Thomas Dexter "T. D." Jakes Sr. (born June 9, 1957) is an American entrepre… Read Full Bio ↴Thomas Dexter "T. D." Jakes Sr. (born June 9, 1957) is an American entrepreneur and chief pastor of the The Potter's House, a 30,000 member church in Dallas, Texas.[1] It is a non-denominational megachurch.

His church services and evangelistic sermons are broadcast on The Potter's Touch, which airs on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, Black Entertainment Television[2] and The Word Network. 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. He is also connected to Mt. Gilead Full Gospel International Ministries in Richmond, Virginia.

In the fall of 2009, Jakes plan on launching a secular daily talk show, syndicated through the CBS Television Distribution group; however, economic troubles in the industry may put his new program into jeopardy. [3]

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

Early Life and History

Thomas Dexter June 9, 1957 in South Charleston, West Virginia to Ernest Jakes, Sr., a janitor and entrepreneur[2] , and Odith, an educator. Even as a child he was known in his West Virginian neighborhood as "the Bad Bible boy." He was also told he would never be able to preach because of his "bad" lisp. [4] Shortly after his father's death from kidney failure, Jakes decided to go into ministry. [2] In 1979, with very little funds of his own and with only ten initial members, he founded Greater Emmanuel Temple of Faith as a storefront church in Montgomery, West Virginia. Jakes maintained his day job digging ditches in order to support his ministry until the church was able to support him. During its first 10 years, the church grew to over 1,000 members. [5] In 1982, Jakes turned to full-time ministry.[2]

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.[6]

In 1995, when he was 38 years old, Jakes started his television ministry. [4] 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 WV Grant after Grant was sentenced to 16 months in prison for tax-related crimes.[7] In its 12-year existence it has grown to over 30,000 members.[citation needed] Both Jakes and his Potter's House church are unrelated to the Potter's House Christian Fellowship, a Pentecostal denomination founded in Arizona in 1970.
[edit]Family and Heritage

In 1981 he married Serita Ann Jamison.[2] They have five children together (Jamar, Jermaine, 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. Jermaine Jakes is a step-son of Jakes, and was arrested in January 2009 for indecent exposure in a public park to undercover police officers.

PBS program African American Lives, Jakes had his DNA analyzed; his Y chromosome showed that he is descended from the Igbo people of what is now Nigeria.[8][9] According to his family history, it was also suggested that he is descended from them through his paternal grandmother. [10][11]

Criticism

Critics have accused him of promoting views on God that derive from Oneness Pentecostalism, but he has denied this.[12]
Jakes subscribes to "prosperity theology," which in essence teaches that God rewards his faithful followers by overt material means.[citation needed] As such, Jakes is unapologetic in amassing expensive clothes, luxury cars, and property. His detractors, however, argue that the Jesus of the Bible did not practice such an indulgence in material wealth, and as such, Jakes is teaching a contra-Biblical message.
Jakes has also been criticized for not speaking on racism by Cain Hope Felder, dean of the Howard University Divinity School, and others.[2]
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 Jake on the cover of its September 17, 2001 issue with the provocative question: "Is This Man the Next Billy Graham?". [5]
Shayne Lee, a sociologist at Tulane University, wrote the first biography of Jakes entitled T.D. Jakes: America's New Preacher, in which he portrays the bishop as a complicated preacher brimming with paradoxes and contradictions and motivated by the dual task of healing hearts and generating market share. Lee compares Jakes to Jay Gatsby and calls him a model of the new postmodern evangelical preacher. Jakes is one of five evangelicals featured in Dr. Lee's new book Holy Mavericks: Evangelical Innovators and the Spiritual Marketplace, co-authored by historian Phillip Sinitiere and published by NYU Press.
[edit]Christian Ministry

Jakes is a charismatic speaker and preacher whose sermons are broadcast nationally and internationally over television and satellite television. Jakes is also a prolific author and 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 a Christian record label (Dexterity Sounds [13]) as well as a theater and movie production company.[14]

Jakes' church, The Potter's House, is very 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 abuse. [4] 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.[14]

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.[14]
[edit]Books

Intimacy With God
Can You Stand To Be Blessed?
Naked And Not Ashamed?
Loose That Man And Lets Him Go
Loose That Man And Let Him Go Work Book
Positioning Yourself To Prosper
Reposition Yourself: Living a Life Without Limits
He-Motions: Even Strong Men Struggle
Help! I'm Raising My Children Alone: A Guide for Single Ladies and Those Who Sometimes Feel They Are
Ten Commandments of Working in a Hostile Environment
Promises From God For Single Women
Woman, Thou Art Loosed: Healing the Wounds of the Past
The Lady, Her Lover, and Her Lord
Maximize the Moment : God's Action Plan For Your Life
So You Call Yourself a Man?: Finally Devotional for Ordinary Men With Extraordinary Potential
God's Leading Lady
His Lady
Jesus Walks (with me)
Whats up church,!!
Daddy Loves His Girls
The Greatest Investment
Mama Made the Difference
TD Jakes Speaks To Men
Before You Do : Making Great Decisions That That You Won't Regret, Atria Books, 2008. ISBN 978-1416547280
[edit]Movies

