T.D. Jakes, senior pastor of The Potter’s House in southern Dallas, was recently named in a lawsuit against music producer Sean “Diddy” Combs as someone who might help rehabilitate Combs’ public image.
Combs is under investigation for sexual assault and sex trafficking, and his Los Angeles and Miami homes were raided by federal agents Monday, reports say.
Jakes is mentioned once in a 73-page lawsuit filed in February 2024 by producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones in a federal court in the southern district of New York. The suit says Jones has “irrefutable evidence” of “Mr. Combs detailing how he planned to leverage his relationship with Bishop T.D. Jakes to soften the impact on his public image of Cassie Ventura’s lawsuit.”
Ventura, Combs’ former girlfriend, filed a lawsuit in November 2023 that said Combs had put her through a “cycle of abuse, violence, and sex trafficking.” Three more women later filed sexual assault suits against Combs last year.
Here are five things to know about the megachurch pastor and well-known evangelist.
1. He founded The Potter’s House in 1996
In 1996, Jakes moved to Dallas and founded The Potter’s House, a nondenominational church. He reportedly bought the church’s building from televangelist W.V. Grant for $3.2 million.
The church now has 30,000 members, according to its website. The Potter’s House has expanded to include other area campuses in Frisco and Fort Worth.
2. He is a media mogul
Jakes is known nationally for his sermons on TV and radio. In 1993, he began the weekly TV program “Get Ready with T.D. Jakes.” Since then, he has preached on several radio and TV programs, including “T.D. Jakes: Crushing,” “Potter’s Touch” and “Kingdom Culture with T.D. Jakes.” A 2001 Time magazine cover story asked, “Is this man the next Billy Graham?”
Jakes has also been involved in several movies, including as a producer in Miracles from Heaven (2016) with Jennifer Garner, and as a producer and actor in Jumping the Broom (2011) with Angela Bassett.
3. He led a popular women’s ministry
Woman, Thou Art Loosed, a book Jakes self-published in 1993 and first sold for $10, played a significant role in launching his career. The book combines Christian Scripture with advice for women on healing and empowerment and has sold millions of copies.
Jakes went on to host “Woman, Thou Art Loosed” conferences that drew tens of thousands of women and adapted the book into a 2004 movie about a woman dealing with abuse, addiction and poverty.
Jakes hosted the final edition of the conference in 2022, and has encouraged his followers to attend a new women’s conference run by his daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts. Jakes Roberts’ “Woman Evolve” conference at Arlington’s Globe Life Field last year drew over 40,000, organizers said.
4. He has partnerships focused on helping underserved communities
In 2020, Jakes founded the T.D. Jakes Foundation, a nonprofit focused on “connecting underserved communities to life-changing opportunities,” according to the foundation’s website. The foundation’s partners include The Coca-Cola Company, the Dallas Mavericks and Goldman Sachs.
In April 2023, T.D. Jakes Group, which includes the pastor’s several enterprises, announced a 10-year partnership with Wells Fargo. A press release said the partnership “could result in up to $1 billion in capital and financing to support underserved communities across the United States.”
Last month, Jakes announced the T.D. Jakes Foundation, in partnership with Wells Fargo, was making a $9 million investment in grants to 16 U.S. organizations. The organizations will focus on efforts including affordable housing projects and financial literacy programs at historically Black colleges and universities.
5. He has a real estate company
With his company, T.D. Jakes Real Estate Ventures, Jakes is involved in affordable housing and senior living development projects.
A redevelopment project in southwest Atlanta would include over 900 apartments, 200 townhomes, 181 detached houses, a charter school, a senior living facility and commercial and office space, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported last year.
A lease for 94 acres of land for that project was approved last year.
Jakes’ real estate firm is also planning to build affordable apartments in South Florida in partnership with Miami real estate developer New Urban Development. Plans include a 150-unit senior living facility and a 200-unit apartment complex.
Joy Ashford covers faith and religion in North Texas for The Dallas Morning News through a partnership with Report for America.
©2024 The Dallas Morning News. Visit dallasnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.