During a sermon, T.D. Jakes recounted his experience of suffering a massive heart attack, which led to his urgent hospitalization for emergency surgery in November 2024 after collapsing mid-sermon.

Jakes has since shared more details about the critical health scare he faced in November, which stunned both his congregation and the public alike.

On November 24, 2024, while speaking at The Potter’s House of Dallas with a live broadcast, the 67-year-old pastor unexpectedly fell to the ground, necessitating quick help from those around him.

“I was unaware of what was occurring on stage until I arrived at the hospital in an ambulance,” Jakes recounted during the March 26 episode of the Today show. “The doctor leaned in and informed me, ‘You’ve had a massive heart attack.’”

He expressed surprise at the diagnosis, noting that he did not exhibit the typical symptoms associated with a heart attack.

“I simply drifted off to sleep without understanding what was happening,” he explained. “[The doctor] mentioned that if I had waited five more minutes, I would have been dead upon arrival.”

Reflecting on the health scare, Jakes stated, “The right side of my heart had completely ceased to pump blood. While I was preaching, I felt perfectly fine. However, once I sat down, the adrenaline subsided, revealing that I had been preaching with half of my heart blocked by a clot.”

The well-known figure underwent surgery to remove the clot, an experience he described as being conscious throughout.

“The surgeons performed the procedure while I was awake; they did not sedate me,” he shared. “The advancements in technology are truly remarkable.”

Although he has watched recordings of his collapse on stage, Jakes mentioned that he did not feel fully aware during that moment.

He reflected, “I was not present in that chair. The experience was different from how it appears; watching that video is challenging for me because they had to forcibly remove the microphone from my grasp. In my mind, however, I was in a tranquil, serene space, enveloped in white clouds. I felt as though I was departing.”

As a spiritual leader, Jakes regarded the entire episode as a profound spiritual experience.

“Looking back, it was a remarkable privilege to catch a glimpse of what that might entail, or at least what it felt like for me in that moment,” he stated. “It was truly extraordinary. Additionally, I had my entire church community—when I say my entire church, I mean globally, not just my local congregation—people from all over were sending prayers. I am immensely grateful.”

Following the alarming incident on stage in November, Jakes has resumed his preaching duties. This interview marks the first occasion he has elaborated on the events that transpired, although he had previously mentioned experiencing a serious medical emergency.

“Many of you may not realize that you are witnessing a miracle,” Jakes conveyed to his congregation during a virtual appearance on December 1, just a week after the incident. “I encountered a life-threatening situation and was swiftly taken to the ICU, where I underwent emergency surgery.”

At that time, he noted that he had recently completed a thorough physical examination and had been declared healthy.

“The reality is that sometimes events occur that are beyond our control, and at times, these occurrences are part of a spiritual battle,” Jakes remarked then. “I have not yet come to a final understanding of all of this, but what I do know is that greater is He who is within us, and He perseveres.”

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