Prepare to be inspired as Sarah Jakes Roberts prepares to step into a major leadership role at The Potter’s House Church in Dallas. At only 36 years old, she’s the daughter of megachurch pastor Bishop T.D. Jakes. This transition comes on the heels of her father announcing he would be retiring from his own decades-long-held position. Bishop T.D. Jakes started the church in 1996. It has since become one of the largest spiritual centers in the country, attracting thousands of congregants each week.
Born in West Virginia, raised in Dallas, Sarah Jakes Roberts is a woman on the go. For most of her life, she has blossomed in the public glare of her father’s ministry. She is one of five siblings, including Thomas Jr., Jermaine, Jamar, and Cora Jakes. She was brought up with a strict church upbringing and principles. These forces continue to influence her life as an author, motivational speaker, and pastor.
A New Chapter for The Potter’s House
So, as Sarah Jakes Roberts steps into her new role, she’s well aware of the gravity of her father’s legacy. “I’m afraid but I’m prepared,” she said, signaling that she’s prepared to carry on the fight that T.D. Jakes began.
That transition occurs at a time when the church is still trying to figure out how to do ministry in a post-COVID world. Sarah Jakes Roberts and her husband, Touré Roberts, co-pastor at ONE: A Potter’s House Church in Los Angeles and the Potter’s House of Denver. They’ve built a platform that really resonates with a younger audience. At the same time, they’re true to the church’s foundational tenets.
Sarah originally preached her sermon in 2014 at ONE in Los Angeles, and you could already tell she was a born leader. Her experiences as any speaker and author prepared her with some pretty indispensable tools. Today, she’s prepared to help usher The Potter’s House into its next chapter.
Family and Faith
For all the success Sarah Jakes Roberts has enjoyed, her journey has been far from easy. She has openly discussed her experience with teenage pregnancy, using her story to inspire others facing similar struggles. It’s the transparency behind her decision making that has truly won her the hearts of the community. It’s allowed her to make personal, trusting relationships with congregants.
Sarah and Touré Roberts approach their pastoral work with vigor and creativity. Together they parent six children from their previous marriages, mixing families to form a colorful, soulful tribe that encourages creativity and success in each child. Their collaboration is a story of what can happen when family and faith are united. That value pours loudly through their leadership at The Potter’s House.
“The carpet is stained with your sweat. The walls rehearse your sermons.” – Sarah Jakes Roberts
This sermon helped to fix people’s eyes and hearts not on the dedicated work both she and her father have poured into their ministry. The Potter’s House is heavy with the echoes of thousands of great sermons. Its meetings have produced extraordinary impact on the lives of millions.
Looking Ahead
Sarah Jakes Roberts is entering new territory. Those in the church community of all stripes have reason to be hopeful about the nation’s capital under her leadership. She comes with her own familial connections, but a different perspective that can breathe new life into the church’s mission. Having been mentored by brilliant leaders in community outreach, fidelity to the gospel, and spiritual formation, Sarah will lead with compassion and conviction.
Leave a Reply