Woman Thou Art Loosed (based on Jakes' novel of the same name)[15]
Not Easily Broken (based on another Jakes' novel).[16]
He is Gangstalisous How to be hood without people knowing Reach for the stars
[edit]References

^ "Biography" (HTML). Bishop T.D. Jakes. T.D. Jakes Website. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
^ a b c d e f Washington Post Article

Sanctuary
T.D. Jakes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for You

It is you, Lord
Who came to save
The heart and soul

Of every man
It is you Lord
Who knows my weakness
Who gives me strength,
With thine own hand.

Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and Holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving I'll be a living
Sanctuary for you

Lead Me on Lord
From temptation
Purify me
From within
Fill my heart with
Your holy spirit
Take away all my sin

Lord prepare me to be sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true

With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for You

Overall Meaning

In T.D. Jakes's song Sanctuary, the lyrics describe a person asking God to prepare them to be a sanctuary - a holy and pure place of refuge where God's presence can dwell. The lyrics speak to a desire for inner purification, with the recognition that it is only through God's strength that one can be made holy. The song also acknowledges the power of temptation and sin in a person's life, and asks for God's help in overcoming these obstacles on the path to becoming a living sanctuary for God.

Through its repetition of the phrase "Lord prepare me," the song emphasizes the importance of surrendering oneself to God's will, and allowing Him to shape and mold one's character. The lyrics also call attention to the transforming power of gratitude, with the singer pledging to offer thanks to God as they become a sanctuary for Him.

Overall, T.D. Jakes's song Sanctuary presents a powerful message of the transformative power of God's strength, as well as the importance of seeking inner purity and holiness in order to become a vessel for God's presence.

Line by Line Meaning

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Oh Lord, guide me to become a living space for You, a place of safety and refuge where Your glory can reside and be celebrated.

Pure and holy, tried and true
Make me clean and righteous, purged of any impurities, and tested through trials or difficulties so I emerge as a genuine follower of Your will.

With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
I offer myself in gratitude, with an attitude of appreciation and contentment, to fully embody the essence of a breathing, feeling adored child of Yours.

Sanctuary for You
A place where You can rest, refresh, and rejuvenate. A home where You feel loved, honoured and welcomed, always and forever.

It is you, Lord
You are the one and only God, the source of all creation, and the saviour of souls. You are the only one to whom I pledge my loyalty and devotion.

Who came to save
You sent Your Son, Jesus, to redeem humanity from the bondage of sin and death, to offer eternal life and hope to everyone who believes in His name.

The heart and soul
Every aspect of my being, my emotions, my desires, my aspirations, and my innermost thoughts belong to You. You have access to everything in me.

Of every man
All of humankind, regardless of race, gender, culture, or position, is valued and loved by You. You desire to have a relationship with each person.

Who knows my weakness
You are intimately acquainted with my flaws, my failures, and my limitations. You understand the pains, struggles, and fears that I face.

Who gives me strength,
You, and You alone, grants me the power, zeal, and courage to overcome my weaknesses, to face my challenges, and to fulfil my destiny as Your servant.

With thine own hand.
By Your personal intervention and touch, You elevate me, shape me, and mould me into the person You want me to be. You are my guide and helper for life.

Lead Me on Lord
Show me the path to follow and provide the light to illuminate it. Keep me on track and prevent me from wandering astray. Protect me from harm and danger.

From temptation
Guard me against any temptation that can lead me away from Your truth, Your love and Your way. Give me the wisdom to discern the right from the wrong.

Purify me
Cleanse me from all impurities, sins, and imperfections that hinder the fullness of Your presence in me. Make me a vessel for Your glory only.

From within
Start the purification process from the core of my being, from my heart and spirit, not just from the outer appearance or actions. Shake me to the core.

Fill my heart with
Make my heart the abode of Your love and peace, the storehouse of Your Word and precepts, and the wellspring of Your joy and contentment.

Your holy spirit
Empower me with Your Holy Spirit, who gives me wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, reverence and awe for You. Make me a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Take away all my sin
Forgive me for all my sins and transgressions, and remove them as far as the east is from the west. Purge me of guilt, shame and condemnation.

Contributed by Cameron W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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