"I had emergency surgery"— T.D. Jakes opens up on surviving major health scare after concerning onstage incident 

Bishop T.D. Jakes has shared a health update after he faced a medical emergency during a Sunday sermon on November 24. In a live stream on December 1, the Texas pastor shared how he was “grateful” to God for his “goodness” and “mercy” that has been helping him with his recovery.

“Many of you don’t realize that you’re looking at a miracle. I faced a life-threatening calamity. [I] was rushed to the ICU unit [and] I had emergency surgery. [I] survived this surgery… I’m back,” the 67-year-old shared.

Bishop Jakes mentioned how he kept his promise to his congregation to whom he had told “last Sunday” that he would see them this Sunday, and he did, even though it was via a live stream. He also explained how the doctor asked him to take things “slow,” while he was preparing his return to work, adding he was “grateful” to be back.

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Exploring more about T.D. Jakes’ recent health scare

On November 24, Thomas Dexter Jakes was delivering a sermon at his megachurch The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas, while seated, when he suddenly began trembling in his chair onstage. His voice also faltered while reading, "Oh Lord, my strength, my redeemer, let them go in peace," before the mic dropped from his hand.

In the wake of this, several members of his congregation, including his wife Serita, Jakes rushed to his aid as the sermon was cut short. The entire health scare was caught on livestream. Subsequently, his team issued a statement.

“During today’s service, Bishop T.D. Jakes experienced a slight health incident and received immediate medical attention following his powerful hour-long message. Bishop Jakes is stable and under the care of medical professionals,” it read.

The statement went on to add:

“The entire Potter’s House family is grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support from the community. Thank you for your understanding and continued prayers.”

The next day, his son-in-law, Toure Roberts, and pastor-daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts shared he was “doing well,” and was “strong.”

Now, a week later on December 1, Toure Roberts introduced him to the congregation as the bishop addressed the audience in the presence of his daughter. Jakes shared how he experienced a health emergency and had to undergo surgery, following which he was in recovery. So far, the exact details of his medical issue remain undisclosed.

T.D. Jakes exclaimed that he was not only “grateful” to the almighty, but also to the members of his ministry and local churches who all came together to pray for him. He urged people to take care of themselves despite being “busy” taking care of others.

"I just had a physical and things were fine. The truth of the matter is sometimes things happen and they're beyond our control, and sometimes things happen in this spiritual warfare. I haven't deduced the finality of all of that, but what I do know is greater is He that is in us and he does endure,” he shared.

T.D. Jakes concluded by reassuring his congregation that was in “no pain” and asked the community to hold on to their faith. His weekend’s livestream comes a couple of days after his discharge from the hospital.

At the time, he also shared his gratitude for all the best wishes, love, concerns, and prayers from the community. T.D. Jakes was seen breaking down while saying it "didn't have to turn out this way," before thanking his medical team for taking care of him and getting him back from a life-endangering state.

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Notably, T.D. Jakes was mentioned in a February 2024 lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs. Plaintiff Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones claimed that the hip-hop mogul “planned to leverage his relationship with Bishop T.D. Jakes to soften the impact on his public image of Cassie Ventura’s lawsuit.”

While Bishop Jakes was mentioned in the $30 million civil suit, he was not named as a defendant. The exact nature of Diddy’s relationship with Jakes remains unknown. However, the latter delivered a sermon on Combs’ former cable TV network Revolt Media in 2021.