Jordan Ellis
T.D. Jakes, the pastor of The Potter's House, a non-denominational megachurch in Dallas, Texas, was hospitalised after suffering a heart attack during a Sunday sermon in November 2024. Jakes, 67, experienced an on-stage medical emergency, during which he was seen shaking and pausing before sitting down. He was rushed offstage and taken to the hospital, where he underwent several hours of surgery. Jakes later shared a video and written message on social media, expressing gratitude to his nurses, as well as to those who had prayed for his recovery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of hospitalization | 23 November 2024 |
| Reason for hospitalization | Heart attack |
| Symptoms | Shaking |
| Hospitalization confirmed by | T.D. Jakes |
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What You'll Learn
T.D. Jakes' health scare was a massive heart attack
T.D. Jakes, the Dallas pastor and founder of The Potter's House Church, a non-denominational megachurch, suffered a massive heart attack during a Sunday sermon in November 2024. The 67-year-old pastor experienced a medical emergency on stage, which was later revealed to be a heart attack. Jakes himself stated that he did not exhibit any of the typical symptoms of a heart attack.
During his sermon, Jakes was seen pausing and shaking, which prompted church leaders to rush to his side. He was then rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, where he received life-saving treatment. Jakes later shared that he underwent several hours of surgery and that his condition had been life-threatening. He expressed gratitude to the medical professionals and to those who had prayed for his recovery.
In an interview with Craig Melvin on TODAY in March 2025, Jakes opened up about his health scare, stating: "I didn't really realize what was happening to me onstage until I got to the hospital... The doctor leaned over in my ear and said, 'You had a massive heart attack.' And the reason I didn't realize it was because I had none of the symptoms." Jakes also addressed allegations of sexual assault and discussed the defamation lawsuit he had filed in response.
Following his recovery, Jakes shared his plans for upcoming events at the church and a new podcast he intends to start. He also expressed his gratitude for a second chance at life and his determination to move forward with increased speed and purpose. T.D. Jakes' experience highlights the unpredictable nature of heart attacks and the importance of seeking immediate medical attention in such emergencies.
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He had no symptoms and required surgery
T.D. Jakes, the pastor at The Potter's House, a non-denominational Christian megachurch in Dallas, suffered a massive heart attack onstage during a Sunday sermon in November 2024. The 67-year-old pastor experienced a medical emergency while delivering an inspirational message, and was rushed offstage. A livestream of the event showed Jakes lowering his microphone and starting to shake, after which church leaders quickly rushed to his side.
Jakes himself revealed in an exclusive interview on TODAY in March 2025 that he had experienced a heart attack, stating that he "had none of the symptoms" and did not realise what was happening until he was in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. He recalled:
> I didn’t really realise what was happening to me on stage until I got to the hospital and in an ambulance, and fussing that it happened onstage, by the way, because I didn’t want it to happen, and the doctor leaned over my ear and said, ‘You had a massive heart attack.’ And the reason I didn’t realise it was because I had none of the symptoms.
Jakes also shared that he underwent several hours of surgery while awake, and that the doctors almost lost [him] twice. He expressed his gratitude for the medical professionals who treated him and for the support and prayers he received during his recovery.
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He thanked God and medical professionals for saving his life
T.D. Jakes, the Dallas preacher and founder of The Potter's House Church, suffered a medical emergency during a Sunday sermon in November 2024. Jakes experienced a "'massive'" heart attack and was rushed offstage to the hospital. In the aftermath of this health scare, Jakes expressed his gratitude to God and medical professionals for saving his life.
In a video shared on social media, the 67-year-old bishop thanked everyone who prayed for his recovery and expressed his appreciation for the medical professionals who treated him. Jakes acknowledged the expertise and swift action of the doctors and nurses, stating that the event could have been fatal without their intervention. He also recognized the support he received from his family, his church community, and well-wishers.
Jakes shared his thoughts on this life-threatening experience, reflecting on how it affected him. He spoke about his anxiety returning to the same stage where he had almost died, but he attributed his survival to God's intervention and wisdom. Jakes also mentioned the several hours of surgery he underwent and expressed his gratitude for the advancements in medical technology.
