The global Christian community was stirred when renowned preacher and Senior Pastor of The Potter’s House, Thomas Dexter Jakes (popularly known as TD Jakes), announced on April 27, 2025, that he was handing over leadership of his Dallas megachurch to his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and son-in-law, Pastor Touré Roberts.
The announcement, streamed live on YouTube, came just months after Jakes survived a heart attack and faced legal battles over a defamation case. Addressing his congregation, Jakes said, “I cannot afford to hold this so tight so long that I wither away. So I’m recommending to you that you receive Pastor Touré and Pastor Sarah.”
Jakes, who has ministered for nearly 50 years, emphasised that this transition was not family favouritism but a divine calling. “This is not an inheritance. This is a calling,” he stressed. “I respect God too much to put someone up here just because they are kin to me.”
Is God’s ministry family inheritance?
While many celebrate Sarah Jakes Roberts’ qualifications and spiritual growth, others have raised questions:
“Has God’s ministry become a matter of family inheritance?”
In the U.S., several prominent pastors of mega-churches are currently being succeeded by the children of their founders. TD Jakes will not be the last as it is becoming a tradition among some Pentecostal churches in the US.
Joel Osteen took over from his father, John Osteen, at Lakewood Church, Houston.
Judah Smith succeeded his father, Wendell Smith, at City Church, Seattle.
Jonathan Stockstill became pastor at Bethany World, Louisiana, following his father and grandfather.
Jonathan Falwell followed his father, Jerry Falwell, at Thomas Road Baptist Church, Virginia.
Rudolph McKissick Jr. succeeded his father in Bethel Bible, Florida.
Keisha Hilliard took over from her father, Ira Hilliard, at New Light Church, Houston.
In Nigeria, the issue and controversies around succession are usually prominent in most Pentecostal churches and churches that make up the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), popularly known as ‘Aladura’ and the likes, who see the church as a family heritage. In Nigeria, we have seen similar patterns:
Archbishop Margaret Idahosa succeeded her husband in 1998 at the Church of God Mission International.
Pastor Jimi Odukoya became the senior pastor at The Fountain of Life Church after his father, Taiwo Odukoya.
Dr. Oluremi Obembe took over El-Shaddai Bible Church after her husband, Archbishop Lanre Obembe.
Rev. Nkechi Ilupotaife succeeded her late husband, Hayford Ilupotaife, at Victory Christian Church.
Pastor Roseline Oduyemi followed Rev. Gabriel Oduyemi at Bethel Worship Centre.
Rev. Janet Onaolapo took over Abundant Life Gospel Church after her husband, Kola Onaolapo.
Rev Mercy Ezekiel became the General Overseer of Christian Pentecostal Mission after her late husband, Rev Dr. Obiora Ezekiel.
The founder of Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), Samuel Bilewu Joseph Oshoffa, now has his son, Reverend Emmanuel Oshoffa, as the spiritual head of the church.
Succession strengthens churches
Church growth experts say that when done with discernment, family succession can strengthen a church.
“Family members often share the founding vision and values, making it easier to maintain consistency,” said Dr. Olufemi Emmanuel, President of West Africa Theological Seminary, in an interview. “If the successor is well-trained, spiritually mature, and called by God, they can build on the legacy while innovating for the future.”
Archbishop Joseph Ojo, General Overseer of Calvary Kingdom Church (CKC), echoed this view, telling The Nation: “We don’t give responsibility because of age or bloodline; we look at commitment, capacity, and calling. If a son or daughter has served faithfully, they may be well-positioned to lead. But it must be God-led, not just family-driven.
Call for caution Critics, however, warned that without careful discernment, family succession could bring its challenges, including nepotism, mediocrity, and even church decline.
Rev. Dr. Gideon Odoma, a Nigerian theologian and public thinker, raised caution: “The danger lies in assuming spiritual leadership is hereditary. Ministry is not a monarchy. A pastor’s child is not automatically the next pastor unless they show clear evidence of a divine call, spiritual maturity, and leadership ability. Otherwise, you risk demotivating gifted leaders in the congregation.”
International church consultant Dr. Mark Johnson, bearing his mind, said:
“Some of the most vibrant churches today have transitioned leadership through prayerful, transparent selection processes — not automatic family handovers. When churches treat succession like an inheritance, they may unintentionally weaken their future.”
In defence of family succession
Archbishop Joseph Ojo, while reflecting on family succession in ministry, observed that only informed people are qualified to speak on the matter. He observed that many of those who are condemning the practice had never at any time been involved in church management.
“Most people commenting are not involved in church management. Leadership is managed from the inside, not the outside,” he said.
Ojo shared that his son, Best, is in full-time ministry and has served faithfully as youth president, music director, and head of media.
“If God says yes, why not? We don’t give responsibility based on age but on commitment. If someone shows dedication and has the capacity, they are appointed — no matter their age,” he emphasised.
Personal experience
Also, speaking with The Nation, Bishop Charles Ighele, General Superintendent, Holy Spirit Mission (The Happy Family Nation), responding to the question of whether succession should be a family affair, said, “As far as I am concerned, it should be a Jesus affair. What I mean is that Jesus, who is the head of the Church, should be allowed to pick the man or woman He thinks can do His work better.
“Jesus said that He will build His Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail. If Jesus is not allowed to decide the human agents that can do the work better, such a church can become a place where religious activities take place, but God is not worshipped in spirit and truth. It becomes a place where people just go to church,” he said.
He noted that if God wants a wife or son or daughter to take over the leadership of the church, no problem with that at all. And if God wants a non-family member to take over leadership, no problem at all.
“In my case, my father-in-law (Bishop Michael Marioghae) handed over the leadership of the Holy Spirit Mission (The Happy Family Nation), which he started in 1974, to me. His first daughter was and still is a pastor. My wife is the second child and a pastor. Her immediate younger brother was and still is a pastor.”
He continued: “In a meeting in December 1996 with some of us who were his pastors, the founder said that God told him that his time on planet earth would soon come to an end and that his work was over and that he should pick a successor. He said that God told him to pick me as his successor.
“He officially handed over to me in January 1997, and he never stepped into the office or interfered with the running of the church until he died a few years later.
“For me, a church that is not set up by witchdoctors or people driven by personal ambition should allow the Spirit of God to pick a successor,” he said.
Final reflection
While debates about family succession in ministry continue, many leaders insist that the ultimate qualifier is God’s calling, not bloodline. As TD Jakes hands over The Potter’s House pulpit, the world is watching to see how Sarah Jakes Roberts and Touré Roberts will shape the next chapter of one of America’s most influential megachurches.
