More than 20 years later, he pastors what Christianity Today calls “one of America’s fastest growing mega-churches.” The Potter’s House, a multiracial nondenominational church with 59 active outreach ministries, has dominated church growth records since 1996. In only eight years since relocating the church from West Virginia to Dallas, The Potter’s House has grown from 50 families to more than 28,000 members to date. Rivaling many corporations, The Potter’s House employs more than 300 staff members including full-time finance, human relations, information technology, materials distribution, public relations and television production departments. The Potter’s House is fiscally sound, having recently paid off its newest $45 million, 191,000 sq. ft. structure that was completed less than four years ago.
Bishop Jakes was born on June 9, 1957 in South Charleston, W.Va. His parents, businessman and entrepreneur Ernest Sr. and educator Odith, were charitable benefactors in their community and to whom their son credits for his own integrity, discipline and selfreliance. Bishop Jakes is the CEO of The Potter’s House, a nonprofit organization that produces three major national conferences – “The Pastor’s and Leadership Conference,” “ManPower” and “Woman, Thou Art Loosed.” WTAL, a powerful and popular symposium, addresses specific needs of all women and has helped many go from welfare to work. The conference has set national indoor attendance records with an average of 84,500 attendees per day at the Georgia Dome in 1999. “ManPower,” equips and encourages men to build strong marriages, increase their confidence and take on more responsibility in their community. “Mega Fest” is a family affair combining “Woman, Thou Art Loosed,” “ManPower” and the “Youth 3-D Experience,” a new youth conference. This summer, Mega Fest attracted more than 140,000 people from 55 countries and set a cumulative record attendance of 560,000 over the four-day period. Through broadcasting efforts, Mega Fest impacted more than 314 million homes in 235 countries and territories outside of the U.S. Mega Fest 2005 is scheduled August 3 – 6 in Atlanta, Georgia.
In addition to the major conferences, Bishop Jakes hosts the God’s Leading Ladies conference, which is designed to help women in leadership positions to develop financial, relationship and balancing skills.
In an effort to remedy social and economic voids in Urban America, Bishop Jakes founded the Metroplex Economic Development Corporation in 1998. The nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation has sponsored home ownership conferences and youth mentorship programs.Currently, MEDC is developing a job placement center, a skills training center, a small business counseling hotline and a housing development that will include affordable homes for senior citizens and single-parent families.
Additional endeavors to improve society include building two Habitat for Humanity homes in conjunction with the 2003 ManPower conference and making a $107,000 donation to relocate Dallas citizens from an economically and environmentally disadvantaged area. The Potter’s House was also responsible for building a hospital in Belize, Central America, named Belmopan to whom they later sent $400,000 for medical supplies. Bishop Jakes and The Potter’s House invested over $500,000 in outreach to prison inmates. Their “Adopt A Prison” program has impacted inmates giving them a way to reduce the rate of recidivism through spiritual support and a network of churches who have awareness to the plight of
inmates reentering the system.
He is also the founder of T.D. Jakes Enterprises, through which he employs his other aptitudes as author, songwriter and playwright. A renowned religious author with 30 books to his credit; Bishop Jakes’ works have been featured on Christian, secular and business bestseller lists. His top five nonfiction bestsellers are: Maximize the Moment; Woman, Thou Art Loosed; The Lady, Her Lover and Her Lord; The Great Investment: Faith, Family and Finance and God’s Leading Lady, which has peaked at #4 on the New York Times Hardcover Advice List. He released his first novel, Cover Girls, in the summer of 2003, and later that year; he released Follow the Star, a compilation of Bishop Jakes’ personal Christmas stories. His latest book He-Motions, which is currently #10 on the New York Times Bestseller List, is a tool for both men and women written with intimate personal stories and painful lessons he learned through life. His best-selling book, Woman Thou Art Loosed, has finally come to the big screen debuting in 400 theaters across the nation and winning the 2004 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Bishop Jakes has developed business partnerships with Sony, EMI, Time Warner, Warner, Rueben Cannon Productions, Clear Channel, Thomas Nelson Publishing and a host of other highly respected companies. His theatre production company, Touchdown Concepts, created and produced the Christian plays “Woman, Thou Art Loosed” and “Behind Closed Doors.” Both became number one gospel plays in the United States. Recently his advocacy for women’s rights enabled him to develop the cinema production “Woman, Thou Art Loosed,” with Rueben Cannon Productions. The movie is based on his book “Woman, Thou Art Loosed,” and speaks out against domestic violence while encouraging women to rise above injustices. Bishop Jakes also operates Dexterity Sounds, a music label in collaboration with EMI Gospel Music that develops music with a divine message. The label has produced eight albums, five of which have received Grammy nominations. The album, “A Wing and a Prayer” featuring Bishop Jakes and The Potter’s House Mass Choir, received a 2004 Grammy award in the “Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album” category. His album “T.D. Jakes presents Follow the Star” also received a nomination in the category of “Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album.”
He is also the founder of T.D. Jakes Enterprises, through which he employs his other aptitudes as author, songwriter and playwright. A renowned religious author with 30 books to his credit; Bishop Jakes’ works have been featured on Christian, secular and business bestseller lists. His top five nonfiction bestsellers are: Maximize the Moment; Woman, Thou Art Loosed; The Lady, Her Lover and Her Lord; The Great Investment: Faith, Family and Finance and God’s Leading Lady, which has peaked at #4 on the New York Times Hardcover Advice List. He released his first novel, Cover Girls, in the summer of 2003, and later that year; he released Follow the Star, a compilation of Bishop Jakes’ personal Christmas stories. His latest book He-Motions, which is currently #10 on the New York Times Bestseller List, is a tool for both men and women written with intimate personal stories and painful lessons he learned through life. His best-selling book, Woman Thou Art Loosed, has finally come to the big screen debuting in 400 theaters across the nation and winning the 2004 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Bishop Jakes has developed business partnerships with Sony, EMI, Time Warner, Warner, Rueben Cannon Productions, Clear Channel, Thomas Nelson Publishing and a host of other highly respected companies. His theatre production company, Touchdown Concepts, created and produced the Christian plays “Woman, Thou Art Loosed” and “Behind Closed Doors.” Both became number one gospel plays in the United States. Recently his advocacy for women’s rights enabled him to develop the cinema production “Woman, Thou Art Loosed,” with Rueben Cannon Productions. The movie is based on his book “Woman, Thou Art Loosed,” and speaks out against domestic violence while encouraging women to rise above injustices. Bishop Jakes also operates Dexterity Sounds, a music label in collaboration with EMI Gospel Music that develops music with a divine message. The label has produced eight albums, five of which have received Grammy nominations. The album, “A Wing and a Prayer” featuring Bishop Jakes and The Potter’s House Mass Choir, received a 2004 Grammy award in the “Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album” category.
His album “T.D. Jakes presents Follow the Star” also received a nomination in the category of “Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. http://www.godsleadingladies.com/_downloads/bio_td_jakes.pdf
Sanctuary/Give Praise
Bishop T.D. Jakes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We give You the praise 'cause You're worthy of it
Lord we give You the praise
We give You the praise 'cause You're worthy of it
Lord we give You the praise
We give You the praise 'cause You're worthy of it
Lord we give You the praise
We give You the praise 'cause You're good
No one compares to You, oh Lord
No one can fill me like You do
You turn my mourning
Into dancing
So all my days
I sing Your praise
The lyrics of Bishop T.D. Jakes's song "Sanctuary/Give Praise" encapsulate a deep and personal expression of worship and gratitude directed towards God. The repetitive nature of the opening lines – "Lord we give You the praise" – establishes a framework of praise that emphasizes the act of worship as a communal and continuous practice. The repetition highlights the importance of acknowledgment, underscoring the belief that praise is not just an obligation but a heartfelt response to an understanding of God's worthiness. It creates a rhythm of celebration—a collective declaration that aligns believers' hearts and spirits toward honoring a higher power. This invocation sets the tone for an environment where the faithful can come together to uplift and honor God through worship.
Delving deeper into the lyrics, the acknowledgment that "You're worthy of it" and "You're good" presents a fascinating theological premise. It highlights the essential belief in God's goodness as an intrinsic quality that inspires trust and admiration among worshipers. This recognition is significant; it speaks to a profound relationship where God's character and nature elicit a response of gratitude. There is an implied sense of recognition that praise is not merely a reaction to circumstances but rather a constant due to God’s inherent goodness. The repetitive affirmation through these lines serves as a reminder to the faithful that God’s goodness is a foundational aspect of their lives, generating a sense of joy and obligation to offer praise in response to such grace.