In his messages and interviews, Jakes gave thanks for the outpouring of love and support he received during his recovery. He emphasized his gratitude towards God and the medical professionals, acknowledging their crucial roles in saving his life. Jakes' experience highlighted the importance of timely and expert medical care, as well as the power of faith and community support in overcoming a health crisis.
The bishop's recovery and public expressions of gratitude offered a testament to the collaborative efforts of medical professionals and the power of faith in overcoming life-threatening situations. Jakes' story served as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and appreciating the contributions of healthcare workers and the resilience that faith can bring in challenging times.
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Jakes addressed allegations of sexual assault in an interview
T.D. Jakes, a celebrity pastor and founder of The Potter's House, a megachurch in Dallas, has been accused of sexual assault by two brothers, Duane and Richard Youngblood. The allegations first surfaced in 2024 when Duane Youngblood appeared on the "Larry Reid Live" YouTube talk show and claimed that Jakes had tried to groom and sexually assault him when he was 18 or 19 years old in the 1980s. Richard Youngblood, also a pastor, made similar allegations, claiming that Jakes had tried to sexually assault him as well.
In response to these allegations, Jakes has filed a defamation lawsuit against Duane Youngblood, seeking damages of at least $75,000. In an interview with Craig Melvin on TODAY, Jakes denied the allegations and explained his reasons for filing the lawsuit:
> I filed the suit because if you don’t ever speak back, it just continues to go on and on and on, and I decided enough is enough.
Jakes and his legal team have also pointed out that Duane Youngblood has felony convictions for sexual assault and corruption of minors, and they allege that the accusations against Jakes are a "desperate attempt to rehabilitate his image and build a new ministry for himself." In addition, they claim that Youngblood's allegations are factually inconsistent, noting that Jakes did not have the financial resources at the time of the alleged incident to offer to take care of Youngblood "for life."
The lawsuit filed by Jakes also alleges that Youngblood sent him a letter demanding $6 million to "resolve this matter quickly and privately" and that failure to pay would result in legal action and further public disclosures. Jakes has characterized this as an attempt to extort money from him and tarnish his reputation.
The accusations against Jakes and the subsequent lawsuit have had a significant impact on his life and health. In November 2024, Jakes suffered a medical emergency on stage during a sermon at his church, which he later revealed was a massive heart attack. Jakes has also stated that the stress of the accusations contributed to his health issues, calling it a "life-threatening calamity."
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He founded The Potter's House Church in Dallas in 1996
T.D. Jakes, the founder of The Potters House Church in Dallas, suffered a heart attack in November 2024, which caused an on-stage medical emergency during a sermon. He was rushed offstage to the hospital, where doctors informed him that he had experienced a "massive heart attack". Following this incident, Jakes decided to step down as head pastor of The Potters House Church, which he founded in 1996.
The Potters House Church, led by Jakes for almost 30 years, has grown to more than 30,000 members. It is a non-denominational church that has become a community institution in Dallas. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the church's Dallas location became a mass vaccination site, administering close to 54,000 shots.
Jakes has been described as a philanthropist, advising three presidents and speaking at the inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2009. In 2020, he established the T.D. Jakes Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to "connecting underserved communities to life-changing opportunities." The foundation has notable partners, including The Coca-Cola Company, the Dallas Mavericks, and Goldman Sachs.
In addition to his philanthropic work, Jakes has business ventures, including a real estate company focused on affordable housing and senior living projects. He also created a social impact holding company, T.D. Jakes Enterprises, which acquired a tech company supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs in e-commerce.
Jakes has faced allegations of sexual assault, leading him to file defamation lawsuits. He has denied these allegations, attributing them to a "disinformation campaign" aimed at destroying his reputation.
Following his health scare, Jakes expressed gratitude for his life and the support he received during his recovery. He announced that his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and son-in-law, Touré Roberts, would be taking over as senior pastors of The Potters House Church.
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Frequently asked questions
No, T.D. Jakes clarified that he did not have a stroke, but a heart attack.
T.D. Jakes suffered a medical emergency while delivering a sermon at The Potter's House in Dallas in November 2024.
Yes, T.D. Jakes was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance and underwent several hours of surgery.
