Megachurch pastor suffers medical emergency during Sunday service

By Carol Robinson

A Texas pastor had a frightening medical incident in the middle of his Sunday sermon broadcast on live TV, prompting his parishioners to rush the stage to help.

Someone in the crowd captured the moment on camera; Bishop TD Jakes, 67, of Dallas’s Potter’s House church could be seen delivering his morning message from a chair on stage. At one point, he produces a cloth and dabs the sweat from his brow. “I still love to preach,” he says in the video. “I ain’t tired of preaching.”

Jakes continued with his message, sharing a few more words before he began praying. But something stops him. He lowered his mic away from his face, and began to tremble. It became apparent fairly quickly that something is wrong, and church members rushed the stage to assist the pastor.

The lead pastor at The Potter’s House Church in Dallas suffered a medical emergency at the end of Sunday’s service, according to a statement from the church.

“Bishop T.D. Jakes experienced a slight health incident and received immediate medical attention following his powerful hour-long message,” the statement read.

Video posted on X shows Jakes freezing and lowering his microphone while giving a prayer, then being surrounded by people. 

Church officials did not provide more information on Jakes’ condition or the cause of the incident. 

“The entire Potter’s House family is grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support from the community,” officials said in a statement.