I have touched down on the beautiful soil of Johannesburg, South Africa, and I am more excited than ever about what God is going to do in this place. I think I can smell the excitement in the air. Some local media are saying that MegaFest International 2008 will be the largest gathering of people of African descent since the beginning of slave trades hundreds of years ago. Can you imagine how proud civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King, Frederick Douglas, Thurgood Marshall and Harriet Tubman would be to see a day like this? Oh, how far we have come! I know that there are many people who wish they could be here with us during this very pivotal moment, but due to the circumstances of life were not able to attend. Please know that we carry your thoughts and spirit with us daily and your presence can be felt in the atmosphere!

For the last few months now, word has been buzzing about the phenomenal speakers and the spectacular music we have lined up. But I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some of the humanitarian efforts we are conducting while we are in conference. When we first began planning MegaFest, I wanted to make sure that we did not just come in and offer revitalization for the soul, but also extend a helping hand to those who are in need through our MegaCARE initiative.

One of MegaCARE’s missions while in Africa is to focus on Swazi children who are orphaned and have little access to nutritional food. The Potter’s House for Children in Mhlosheni will provide meals, education, counseling and other services to more than 200 orphans. With an HIV prevalency rate of more than 42 percent, Swaziland is a nation reeling from the effects of the deadly pandemic. An estimated 15 percent of children, younger than 15 years old, have lost one or both parents to AIDS, including nearly 8,000 children in Swaziland’s southern area of Mhlosheni.

When parents die, communities struggle to care for their children. As the number of orphans increases, Mhlosheni community members know they have a responsibility to care for and support these children. Currently, men and women serve as “child protectors,” who are appointed to guard orphans from any form of abuse. Others have assumed the role of caretaker, providing meals, non formal education and life skills to children. But this impoverished community simply does not have the resources it needs to fully care for the orphaned children among them.

Even though the quality of service provided by existing centers is low, orphaned children walk long distances just to be with others like themselves, to spend time with adult caretakers, to enjoy a meal, play and sing. These centers have become a respite from their standard home life, which is often lonely and stressful.

T. D. Jakes Ministries and The Potter’s House have built the first home in hopes that others will partner to build 17 sustainable centers for the community. These centers will serve more than 1,200 orphans and children throughout the district of Mhlosheni, whose parents are ill, providing them with a safe, three-room facility that will be used for teaching, cooking, organized activities, sports and counseling. Each center will offer health care, life skills, training in gardening and animal science, after-school activities and non formal education.

I’m sure you can see why we are so excited about the work we are doing here in South Africa. We really do take our philanthropic efforts seriously. We don’t want to be just a world church though. We cannot look across the pond to South Africa without seeing the people in need here in our very own home state.

For those of you in the States, you all know that the stories streaming across CNN right now are only as important as the next big news item. With that being said, many of you will remember some weeks ago when those in the Gulf Coast were preparing for what was predicted to be another Hurricane Katrina. News outlets around the country began to zoom in on the people who were being evacuated, the homes lost and the cars floating away. After Hurricane Ike finally made his descent in the Gulf area, media interest began to wane immensely.

Within days, camera crews began to pack up and focus on the next newsworthy item. For many Americans, once the camera crew has packed up we think that the story is over, however those affected know that the reality is much different. It has been several weeks since the devastation of Hurricane Ike. Many people have lost their homes, cars and jobs, yet their voices are being overshadowed by topics like the presidential election and the Wall Street “bailout.” For those affected there was nowhere else to turn except to the church. T. D. Jakes Ministries, The Potter’s House and other churches, kicked into action sending as many helping hands possible down to the affected area to help clean, rebuild and assist others. Those affected have not been forgotten. In partnership with the organization, Somebody Cares, we are sending 3 buses of people to the Gulf Coast to help with food and first aid distribution.

Reaching around the globe and down the street, MegaCARE is dedicated to helping others through difficult times, because we know and understand that struggle is not exclusive to one race, class or gender. Struggle can affect anyone far or near.

So maybe you can’t join us in South Africa, maybe you can’t make it to the areas affected by Hurricane Ike, but you can make it your goal to donate your time or finances to those in need. Whether it is spending a weekend at the food bank, giving $5 to towards the MegaCARE initiative, or lending a helping hand to your neighbor, it is vital that we help others. You never know when you or someone you love may need support through a devastating time and you’ll want and need others to help you.

