5 questions for: Bishop T.D. Jakes: founder & senior pastor, The Potter's House Church

Ebony, Dec, 2004

1. You're a minister, movie star, best-selling author and a national leader of economic and cultural development. Are there any more worlds for you to conquer?

On an international level, we are busy planning Mega Fest 2005, which will be held on August 3-6 in Atlanta. Mega Fest 2004 broke all records at the Georgia Dome, attracted more than 140,000 people from 55 countries, and set a cumulative record attendance of 560,000 over the four-day period. We will continue to focus on the family as people from around the world gather for spirituality and family-oriented entertainment.

Currently our church, the Potter's House of Dallas, is building a $10 million facility; this is the first phase of Capella Park, a 231-acre development that will include a Christian preparatory academy, a senior citizen complex, a recreational building and hundreds of homes ...

2. It has been said that you represent the next wave of spirituality in America. How would you define the new Black (and White) spirituality that you represent?

I believe our country is evolving spiritually and that the Black community's contribution will play a vital role in its spiritual development ...

3. What was the central message of Woman, Thou Art Loosed, and are you planning additional movies?

Currently, there are no plans for additional movies. I brought Woman, Thou Art Loosed to the screen to give voice to the many victims who have been wounded through child abuse and survived its traumatic consequences. After 28 years of counseling, I felt it incumbent upon me to leverage my platform for those who are either not fully aware of the problem or for those who cannot speak in its midst ...

4. How do you respond to some commentators who have criticized you for living well and traveling first-class?

As you know, T. D. Jakes Enterprises co-owns Woman, Thou Art Loosed the movie; no other movie producer or record label owner would be called upon to defend the quality of his clothes or the stature of his home. Additionally, the vast majority of the well-informed realize that any author who has 7 million books sold to his credit need not justify his enjoyment of some level of success as a reflection of his life's work. Unfortunately, people often limit preachers to one vocation while they themselves enjoy several. I chose not to allow my faith to restrict me from my for-profit entrepreneurial pursuits. I am proud to be one of Penguin Putnam's top three authors and to be the only African-American so distinguished.

5. You recently turned your attention from "loosing" Black Women to "loosing" Black Men. What do you tell Black men? And what do you tell Black men and Black women together?

I wrote He-Motions for men and the women who love them ... I am deeply pleased that people are using the book both as a reference guide for women and as a resource for men who often find it difficult to personally attend topic-related events, but who still seek to develop themselves spiritually and personally.