TD Jakes is the bishop behind the super-successful non-denominational megachurch called The Potter’s House. Jakes’ powerful sermons draw millions of views from a worldwide audience ready to revel in the nuggets of wisdom the veteran bishop offers.
Jakes regularly addresses the subject of marriage in his sermons, and as one half of a union of nearly 40 years, many look to him for advice on the subject. He rarely fails to mention his wife’s role in keeping the marriage afloat for four decades.
TD Jakes’ wife, Serita Jakes, has stayed true to TD through trials and triumphs. This piece will take a closer look at Serita Jakes.
Contents
- 1 Serita dealt with bullying by experimenting with drugs, alcohol, and sex.
- 2 Serita and TD Jakes were in a horrible car accident a couple of years after their marriage.
- 3 She is the proud mother of five children.
- 4 She is the leader of the Porter House Ladies Leaders of God Life Enrichment Program.
- 5 She is the author of five empowerment books.
Serita dealt with bullying by experimenting with drugs, alcohol, and sex.
Serita Jakes was born on August 19, 1955. She was the daughter of a coal miner and was bullied for her weight. As a result, she struggled to fit in and became reclusive. In her determination to fit in with the cool kids at college, she Serita turned to marijuana, alcohol, and sex. She said called magazine that he was raised in the church, but went astray after joining the wrong crowd. Serita explained:
“I dated the wrong people and started doing her thing, which I thought was my thing, and it was too fast for a little farm girl like me.”
The disaster struck when he was in college after his brother was shot dead in front of his daughters. Serita’s downward spiral continued after the tragedy and she got into an abusive relationship with a violent man. Serita vowed to change her after her abusive partner put a gun to her head and threatened to kill her. She said called magazine that his life changed after he went back to church and got baptized. Serita said:
“With the gift of knowledge, he revealed to me everything that was hidden in my heart about the tragedies I had experienced, and right there he told me that I had a calling in my life. My heart was immediately pierced by the word of the Lord and I gave up right there, received the baptism of the Holy Spirit a week later and have been running ever since.”
Serita and TD Jakes were in a horrible car accident a couple of years after their marriage.
Serita and Jakes met at Serita’s church during a revival. Jakes was a part-time pastor at the Greater Emmanuel Temple of Faith in Charleston, West Virginia. Serita and Jakes met shortly after Serita’s baptism, and he helped her find her way as a young convert. The couple also developed a personal bond during that time. Serita continued:
“…I was drawn to his ministry, but I didn’t realize it was also a softening of the heart to want a relationship.”
Jakes and Serita were married on May 29, 1981, a year and a half after they met. Unfortunately for Jakes and Serita, they had to endure hardships when TD found his place as a full-time minister. It got worse for the couple after they were in a terrible accident. The accident severely injured one of Serita’s feet and her initial diagnosis was that she would never walk again.
However, Jakes refused to accept this diagnosis and helped Serita walk again. TD told Oprah Winfrey:
“I prayed for her, I took care of her, I cooked for her, I washed her hair, I taught her to walk, literally. [I] stood in front of her and said, ‘You can do this,’ and taught her to walk again… I think it enriched our marriage in so many ways.”
Serita and Jakes are approaching 39 years of marriage and are still head over heels in love. Serita posted a photo of the couple on their 38th anniversary and added the caption:
“Honey, you are my armor, my baker and my one true love. Every love story is special, unique and beautiful, but ours is my favorite. I love living with you, but it’s always not enough.”
She is the proud mother of five children.
Serita and Jakes have raised five children during the duration of their marriage. They have raised Jermain, Thomas Jr, Jamar, Sarah and Cora. Serita likes to post her children’s success on social media. The Jakes family now lives comfortably, but this was not always the case.
Jakes and Serita struggled early in their marriage and had to rely on social support to raise their children. The couple couldn’t afford the diapers, so they used paper towels and duct tape. Public services such as water and electricity were cut off one after another. Despite the harsh conditions, the couple’s children grew up in a happy home. Serita recalled as she spoke to called magazine that she and Jakes played with their children by candlelight.
The couple’s daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, posted a beautiful message on Instagram to her parents on their 38th anniversary. She wrote:
“Thank you for making us a country, but also showing us class… Thank you for refusing to believe what the doctor said after the car accident… Thank you for holding my hand when the doctor told your teenage daughter to push… Thank you for the life of love that has shaped my world…”
She is the leader of the Porter House Ladies Leaders of God Life Enrichment Program.
Serita is active in running the Porter House and is known as First Lady Serita Jakes. She has a background in theater and mass communications, which is why she helps with broadcasting church programs. She is also the leader of the Women Leaders of God Life Enrichment Program.
Serita was inspired by TD Jakes’ book, the protagonist of god, when the program started in 2003. The Enrichment Program is quite popular and attracts thousands of women from all over the world. Serita sums up the program in the following words:
“With great courage, commitment and enthusiasm, we are embarking on an adventure of enriching the life skills of women around the world and from all walks of life.”
The Jakes family is blessed with several talented authors, including Serita Ann Jakes. Serita hasn’t caught up with her husband as an author, but her books are quite popular. Her titles include: next to every good man, The Princess Within: Restoring a Woman’s Souland The Inner Princess for Teens: Discovering Your Royal Heritage.
Serita has many responsibilities as a mother, church leader, author, and wife. She can be overwhelming, but she claims that she has found balance through prayer. She said called magazine:
“All those gifts and buds from the hats I wear come from the character He has placed within me, and I can only five of what He has given me… We have a lot on our plate, but we know through prayer and by prioritizing we can do all things… If we did not have a state of mind of prayer, [ministry] it would be overwhelming.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn