After nearly three decades leading one of America’s most influential megachurches, Bishop T.D. Jakes officially handed over the leadership mantle of The Potter’s House to his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and her husband, Touré Roberts.
The announcement was made during a moving Sunday service last weekend in Dallas and marks a generational shift that could redefine the future of the globally recognised ministry.
“This elevation is not a departure but a rebirth,” Bishop Jakes told the congregation. “I will never stop preaching and will continue to minister. This moment isn’t an ending; it’s an expansion.”
The transition, while spiritual in nature, also reflects a practical decision following Bishop Jakes’ heart attack in November 2024.
Speaking candidly, he said:
“I’ve seen too many men build something and stay so long that they kill what they built. I cannot afford to risk something happening to me and you be sheep without a shepherd.”
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Sarah Jakes Roberts
Sarah Jakes Roberts, 36, is no stranger to public attention, or reinvention. The daughter of Bishop Jakes and First Lady Serita Jakes, Sarah’s early years were defined by pressure and public scrutiny.
She became a mother at 14, married young, and was divorced by her early twenties. But it’s these lived experiences that have made her one of the most relatable and compelling voices in modern Christian ministry.
As founder of Woman Evolve, a global movement focused on empowering women to break cycles and find healing, Sarah has built a ministry that speaks boldly to today’s spiritual and emotional realities.
Her books, podcasts, and sold-out conferences have reached millions of women worldwide – many of whom might never have stepped into a traditional church.
Sarah is known for blending biblical teaching with cultural relevance and emotional transparency. Her leadership style doesn’t echo her father’s thunderous delivery, it brings a new kind of intimacy to the pulpit.
Touré Roberts
Touré Roberts, 52, brings his own pedigree to the pulpit. The founder of ONE, a Potter’s House Church in Los Angeles, Touré is known for his intellectual and culturally tuned sermons, drawing a diverse audience of millennials, creatives, and professionals hungry for purpose.
His background in business and marketing has helped him craft a ministry style that is innovative, engaging, and deeply reflective.
Touré and Sarah married in 2014, blending their families and their ministries. Together, they have cultivated a brand of ministry that’s equal parts spiritual and strategic, one that recognises the shifting landscape of faith in the digital age.
Long before the formal transition, the couple had already begun handling operational leadership duties at The Potter’s House, with Bishop T.D Jakes guiding them behind the scenes. Their move to Dallas in 2022 was seen by many as a sign of this coming succession.
What this means for The Potter’s House – and the body of Christ at large
The handover is beyond a family affair. It signals a broader evolution in how megachurches are positioning themselves for the future.
Under Sarah and Touré’s leadership, The Potter’s House is expected to lean into areas like mental health, social justice, entrepreneurship, and digital discipleship.
For the congregation, over 30,000 strong in Dallas alone, and millions more who watch online, the change is both emotional and energizing.
Bishop Jakes built The Potter’s House from the ground up in 1996, turning it into a powerhouse of faith, business, education, and social reform.
His decision to entrust that legacy to a younger generation signals his confidence not just in their calling, but in the changing nature of church leadership in a post-pandemic, content-driven world.
He remains involved as Chairman of the Board and spiritual adviser and will continue to preach on occasion. But the day-to-day reins now belong to Sarah and Touré.
In the words of Bishop T.D Jakes:
“Leadership isn’t about holding on, it’s about letting go at the right time, to the right people, with the right heart. I’m not leaving. I’m leaning forward.”
