Serita Jakes Age, Husband, Children, Family, Biography

Some Lesser Known Facts About Serita Jakes

• Serita’s father was a coal miner, and she felt like an outsider while growing up.

• As a child, she was teased with cruel songs like ‘Fatty, fatty, two-by-four,’ which hurt her self-esteem.

• In college, Serita Jakes felt lonely and tried to fit in with city kids by experimenting with sex, marijuana, and alcohol.

• She was raised in a church-going family.

• During her college days, Serita Jakes experienced freedom as she felt that her parents were no longer there to implement rules or watch over her.

• Serita joined the wrong group and started living a fast life, which did not suit her as a small-town girl.

• Her life changed when her eldest brother was shot and killed in front of his daughters at a local hangout.

• During this sad phase of life, Serita Jakes entered into a relationship with a man who abused her mentally and physically.

• The abuse became serious when he put a gun to her head but walked away, making her realize that she needed to change her life.

• Serita Jakes then decided to go to church regularly as advised by her mother.

• During a church service, the preacher offered to pray for her, and she was surprised when he was addressing her. Reportedly, the preacher had a gifted knowledge as he spoke about the hidden pain and tragedies in her life and told her that she had a bright future.

• His words deeply touched her heart, and Serita Jakes surrendered herself to God at that moment.

• A week later, she received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and adopted a new path.

• Serita Jakes later met T.D. Jakes when he visited her church for a revival.

• T.D. Jakes inspired her as a believer in God, especially since there were not many young people in the church at that time.

• Serita Jakes was initially drawn to his ministry, not realizing that it was also the start of a romantic relationship.

• The couple maintained a long-distance relationship, as T.D. Jakes was a part-time pastor in Charleston, West Virginia, while Serita lived 70 miles away in Beckley.

• In 1981, they met after one and a half years and got married.
  

  An old picture of T. D. Jakes with Serita Jakes

• After their wedding, T.D. Jakes started working full-time in ministry, but he faced financial struggles.

• They could not afford basic needs like diapers for their children. Reportedly, they were using paper towels and duct tape.

• Their utilities were disconnected one by one, leaving them without a phone, water, or electricity.

• They used to play games with their children in candlelight.

• Serita Jakes and her family had to depend on public service, which she found insulting due to the bad treatment by social workers.

• T.D. Jakes worked hard. He dug ditches for gas lines to increase their income and improve their situation.

• Early in their marriage, Serita Jakes and T.D. Jakes met with a severe car accident, dislocating her heel cap and leading doctors to say she would never walk again.

• She fell into sadness, but T.D. Jakes encouraged and supported her, helping her regain hope and teaching her to walk again.

• Serita’s mother was later diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare disorder that caused paralysis from the neck down.
  

  Serita Jakes with her mother (right)

• While working as a Pastor in Charleston, South Carolina, T.D. Jakes’ accountant found a property in Dallas which was suitable for hosting conferences.

• The couple initially planned to travel between West Virginia and Dallas, but after praying in the sanctuary, they felt Dallas was their new home.

• Fifty families from West Virginia joined them to establish The Potter’s House Church, which held its first service in July 1996.

• Over time, the Potter’s House has grown to over 30,000 members.

• Serita Jakes serves alongside her husband, T.D. Jakes, at The Potter’s House Church.

• Serita works as the Executive Director of Women’s Affairs at The Potter’s House, leading the women’s ministry, WoMan-to-Woman. The ministry supports women facing domestic violence and helps young women grow into strong women of faith.

• The capital ‘M’ in ‘WoMan’ symbolizes strength and empowerment for women.

• Her first book, The Princess Within, was published in 1999.
  

  The cover of the book The Princess Within

• In 2003, Serita Jakes released her second book, Beside Every Good Man: Loving Myself While Standing By Him.
  

  The cover of the book Beside Every Good Man Loving Myself While Standing By Him

• She is actively involved with her husband’s production company, TDJ Enterprises, and made a cameo appearance in the film Not So Easily Broken in 2009.
  

  The poster of the film Not So Easily Broken

• In 2011, Serita Jakes published her third book, a novel titled The Crossing, which addresses domestic violence, trauma, and PTSD.

• ‘The Princess Within was later adapted into a teen edition for girls aged between 12 to 15, titled The Princess Within for Teens, released in 2014.

• Serita Jakes runs the internationally recognized God’s Leading Ladies Life Enrichment Program.
  

  Serita Jakes and T. D. Jakes on the invitation to the God’s Leading Ladies Life Enrichment Program

• She leads the nationally acclaimed ‘Distinctively Debutante Program,’ which mentors academically gifted girls aged between 10 to 17.

• Serita Jakes runs ‘Starting Over,’ a ministry that supports women facing challenges like abuse, divorce, unemployment, and grief.

• She has worked as a co-executive producer for the stage plays ‘Woman, Thou Art Loosed’ and ‘Behind Closed Doors.’

• Serita Jakes worked as an assistant producer in the film Jumping The Broom, which was a box office hit during its opening weekend.
  

  The poster of the film Jumping The Broom

• She owns the SJ Home Collection, which features candles and home accessories.

• Serita Jakes has appeared on several popular television shows like The Dr. Phil Show and Oprah’s Next Chapter. She has also appeared as a guest on many television news channels including CNN and Fox News.
  

  Serita Jakes in the show ‘In The Green Room’

• She has been featured in many publications such as Ebony, The Washington Post, Essence, and Rolling Out.
  

  Serita Jakes and T. D. Jakes on the cover of Ebony