The Potter's House

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Bishop T.D. Jakes - Timeline

1957	June 9, born to Odith and Ernest, Sr. in South Charleston, W.Va., the youngest of three children
1976	Accepted his call into the ministry by preaching his first sermon
1977	Licensed as a minister in the church
1979	Officially ordained to minister in the church as a pastor Part-time pastorate at Greater Emmanuel Temple of Faith, a storefront church in Montgomery, W.VA, that launched with 10 members
1982	First radio ministry, "The Master's Plan."
1983	First conference, "Back to the Bible," held at Temple of Faith with 80 participants.
1987	Ordained into the Bishopric by Dr. Quander L. Wilson, the presiding Bishop of Greater Emmanuel Churches at the Civic Center in Charleston, W.Va.
1990	Moved church from Smithers to South Charleston, W.Va., and the congregation grew from 100 to 300.
1992	First preached "Woman, Thou Art Loosed," as a Sunday school lesson that God placed in his heart to aid the pain of women.
1993	Wrote and self-published "Woman, Thou Art Loosed" as a book and began weekly television broadcasts on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). Also moved Temple of Faith to Cross Lanes, W.Va., and the congregation grew from 300 to 1,100.
1994	Established T. D. Jakes Ministries and initiated first "ManPower" conference in Detroit, Mich., at Straight Gate Church. Also expanded television ministry to weekly broadcasts on Black Entertainment Television (BET).
1995	Launched his first annual "Pastors and Leadership Conference" (then titled "When Shepherds Bleed") in Charleston, W.Va. Hosted nationally syndicated radio program, "Get Ready." Held regional "Woman, Thou Art Loosed" meetings around the country.
1996	Moved his family and 50 other families from West Virginia to establish The Potter's House in Dallas, Texas, where they occupied the Eagle's Nest Church building. The first church service at The Potter's House drew more than 2,000 people. Established "Woman, Thou Art Loosed" as an annual national conference in New Orleans, La.
1997	Licensed Transformation Treatment Center - an outpatient rehabilitation program for substance abusers at the Cedars Hospital in Dallas. Christianity Today and The Dallas Morning News tagged The Potter's House "one of America's fastest-growing churches," as it expanded from 50 families to what would eventually exceed 30,000 members.
1998	Received the first of several honorary doctorates from various colleges, seminaries, and universities. Grammy and Dove Award-nominations for "Woman, Thou Art Loosed" musical project. Established Touchdown Concepts, which is responsible for theatrical and musical presentations.
1999	Expanded international ministry through television broadcasts in Europe and South Africa. Held first international crusade in Soweto, South Africa. Launched a state-by-state Adopt A Prison campaign to provide unequipped state prison systems with satellite broadcast reception equipment for rehabilitative and religious programming. Produced "Sacred Love Songs" music CD, which was named as one of the year's top gospel albums by Billboard Magazine. Set indoor attendance record at the Georgia Dome by reaching 87,500 attendees, breaking a previous record established and held by the Rev. Billy Graham. The theatrical presentation of "Woman, Thou Art Loosed" received No. 1 gospel play honor. Keynote speaker for the National Day of Prayer in Washington D.C. Spoke at the coronation ceremonies of Ghana Tribal King Kingsley Fletcher.
2000	Created a follow-up to "Woman, Thou Art Loosed" with "Woman, Thou Art Loosed Plus" to emphasize the economic empowerment of women. Co-wrote Behind Closed Doors, the second stage production created by Touchdown Concepts, which would eventually be dubbed as one of the top gospel plays in the nation. Innovated the Prison Satellite Network, a banding of satellites at more than 270 men's and women's prisons nationally for the opportunity of live, two-way satellite transmissions during the respective conferences, reaching over 150,000 inmates. In addition, the satellite program transmits a weekly church service, Bible study, and supplemental inspirational and rehabilitative programming. Maximize The Moment, Bishop's 24th book, climbed to No. 3 on the New York Times business best-sellers list. Addressed the national media on Capitol Hill to draw attention to the crimes against humanity in Sudan. Chelsea House Publishers added T. D. Jakes biography to the Black Americans of Achievement series, placing him alongside Alex Haley, Martin Luther King, Jr., Fredrick Douglass, George Washington Carver, Marcus Garvey, Rosa Parks, and Booker T. Washington. Keynote speaker at the annual conferences of The National Council of Black Mayors, National Black Police Association, and the 2000 Congressional Black Caucus.
