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Earlier this year, Bishop T.D. Jakes delivered a sermon that resonated deeply with his congregation. He posed a question: “Have you ever been swallowed?” Jakes described the experience of being overwhelmed by life’s challenges, with negative events compounding and weighing heavily on an individual.
“Come out of the closet and stop keeping a secret,” Jakes said. “Let the world know if it had not been for the Lord who was on my side! I would have been swallowed up.” He continued to emphasize the feeling of being consumed by hardships, adding, “Have you gone through a time when everything was overwhelming, and you were at your wits’ end?” The congregation responded with cheers, with one member loudly affirming, “Preach in here.”
In light of recent allegations, some are now questioning whether Jakes will apply his own advice. Former Bishop Duane Youngblood recently accused Jakes of grooming him as a young man. Youngblood claimed that Jakes promised financial support in exchange for exclusive private encounters, stressing the importance of discretion to avoid any impact on Jakes’ wife, Serita Jemison Jakes. Youngblood also stated that others have approached him with similar allegations, suggesting a broader pattern of behavior.