Megachurch founder TD Jakes suffers health incident during sermon in Texas

The founder of Dallas-based megachurch The Potter’s House, Bishop TD Jakes, suffered what the church called a “slight health incident” while delivering his sermon at the church.

Jakes, 67, was speaking to churchgoers on Sunday when he sat down and began trembling as several people gathered around him, with one person asking for prayers.

“Bishop T.D. Jakes experienced a slight health incident and received immediate medical attention following his powerful hour long message,” the church said in a statement.

During the closing moments of his sermon, Jakes was describing his love of preaching.

“I still love to preach, I ain’t tired of preaching,” he said. “Ever gone to the hospital to visit somebody and you thought you were going to encourage them and they encourage you? That’s what preaching is like. You think you’re giving out something but you’re getting back more than you gave.”

He then began to deliver a prayer: “Now Lord, let the words from my mouth and the meditations in my heart be acceptable.” Jakes began to taper off as he concluded the prayer: “oh Lord, my strength, my redeemer, let him go in peace.” His mic soon fell and he began to shake and slump before members rushed to his aid, including Jakes’ wife, Serita.

Jakes’ daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts and her husband, Touré Roberts, said in a social media video late on Sunday that Jakes was improving.

“Bishop is doing well, he’s recovering well, he’s under medical care, he’s strong,” Touré Roberts said.

The couple did not say where Jakes was taken and a message left with the church on Monday morning was not immediately returned.

In 1996, Jakes founded the non-denominational The Potter’s House, which now has more than 30,000 members, with campuses in Texas’s Fort Worth and Frisco; and in Denver, Colorado, according to his website.

Jakes has also authored books, produced and acted in several films and spoke at the 2009 inauguration of Barack Obama, his website said.