In an unexpected announcement, TD Jakes, a famous mega-church pastor and televangelist, has stepped down from his 30,000-member church. For months, rumors of sexual abuse have swirled around Jakes, with many of the accusations coming from other pastors, fueling speculation that he may have stepped down to avoid the controversy.

For context, after the accusation came out, Jakes suffered a medical incident during a church service. As we reported, “The Potter’s House of Dallas said in a statement on social media, which read, “During today’s service, Bishop T.D. Jakes experienced a slight health issue and received immediate medical attention after his powerful, hour-long message. Bishop Jakes is stable and under the care of a medical professional. The entire Potter’s House family is grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support from the community. Thank you for your understanding and continued prayers.”

In any case, Timothy Anderson, a former youth pastor, leveled his accusations against the prominent pastor. He said, “I arrived in Dallas, eager to work alongside Bishop Jakes and excited about the future…While I had hoped to discuss ministry with him and learn from him as a mentor, something unexpected happened. At one point, he went into his bathroom and, when he returned, passed by me naked.”

Explainig his reaction, Anderson said, “I was stunned. I turned away, trying to downplay the situation in my mind. This was Bishop Jakes, after all — this opportunity was a dream come true, or at least that’s what I kept telling myself. I didn’t want to make things awkward.”

Providing additional detail on the allegations, the former youth pastor described why he initially minimized the event. Anderson explained, “I didn’t want to be seen as homophobic or judgmental. I told myself that I couldn’t let a single uncomfortable moment ruin this chance to learn from one of the greatest preachers of my generation.”

Still not done, Anderson says that these incidents continued until Jakes tried to kiss him. “I knew from my past experiences — experiences that had caused so much pain — that this wasn’t just a decision about ministry or a job. It was about power, control, and manipulation. The more I thought about it, the more I broke down emotionally.”

Concluding his accusation, he described an incident where “As I paced his office, trying to make sense of everything, trying to breathe through the overwhelming sadness. As I walked back and forth, trying to process what was happening, Bishop Jakes stood up, grabbed a box of tissues, and walked toward me. His words were cold, calculated: ‘It sounds like you have a decision to make.’ And then, in a move that left me paralyzed with confusion, he grabbed me and tried to kiss me.”

Watch Jake announce his retirement here:

Despite the mounting allegations, lawyers representing Jakes denied all wrongdoing. The pastor said, “I have reviewed the affidavits of [the accusers] submitted in support of the motion to dismiss. The statements in these affidavits purport to describe situations where I harbored carnal desires for myself. These statements are knowingly and flagrantly false,” Jakes’ team said in the filing. “I suspect a larger network is involved in this scheme, all anticipating a share of this attempted ‘money grab.’”

Featured image from embedded video