Hey friends I have been so busy on my book tour, but I wanted to send you this blog which is an excerpt from my new book, before You Do. I wonder have you thought about what you have invested or maybe gambled away not realizing the value of your time, interest, attention, money or energy. Let me share this excerpt and you tell me what you think…

One year for my youngest son’s birthday, his mother and I decided that we would take him and his friends to Chuck E. Cheese. For those of you who don’t know, Chuck E. Cheese is an indoor play-area/arcade for young children. We had finalized all of the plans and were beaming like proud parents the day of his party. Considering the number of children that we invited, we knew that we would need to purchase several tokens in order for each child to get a fair amount of play.

My wife and I broke out our billfolds and handed over the money to our anxious children’s hands and smiled brilliantly when they returned with several tokens. They would divide the tokens up and break into several different paths waiting to tackle the game of their choosing. We sat back glad that we had pulled the party off, and anxiously waited to see which games the children enjoyed the most. Within five minutes the children were back, their cups were empty and their eyes droopy. “We need more tokens,” they would mumble.

We smiled sweetly and handed over a few more dollars for the children so that they could continue to play. This ritual took place over and over again until the children had played their hearts out. It was not until Serita and I were in our bedroom recounting the day’s events that we realized just how much money we had spent on tokens.

When I realized how much money we had spent and how little we had to show for it, I understood the beauty behind using tokens instead of actual money. The children received so many tokens in exchange for the cash that we felt like we were getting a good deal. It was not until we cleaned out the car from the festivities and saw the plastic collectibles that were already broken that it dawned on me – when you trade something valuable, like money, and trade it for something that has little value, like a token, you are investing in something with very little return.

As a pastor I often see people investing their time or finances into something with very little return - trading pieces of their heart or time for tokens. As you all know, I have made it my mission to try and give people the most information possible so that they can avoid the consequences that come with trading something valuable for things that have no value. As a father I want to see my children, both natural and spiritual, succeed beyond their dreams and come to a point where they truly understand their worth. For children taking the tokens in hope for a great prize is cute and endearing. However for adults taking, these risks can cause detrimental consequences that a kiss from Mama cannot fix. I urge you all to weigh all of the risks before taking a gamble.

Are you taking a gamble in your life? I want to speak to people who are taking a gamble and receiving little return. I want to challenge you today to learn the value of your chips! Whether in relationships or business endeavors, many people enter these situations by taking a gamble and hoping for the best. I cannot tell you how many instances I have seen where one spouse complains about the other and the other replies that they are the same person they were before they married. Many times people enter relationships with hopes that the spouse will change. Do not take a gamble on something as precious as your time. Unlike finances or reputation, which can be repaired, if you take a gamble with your time, you have wasted time that you will NEVER see again. Your time is a commodity too precious to waste. If you continue to invest time into a relationship and you see very little return, it is time to consider repositioning your investment into an undertaking that has the best rate of return for you.

The same applies to business. Many times I have seen friends enter into business ventures together and stay loyal to one another – even at the risk of losing money. Do not stay loyal to something you do not need. You will sacrifice your own time and happiness for that of another. There is always a way out of a bad business decision. It does not mean you are a bad person just because things don’t work out. Leave right, leave fair, but if it is not working for both of you, leave! You can do bad by yourself! Remember you have a personal friendship without stating in a bad business deal.

If you learn the value of your talents, the value of your time and the value of your love, you will understand what a disservice you do to yourself by trading them in for tokens. I want to dare you to see yourself through the eyes of your heavenly Father. What esteem he holds for each of us! Dare to see yourself through clear vision. Do not shackle yourself to past pains or trauma, or a self-imposed life sentence for past mistakes.

The most dangerous thing for people to do is allow their growth to be stunted by their own thoughts. One of the hardest things to do is to counsel people who don’t see their own worth. I have found that the key to helping them is making the person realize that the power to their freedom lies in their own heart. Sometimes we, as a people, have a tendency to beat ourselves up over and over again about things that we had little control over or things that are ancient history. I want to challenge you to let go of the mistakes of the past, free yourself and move on from those things that held you down.

