Bishop T. D. (Thomas Dexter) Jakes, Sr. Biography

Born:
June 9, 1957
South Charleston, W.V.

Family:
The youngest of three children
(Sister, Jacqueline Jakes; Brother, Ernest Jakes)

Married:
Serita Ann Jamison Jakes

Children:
Five children

Ordained:
Bishopric of the Greater Emanuel Assembly of Churches, 1987

Ministries:
Senior Pastor and Founder, The Potter's House, 1996

Author:
Jakes has written more than 30 books, including his most recent best seller, Before You Do (Atria Books, 2008), and the following 14 best sellers:

• Reposition Yourself (Atria, 2007)
  
  
• Mama Made the Difference (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2006)

• He-Motions (Penguin Putnam, 2004)

• God's Leading Lady (Penguin Putnam, 2002)

• The Great Investment (Penguin Putnam, 2001)

• Maximize the Moment (Penguin Putnam, 2000)

• The Lady, Her Lover, and Her Lord (Putnam, 1998)

• Lay Aside the Weight (Albury Publishing, 1997)

• Daddy Loves His Girls (Creation House, 1996)

• Can You Stand to be Blessed? (Destiny Image, 1995)

• The Harvest (Pneuma Life, 1995)

• Naked and Not Ashamed (Destiny Image, 1995)

• Woman, Thou Art Loosed (Albury Publishing, 1993)

• Loose That Man and Let Him Go! (Albury Publishing, 1996)

Highlights-Honors and Awards:

2008

• Essence magazine presents Bishop T.D. Jakes with the 2008 President's Award for his book, Reposition Yourself (Atria)

• Bishop Jakes receives the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award from the Congress of Racial Equality

• AIDS Institute honors Bishop Jakes with the 2008 Heroes in the Struggle Award

 2007

• Mama Made The Difference (Putnam) wins the 38^th Annual NAACP Image Award in the Instruction category
  
  
• CNN names Bishop Jakes to their Blue Ribbon Panel, placing him in the company of 15 influential world leaders who are committed to improving the state of the world
  
  
• Readers of The Church Report rank Bishop Jakes No. 4 among "The 50 Most Influential Christians in America"
  
  
• The Atlantic magazine includes Bishop Jakes to highlight in their 150^th anniversary issue
  
  
• Bishop Jakes is named among "25 Most Influential of 2007" by Essence magazine

 2006

• Mama Made the Difference (Putnam) ranked No. 4 on The New York Times Best Seller list two weeks after its April 25 release

• Bishop Jakes celebrates his 30^th year in ministry

• January, readers of The Church Report magazine chose Bishop Jakes as the Most Influential Christian for 2005

• March, dedication of the T.D. Jakes wing of the Melchizedek Hospital located in Kenya's Kawangware slum

2005

• December, Bishop Jakes was asked to serve with the Rev. William H. Gray III as co-chair of the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund's Interfaith Coalition

• Sept. 16, Bishop Jakes serves as official homilist at the Washington National Cathedral during the commemoration of the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina

• Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, "Faith for Africa: Kenya Mission^(tm)"-Bishop Jakes leads more than 300 African Americans on a humanitarian mission trip to Kenya, Africa

• He-Motions nominated for a 2005 Grammy in the Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album category

• May, officials honor Bishop and Mrs. Jakes for their MegaFest 2004 attendance record, which surpassed the previous record held by the Rev. Billy Graham

• April 25, Bishop Jakes presented with a Tower of Power Trumpet Award

• Feb. 7, 2005, TIME magazine named Bishop Jakes among "25 Most Influential Evangelicals"

• Woman, Thou Art Loosed: The Movie was presented with the NAACP Image Award for an independent or foreign film

2004

• Recipient of the NAACP President's Award, which honors top African Americans in film, television, music, and literature

2003

• T.D. Jakes Presents Follow the Star and A Wing and a Prayer nominated for Grammy awards

2002

• God's Leading Lady ranked No. 4 on The New York Times Best Seller Hardcover Advice List

• T.D. Jakes' musical project The Storm Is Over receives: Grammy Nomination-­Best Gospel Album, Contemporary; NAACP Image Award-Best Gospel Album, Choir or Group; Stellar Gospel Award-Best Gospel Album, Contemporary, and Dove Award-Best Gospel Video

2001

• Sept. 17, Bishop Jakes was featured on the cover of TIME magazine as "America's Best Preacher"

• On New Years' Day 2001, CNN and TIME magazine honored Bishop T.D. Jakes as one of the year's top five religious innovators

• Ebony magazine called T.D. Jakes one of the "56 Most Intriguing Blacks of 2001"

2000

• Named among "Top 10 Religious Leaders" by PBS' Religion and Ethics Newsweekly

• Maximize the Moment ranked No. 3 on The New York Times Business Best Seller List

1999

• Jan. 1, identified by The New York Times as "one of the top five evangelists most frequently cited by scholars, theologians, and evangelical leaders to step up to the international pulpit ..."

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