2001	On New Year's Day, CNN and Time magazine called him "one of America's top five religious innovators for the year." The book "Woman, Thou Art Loosed" officially sold more than 1.5 million copies. In March, Jakes released his third musical project: "The Storm is Over" CD produced by "Dexterity Sounds," collaboration with EMI Gospel. "Woman, Thou Art Loosed" was televised to over four-fifths of the globe, reaching a potential of 5.2 billion people and broadcast in close to a billion homes. September - given the distinction of "America's Best Preacher" by Time magazine and CNN. October - launched a national daily talk show centered around the pressing the issues of Christians in everyday life called The Potter's Touch broadcast on TBN.
2002	Bishop Jakes was asked to accompany Yolanda Adams and Debbie Allen to co-host to Lou Rawls' Miracle of Stars, which benefits the United Negro College Fund. Jakes delivered the keynote speech for the NAACP regional convention in Dallas, TX. March - "The Storm Is Over" received both Dove and Grammy nominations for "Best Gospel Album - Contemporary." April - "The Storm Is Over" won both NAACP Image and Stellar Gospel Awards for "Best Gospel Album - Contemporary." Bishop Jakes received the "Chairman's Award" from the National Religious Broadcaster's Association (NRB). "Woman, Thou Art Loosed" celebrated its 10th Anniversary with a unique Leadership Conference at The Potter's House of Dallas. Selected to appear in the Who's Who among African-Americans, and asked to write the foreword. "God's Leading Lady," Bishop Jakes 27th book, peaked at No. 4 on the New York Times hardcover advice best-sellers list. "Woman, Thou Art Loosed - Worship 2002" nominated for the "Best Soul Album - Contemporary."
2003	United in concert at The Potter's House with Grammy Award-winning Gospel artist Bill Gaither and more than 15 other Gospel groups. Bishop Jakes launched the God's Leading Ladies Conference Tour Joined by Dallas Mayor Laura Miller, Bishop Jakes and The Potter's House donated $107,000 to the Dallas Faith Communities Coalition to support the relocation of Cadillac Heights residents Bishop Jakes hosted Woman, Thou Art Loosed and ManPower conferences attracting more than 80,000 people from 50 states, 26 countries and 700 prisons - during ManPower the ministry joined with Habitat for Humanity in building two homes for single parent families
2004	January 23, 2004, Bishop Jakes released God's Leading Ladies Workbook: Taking Your Place on Life's Center Stage July 2004 Bishop Jakes released He-Motions: Even Strong Men Struggle, with foreword by Max Lucado. He-Motions CD music project, and national tour. The CD was nominated for a 2005 Grammy. Bishop Jakes launched Mega Fest (Christian family festival) July 23-26, 2004, in Atlanta, Georgia - more than 140,000 people attended. Bishop Jakes hosted the God's Leading Ladies Conference Tour in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. Bishop Jakes released the novel Woman, Thou Art Loosed. Dexterity Sounds/EMI Gospel wins its first Grammy Award for music CD project, "A Wing and a Prayer." October 1, 2004, motion picture release by Magnolia Pictures - WTAL: The Movie Winner: "Best American Film" at the 2004 Santa Barbara International Film Festival Winner: "Audience Award for Best Feature" at the 2004 American Black Film Festival Named one of 10 best films of 2004 by U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Office for Film & Broadcasting, a list including "The Aviator," "Hotel Rwanda," "The Passion of the Christ" and "Ray." Kimberly Elise & Loretta Devine nominated for Independent Spirit Awards Opened #6 at the box office First film since "Amistad" to break the top 10 on only 400 screens Nominated for a NAACP Image Award To be released on home video/DVD by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on March 8, 2005
2005	November/December 2004 and January 2005 - The Potter's House finances the digging of water wells in Kenya, Africa and Bishop visits in January 2005 to dedicate them. January 2005 - The Potter's House congregation raises more than $100,000 for the tsunami relief effort. February 2005 Time Magazine named Bishop Jakes one of the "25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America."