Life alone can be very difficult, and there can be a seemingly never- ending mountain of troubles, but do not make it more difficult by gambling your resources away. Live the life that God has predestined for you, live fearlessly in the comfort that you have weighed all your options, made the best choices, and wait to reap the benefits.

So tell me, do you accept the challenge? Can you live with your eyes wide open?

I have just returned from our 2008 Pastors’ and Leadership Conference, and I am excited about what God is doing in the church! For those of you who don’t know, we hold a conference each year for church clergy and leaders where we set apart time to heal and minister to those who minister to others. So many times ministers aren’t allotted the opportunity to replenish their spirits, sharpen their swords and go back into the battle for souls. Many ministers dive into the lives of their congregants praying them through their trials and tribulations yet often overlooking their own issues.

I go to countless pastors conferences that are merely an exchange of sermon notes and great preachers preaching great sermons. Ours is not a conference about preaching. Many of our churches are not suffering from the lack of great preaching. However, there is a difference between great preaching and great leadership! Our conference is more focused on leadership and the importance of understanding how to lead in this troubled world we live in and faltering economic times.

In an effort to revitalize the souls of our ministers, we tried to offer our registrants a combination of both, with an intensive leadership theme during the day sessions and a celebration during the evening. I feel that we were able to equip participants with the necessary skills to carry their churches through trying times while dealing with issues that plague most families.

I have found that some “newbies” to church leadership often make the mistake of ciphering through the problems of others without taking a chance to handle their own. Sooner or later, all of those obstacles continue to grow until there is a mound of problems that exist in their own lives. The most dangerous thing for any minister to do is to lead through pain or anger. To lead with “junk,” is to lead while your head and heart is not clear. Remember what we talked about last week — junk in the trunk? Ministers often dress the part and talk the talk, but they often try to lead with junk in their trunk. They look good and are well put together on the outside, but their lives are being turned upside down on the inside. We hope we created a time for pastors to come together and unload those burdens so they can hear clearly what the Lord has laid on their hearts.

Junk in the trunk is not an issue exclusive to pastors or leaders. It was fascinating to me to read through your many responses to last week’s blog entry, and how each of you have dealt with your own junk, and the junk in your partner’s trunk. People, in general, are so busy with the business of life that they are not able to take time to clean out that junk. How dangerous it is to go through life with all of that emotional junk just piling up inside of us, to be clean on the outside yet a mess on the inside. Some of the world’s happiest people are not draped in expensive clothes or riding in luxury cars, but are simply content with their lives and who they are on the inside.

Have you taken some time to clean out your trunk? Have you taken the time to clear your head, your thoughts and unburden your soul? Sometimes, you never know how burdened you are until you release your load. Take a look at what can happen when you don’t lighten your load!

Continuing our theme of the decision making process, I’d like to talk to you about something that is very near and dear to my heart as a pastor, as a father, as a friend. That is the process by which people make one of the most important decisions of their lives: who to spend the rest of their lives with!

Even after all of my many years counseling people, it never fails to amaze me how very little work, how very little RESEARCH, people do when they are “shopping” for a new spouse. Folks spend longer researching the next car they’re going to buy than who they’re going to be spending the rest of their lives with. I cannot tell you how many times newly married couples come to me for guidance, and one of the first complaints I hear is that one, or both, of them feels deceived by their partner. The wife feels deceived because she did not know that her husband had bad credit before she married him and now they can’t get that house she wanted. Or the husband feels deceived because his wife did not divulge that she’d been engaged before. Whatever the reasons, finding out important facts like this AFTER the wedding never does anyone any good.

You would never purchase a vehicle without a thorough inspection. You kick the tires, inspect the upholstery, look under the hood, take it for a test drive. And without fail, you open the trunk. Now if that trunk is full of junk, no matter how nice the rest of that car is you end up looking at it twice, wondering what other flaws are hidden under the paint and rims. Why do people not look at relationships the same way? And please don’t take this the wrong way, but every single person reading this blog entry has some junk in their trunk that they need to clean out.

