On just about any Sunday, as many as 10,000 people may fill the pews of The Potter’s House, Bishop T.D. Jakes’ Dallas-area megachurch. Believers say he has an uncanny way of connecting with his audience anyway.It doesn’t matter about the size,” says Faith Johnson, a 13-year member. “It’s almost like nobody else is in that church, but me.”
It takes some help for leaders of the largest megachurches and national ministries to make believers reject the idea that a smaller church is more intimate and personable. A big staff of associate pastors and elders is indispensable.
Steve Doubet is an elder at Jakes’ church. He says Jakes and his wife, Serita, are down-to-earth people who create a friendly, intimate atmosphere that “rolls down through their associate pastors and right on into the pews.”
“I love this place because it feels intimate and it feels small,” Doubet said. “Week … to week, whoever you’re sitting next to, they’re open. You can attend churches that are tiny, and are so uptight, you don’t want to go back.”
Jakes is undoubtedly busy. Besides ministering at Potter’s House and satellites nationwide, he speaks abroad, is a bestselling author, and also produces movies. His film “Woman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day” debuts this month, and “Sparkle,” the last movie featuring the late Whitney Houston, is scheduled for release in August.
Jakes and other mega-pastors credit their ability to stay in touch with their members to strong church leadership. For instance, Jakes has 12 associate pastors and numerous elders. Doubet said the congregation still receives a strong message on the rare occasion that Jakes can’t preach.
“It’s important for him to have heavy hitters to be able to come in after him,” Doubet said. “Because after you’ve attended the church there for a while, you have an expectation that you’re going to get really well fed. His associate pastors all can hit it over the fence.”
Despite his hectic schedule, Jakes says he takes time to personally oversee funerals – and even makes hospital visits.
“I enjoy being there for the family in times of crisis to try to stir them and encourage them in a personal one-on-one way,” he said. “I take very seriously my responsibility to feed the flock. We … provide every service that we did when we were still small churches.”
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