The lines "No one compares to You, oh Lord" highlight the uniqueness of the divine experience that believers have with God. Through this declaration, the songwriter communicates a deeply felt conviction that there is no equivalent relationship or source of fulfillment outside of God. This contrasts the often tumultuous experiences of life—human relationships, material pursuits, and earthly pleasures. As the lyrics further explain that "No one can fill me like You do," there’s an intimate exploration of spiritual fulfillment. People often seek solace and satisfaction in various aspects of life, but these lines suggest that only God can truly fill the void within a person’s spirit. This expression evokes an image of personal healing and restoration that can only come from a divine connection.
Finally, the imagery of transformation encapsulated in the phrase "You turn my mourning into dancing" conveys a powerful message of hope and redemption. The juxtaposition of mourning and dancing symbolizes an uplifting transition from sorrow to joy, a common theme in spiritual journeys. This metamorphosis is not simply about a superficial change in circumstances but is indicative of a deeper spiritual renewal. The act of turning mourning into dancing suggests that in faith, there is the potential for radical transformation and healing through God's grace. The closing lines—"So all my days I sing Your praise"—are a promise of an ongoing commitment to worship, highlighting that praise should be a consistent, lifelong response to God's transformative power in one’s life. The cumulative message of these lyrics is a heartfelt battle cry that celebrates God's never-ending goodness and invites an authentic and joyous engagement with the divine.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord we give You the praise
We offer our deepest admiration and gratitude to You, recognizing Your supreme authority and presence.
We give You the praise 'cause You're worthy of it
Our heartfelt worship is directed towards You, as You possess an inherent value and merit that deserves our reverence.
Lord we give You the praise
We continually acknowledge and celebrate Your greatness, centering our thoughts and actions in gratitude to You.
We give You the praise 'cause You're worthy of it
Our devotion to You is driven by the understanding that You embody qualities that are deserving of immense honor and respect.
Lord we give You the praise
Once again, we lift our voices to honor You, reinforcing our commitment to worship and thankfulness.
We give You the praise 'cause You're worthy of it
We recognize that our expressions of gratitude stem from Your undeniable worthiness to receive such esteem.
Lord we give You the praise
We return to the act of praising You, highlighting the importance of this moment in our spiritual journey.
We give You the praise 'cause You're good
We celebrate and acknowledge Your goodness, which inspires us to magnify and honor Your name with our words and deeds.
No one compares to You, oh Lord
There is no entity or being that can rival Your greatness, highlighting Your unique and unparalleled nature.
No one can fill me like You do
Only Your presence can truly satisfy and complete me, emphasizing the deep fulfillment that comes from a relationship with You.
You turn my mourning
You have the power to transform my sadness and grief into a state of joy and celebration.
Into dancing
You bring forth a spirit of happiness and freedom, turning my sorrow into an expression of joyful movement and praise.
So all my days
For every moment that I live, I commit to recognizing and celebrating this divine transformation in my life.
I sing Your praise
I dedicate my voice and my spirit to uplifting Your name, expressing my devotion through song and worship.
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Frank Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheSimpleLife101
One of the most genuine prayers in a song 😭😭
@ArinjamesO
This is the most touching praise and worship song that impacts and draws me closer to God daily. There are songs, but this particular song, sung by Bishop Jakes, has implications for me. I pray, sir, that the anointing of teaching and preaching from God in your life will be renewed day by day in Jesus ' Name. Amen.
@susiemack7501
This Song really touched my life so many years ago. I just had to find it. I am Blessed THANK YOU LORD!!! LORD PREPARE ME !
@calebavenue9204
I want to be a sanctuary for the Holy Spirit because I want what I want. I’m doing it so I can be free of bad feelings I only want to feel good all the time. It’s too hard dealing with all of these bad emotions I want an escape from that, a permanent one. I’m tired of living at 16 years old. When life gets too hard I’ll be ready to go to the house of the Lord.
@waynedenny250
I want to be a sanctuary for The Holy Spirit so bad, whether I'm at work maintaining law and order at the store to buy anything,or wherever I go for that matter, I just want to serve God and his Son Jesus Christ and The Blessed Holy Spirit.
@GaryColinGATEX2418
man TD Jakes does it all~ sings, movies, ministry, preaching, books, grammies, and even fixes toilets~ Amen~
@elisamartinez381
Lord god you are my life. And i love you
@calmingmelody5650
Lord, please let this be my testimony inside and out in Jesus Name
@calebavenue9204
I want to be a sanctuary for the Holy Spirit and pure and holy. It is for my own good.
@thaigboprincess7723
This song is ministering to me right now at 1am! Lord Prepare Me! Thank You Jesus