In my new book, “Before You Do: Making Great Decisions You Won’t Regret” I deal with this issue in Chapter 3. Nobody can be a good partner, a good friend, a good mate, if they are full of emotional junk. In the webisode I’m sharing with you today I speak of this in a comedic manner, but make no mistake - this is a very serious matter. Who you decide to commit to will impact your entire existence. So why wouldn’t you take some time to make sure that your future spouse is ready for the mileage that life will put on him? BEFORE YOU DO, please watch this:

In recent days our senses have been bombarded with images and ideas as our nation’s political machine revs up into full roar to decide who will be hired as our next commander in chief.

This is no small thing.

The president of the United States will be the one who decides when and if we go to war, with whom we go to war, and why. He will affect national and foreign policies, which we will live with for years after he is gone. The Democratic National Convention recently concluded as an event filled with pageantry, or at least enthusiasm, rivaling this year’s Olympics in Beijing, China. (By the way, weren’t the Olympic events spectacular?) This week, the Republican Party has answered, with a full court pageantry expression of its commitment to change the direction of affairs for our country. Like two gladiators coming into a Roman amphitheater, both candidates will embark on their final competitions in speech, debate and campaigning to see who will claim our nation’s highest office at a time of such dire need for direction and leadership in the nation and around the world.

All of us who have special interests and specific views will weigh in on those few things that we think are important. However, the reality is the nation will not rise or fall on the backs of a few special issues, rather the building of a great leadership team and a stern resolve to face an uncertain future with might. There is one constant truth for sure: we do not know what we will have to face over the next four years. Like seers peering into a crystal ball, we have to figure out by November 4th who is best suited to lead our nation forward.

Both parties have now made their final decisions for the second most important office in our country, by selecting Delaware Senator, Joe Biden and Alaskan Governor, Sarah Palin. This is indeed a season of important decisions.

It may just be me, but after nearly a year of being force-fed more campaign ads than I care to remember, I sometimes feel saturated with too much information, as this whole process has lasted longer than my wife’s early meat loaves when we first married! Often I think people are hungrier for information than the titillation sometimes associated with this process. As I travel to minister in various places, I still find myself glued to the TV looking for clues of what direction the nation is going in, as the time nears for this most important decision. Even here in Europe the world is watching. They know the ramifications of this decision will affect international policies and relations.

And speaking of decisions, this entire electoral process and the decision making aspect of it especially intrigues me as I have just finished writing a book titled, Before You Do: Making Decisions That You Won’t Regret.

Don’t worry, the book isn’t about political decisions. I wrote a book about making life decisions. In this book, I write about personal decisions like marriage, career, associations, divorce and the decisions you and I will make without the benefit of news commentaries and political pundits. In my own personal life, much like you, I am faced with a myriad of decisions. Recently, while I was home with my wife, we were discussing with great urgency some last-minute details about my son’s school and the benefits and liabilities of which school we choose. With only a few weeks to decide, we had to choose whether to place him in public or private school. At our church, all of us are tightening up our budgetary belts and hunkering down in this economy. Over and over again, we all have decisions to make—rich or poor, black or white, saint or sinner, there is no avoiding it. The decisions you make today will tailor the times of your tomorrow! Before You Do will hopefully give you a template to help you with those everyday decisions that often have extraordinary consequences.

I know you care about the elections, and I do too, but what OTHER decisions are you on the verge of making that could possibly give you agony or ecstasy? What process do you go through in making a decision? Is it decided emotionally, factually or spiritually? If your answer is through prayer, how then do you know when you have an answer from God about it? Or does He become who you delegate blame or make liable for a decision you made largely out of your head? Statistics show that nearly 50 percent of first-time married couples end in divorce. Sixty four percent of people who marry the second time will decide to call it quits. This year alone thousands of people will have to decide to move out of a home due to financial issues. They have made, or were forced to make, a decision that they can no longer afford to stay in the home they once enjoyed.

I want to create a forum for you to talk to me about how you make decisions. Not just about the next president; though that is interesting too. I want to hear about decisions that do not have electorates and news commentators to guide you. How do you make those types of decisions? Talk to me and I will comment on some of the responses I receive as time permits. If nothing else, please know that I am praying that God will give you the wisdom to make the right decisions. I don’t want you to have any regrets. I know how it is to do or say something that you wish you had not done or said. I have bought things and got home and said, “What was I thinking?” Take a look at the webisode below. Life can become disastrous when you make long-term decisions without evaluating the potential consequences and rewards that may arise. After you’ve reviewed the webisode, I want to hear from you. Post your story on my blog. I am all ears and I might even have a thought or two that would guide you through the process of making your next decision work for good and not regret.

