Renowned pastor and televangelist Bishop T.D. Jakes experienced a medical emergency on Sunday during a sermon at his 8,000-capacity megachurch, The Potter’s House, in Dallas.
The 67-year-old clergyman was seen in a video that has now gone viral, shaking involuntarily as he dropped his microphone during the service.
The incident led to shouts of “Back up!” and “Give him some space!” as his concerned staffers surrounded him.
The sermon’s livestream was then immediately cut off, with an off-camera voice urging attendees and viewers to “begin to pray.”
After the incident, Jakes’ team issued a statement on social media to address the unexpected situation.
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“During today’s service, Bishop T.D. Jakes experienced a slight health incident and received immediate medical attention after his powerful hour-long message,” the statement read. “Bishop Jakes is stable and under the care of medical professionals. 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 nature of the “slight health incident” has however not been disclosed, and updates on Jakes’ condition were not immediately available as of Sunday afternoon.
In the moments right before the emergency, Jakes was reportedly heard saying, “Oh Lord, my strength, my redeemer, let them go in peace,” as his strength left him in front of the crowd.
Jakes dropped his microphone and sat down, visibly struggling to regain composure. He took multiple deep breaths before members of his team stepped in to assist, blocking the view of the camera.
The livestream ended abruptly and has sparked loads of speculation online.
Some viewers suggested he may have suffered a stroke, while others criticized the delay in responding to his distress in that unpleasant situation.
“Thoughts and prayers out to him and his family,” one person wrote, while others commented on the dramatic nature of the situation.
T.D. Jakes remains one of the most prominent televangelists in the United States, with The Potter’s House boasting a congregation of more than 30,000 members and ranking among the country’s largest churches.
Jakes is from West Virginia and purchased the church in 1996 for $3.2 million. He has gone on to remarkably transform the historic building into a place for spiritual and community outreach.
Reports also indicate that Bishop Jakes has a net worth of $20 million and a over a million followers on social media, with his ministry spanning across 58 additional branches in the U.S.
As of Sunday evening, it remained unclear as to whether Bishop Jakes was still hospitalized, but his congregation and followers continue to offer prayers for his recovery.
