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Jakes, T.D.

TopBlacks Member 2001
Influential Religious Figure

On June 9, 1957, in South Charleston, West Virginia an important event in history took place. It was the birth of Thomas D. Jakes. His parents, Ernest and Odith, knew that their newborn son was special, what they did not know at the time was that he would offer a new spiritual birth to thousands with his ministry.

Thomas grew up in South Charleston. It was one of those communities where every adult in the community contributed to the upbringing of all the children. He had a habit as a child of preaching to an imaginary congregation and always carrying his bible to school. This earned him the nickname "Bible Boy". Earnest and Odith instilled a strong work ethic in their son at an early age. His mother was a home economics teacher and taught her children to cook, sew and clean for themselves. His father was a self made businessman. He started a janitorial service with one bucket and one mop and turned that into a company that employed over 40 people and had such prestigious clients as the West Virginia Capitol building.

He attended and graduated from Center Business College in 1972.

In 1980, he was the part time pastor at Greater Emanuel Temple of Faith in Montgomery, West Virginia. This congregation began with 10 members.

In 1982, he became the full time pastor at Greater Temple of Faith and began his local radio ministry, "The Master's Plan". In 1983 he created the conference series now known as "The Bible Conference" (originally called "Back to the Bible"). Eighty people were moved to attend this conference.

In 1990 the ministry was moved from Smithers, West Virginia to South Charleston, West Virginia. The Congregation grew from 100 members to over 300!

In 1992 he first preached, "Woman, Thou Art Loosed," a powerful Sunday School sermon for hurting woman. "Woman, Thou Art Loosed" would become his most popular message. His first book, Woman, Thou Art Loosed" was written in 1993. It's male counterpart "ManPower" was launched the same year. This same year, the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) and Black Entertainment Television (BET) started carrying his "Get Ready with T. D. Jakes" television ministry. The ministry expanded and moved to Cross Lanes, West Virginia to a larger facility. The congregation grew to nearly 1000 persons of all races. In 1994 The T.D. Jakes Ministries was formed to produce the conferences and television ministry. The television ministry reaches an international audience from Africa to Europe.

In 1995, the "When Shepherds Bleed" conference in Charleston, West Virginia was launched. That conference was geared for Ministers and their spouses. This same year his nationally syndicated "Get Ready" radio show was launched. He received his Doctorate of Ministry in 1995. His conferences attract audiences up to 52,000.

Things were moving quickly for the ministry and the ministry felt that a move was in order. In 1996, the ministry and 50 other families moved from West Virginia to Dallas, Texas and established "The Potter's House". The Potters House has 17,000 members and is changing lives every day.

Dr. T. D. Jakes has won several awards. Among them are the Gospel Heritage Award for Ministry from Gospel Today Magazine, Excellence Award from Stellar Foundation, The Key to the City of Dallas for Ravens Refuge, Gospel Music Association's Dove Seal, Grammy Award Nomination, Dove Award Nomination. He has been named One of the "Ten Most Influential Christian Leaders" by Home Life Magazine.