Moderator’s Note: As Bishop Jakes responds to comments, his replies will be in blue. Come back to see if he’s replied to you!

Before I Did
By Sarah Henson

Several weeks ago my dad shared his thoughts and feelings on my recent marriage. I thought it would be fun to share my side of the story.

It is without question that telling my daddy that I wanted him to hand me over to Robert was the most difficult thing I have ever done! Because of the special bond that my dad and I share, I knew it would be hard for him to swallow the “marriage” pill. Here I was sitting at the table with two of the most special men in my life, my dad and my fiancé, and all I wanted to do was look each of them in the eye and promise to be their “girl” forever. The truth, however, was that I couldn’t. No matter how badly I wanted to assure my dad that I would always be his little girl, the cloud of honesty suspended above us threatened to release the drops of truth that neither of us were prepared to hear. I could not be his little girl AND be Robert’s wife no matter how badly I wanted to be both.

Both of my parents have been my biggest fans, cheering at the simplest of accomplishments. To my dad, if I make a sandwich it is the best sandwich ever. He tells the story of taking off his jacket while driving because I uttered, “Daddy I’m cold.” He is without a doubt what every father should be: my shield, my support, and my friend. The thought of him “giving me away” scared me. I wanted to be “Sista” forever.

Don’t get me wrong, I was probably the grown-up child you could have imagined! From early on, I would grab any bag I could find to use as a purse. I have always been very sassy and very set in my ways, but no one could get through to me like my Daddy. In a world where so many girls grow up without their fathers, I was blessed with one of the best.

I can remember fondly when I was entering college I had one of my first experiences with a social mistake (don’t ask because I won’t tell). I was prepared to receive quite a tongue lashing because I had disobeyed my parents to satisfy my own curiosity. I picked up the phone and called my father fearing that I would hear anger in his tone when he answered, but instead he simply said, “Sista what’s going on?” It wasn’t what he said, it was how he said it. At that moment our universe shifted and I was no longer talking to my father, I was talking to a friend.

Before meeting Robert, for all of my years on this earth, I had only one knight in shining armor. Whether it was protecting me from the weather’s bitter cold or life’s heartache, my father would draw his sword, many times protecting me from my own decisions. Now here I was asking him to take off his cape and let another man fill his boots. Perhaps, had I thought about it this way I would have better understood what Robert and I had set ourselves up for.

Incidentally, I think he felt the same way because when my betrothed and I sat down at dinner to discuss our wish to be married we left the table scared straight!! As I am sure you know, my dad is quite the craftsman with words. He did in 30 minutes of conversation what six weeks of premarital counseling failed to do - he gave us an unfiltered view of marriage. Before we walked into the restaurant to discuss our plans to wed, Robert and I prepared ourselves for the potential questions we thought my father would ask. Little did we know, there is no preparing yourself for my father.

In the nicest, most sincere way possible my father—with my mother looking on—told us about the pitfalls of marriage and the type of determination, love, and commitment it takes to see each challenge through. Suddenly, Robert and I were cutting our eyes at one another silently questioning whether or not we had the stuff it takes to make it work. Was Robert the person I wanted to hold my hand should I ever have to bury a child or my parents? If, like my parents, we were faced with a crisis that threatened the life of the other, could we stick it through?

Forget deciding what’s for dinner, could we decide on the best way to raise our children? Almost suddenly we found ourselves looking at each other without the rose-colored shades but through clear 20/20 vision. Could I be by this man’s side if a disease ailed his body? Suffocated by the magnitude of such a decision Robert and I decided to take a few days to gather our thoughts, putting our hearts on hold and our minds to work.

When we went to dinner we thought that we were going to talk about the plans for the wedding. The colors, the dress, the tuxedos, and the floral arrangements were all subjects we were ready to cover but we didn’t realize that my father cared nothing about the colors or whether to choose roses or tulips. He wanted us to look past the glitz and glamor of the wedding and focus on the marriage that comes with it. Could our families intermingle? Where would we spend the holidays? Could we find joy in life’s most despairing moments?

