 2001 
issue with the provocative question: "Is This Man the Next Billy Graham?".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._D._Jakes

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