Luckily, through prayer and much thought we were able to decide that with God on our side, we could not only overcome life’s obstacles but we could do it as a team. A few weeks after our dinner, my father began teaching a series, titled “Before You Do: Making Great Decisions That You Won’t Regret.” Robert and I found that we enjoyed this series immensely. It was amazing to see how members of the congregation all identified with the message! And let me tell you, it was much nicer to have the other several thousand people there answering questions than it was for Robert and I to be on the hot seat! I always say that my “spiritual” siblings get off MUCH easier than me and my biological siblings. Just in case you haven’t seen it, I decided to give you a sneak peek of how my dad laid the foundation for, what I believe, to be a groundbreaking series.

Over the next few weeks, expect to see more clips from the series. Hope you enjoy!

The earth is the LORD’S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein
Psalms 24:1 (KJV)

Often we as Americans have a tendency to think that the world exists between New York and California. In reality nothing could be further from the truth. In a world where the economy is affected by global sensibilities, political antics in the US change international thought processes, and fashion trends here have a global reach, we must move out from our little intellectual domains and domiciles. The creation of international news mediums like BBC, CNN, FOX, and others have made the world—and every one in it—my neighbor. Today a flood in Tibet can be seen in Tallahassee in a few short minutes. Everything from TV media to Internet chat-rooms have connected people from different parts of the globe with speed and haste. It is time for many of us grass-roots people to step up our way of thinking.

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Okay, okay, I will admit it—there might have been a moment or two that my windshields got a little foggy at my daughter’s wedding. It might have been the humidifier in the room but no, in reality I think those were really tears! It was unbelievable to me to see how she had turned into such a beautiful woman. The music was flawless but that is what one gets when you have Kelly Price, Anasia, and Micah Stampley. The mood was regal as Bishop Noel Jones brought an elegance and ambiance that is consistent with his erudite persona. But for my wife and I, it was all about the look in the bride and groom’s eye. I will never forget the feeling of escorting her down the aisle, trying with some futility to get her to slow down her pace. I wanted her to walk slowly—in part because I am still healing and needed a slower pace—but mostly because I wanted her to savor the moment. I whispered in her ear to slow down a little, as she seemed like she was ready to run a track sprint to get to the altar. As we got closer to the front I could see why—the groom had tears running down his face and I swear it seemed like she was all he could see in the room.

Escorting my beautiful daughter down the aisle*

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Yesterday was the day that our nation has set apart to honor men who have really impacted the lives of their children. I am a BIG advocate of Father’s Day as I know that many fathers who have stayed with their families are overlooked by complaints over the disturbing trends of abandonment by so called “dead beat” dads. These are the dads who played but didn’t stay, and in some cases those who wanted to stay and were denied access or in other ways driven away. Well yesterday was Father’s Day and for me this is a meaningful time. All five of my children and the thousands of spiritual children I have locally and internationally always make me feel so special.

This coming week will lead to Daughter’s Day. Before you race off to look at your calendar and look for Daughter’s Day etched in some calligrapher’s best script, allow me to explain. It is only a special week for mine and anyone else’s daughter who is getting married this weekend. My youngest daughter, Sarah, is about to be married, and so for us this will be Daughter’s Day. I have shared with her and her intended more advice, nuggets, scriptures, and practical wisdom than they probably wanted to hear. As God would have it I have been finishing a book titled Before You Do. The focus of the book is to assist people with making the kinds of decisions they won’t regret. So I am loaded down with info and I have segmented a considerable portion of my writing to providing information for singles who are contemplating marriage. What you need to know and ask before you make the ultimate commitment of matrimony. Many of these tips I included into my speech for Sarah and her fiance’!

Me, my wife Serita, our youngest daughter Sarah

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Okay everyone, enough debating the complexities of life—at least for now. Today I thought I would share with you the bittersweet moments that have been going on behind the scenes in my life. I haven’t discussed any of this before, in part because it has been a lot to manage my many responsibilities given my recent condition. But some of you have asked about my health on the blog so I thought I would respond.

Many of you know, some of you don’t, and given the vast reach of my growing blog audience some of you won’t care, but I wanted to share a special moment for me. I have been recovering from a spinal surgery that has shut me down for a while. I won’t spend much time on this but I do want to say that when doctors describe a procedure they grossly understate the pain and recovery part!

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