TDJ Enterprises History & Timeline

1993

• Writes and self-publishes Woman, Thou Art Loosed: Healing the Wounds of the Past
• Begins a weekly television broadcast on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN).

1995

• Establishes T. D. Jakes Enterprises, Inc.

1996

• Moves his family and leads 50 other families from West Virginia to establish The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas.

1997

• Christianity Today and The Dallas Morning News tag The Potter’s House "one of America’s fastest-growing churches" as it expands
  from 50 families to what would eventually exceed 30,000 members and growing.

• Releases first musical project Woman, Thou Art Loosed: Live at the Superdome

1998

• Receives Grammy and Dove Award-nominations for Woman, Thou Art Loosed: Live at the Superdome
• Establishes Touchdown Concepts, a subsidiary of T. D. Jakes Enterprises, Inc., which is responsible for theatrical and musical presentations.

1999

• Releases Sacred Love Songs CD, which was named as one of the year’s top gospel albums by Billboard Magazine under his newly created
  record label Dexterity Sounds
• Sets indoor attendance record at the Georgia Dome for reaching 87,500 attendees, breaking the previous record held by the Rev. Billy Graham.
• Serves as keynote speaker for the National Day of Prayer in Washington D.C.

2000

• Produces Behind Closed Doors, the second stage production created by Touchdown Concepts, which is eventually dubbed
  one of the top gospel plays in the nation.
• Publishes Maximize The Moment, his 24th book, which climbs to No. 3 on the New York Times business best-sellers list.
• October 22, 2000 – Bishop Jakes and The Potter’s House church family dedicates and consecrates the newly constructed
  $45 million worship center.

2001

• On New Year’s Day, CNN and Time magazine names him "one of America’s Top Five religious innovators for the year."
• In March, releases his third musical project, The Storm is Over under Dexterity Sounds in collaboration with EMI Gospel.
• September 2001 – Time magazine and CNN distinguishes him as America’s Best Preacher.

2002

• February 2002 – Receives the Chairman’s Award from The National Religious Broadcasters.
• March 2002 – The Storm Is Over receives both Dove and Grammy nominations for "Best Gospel Album – Contemporary."
• April – The Storm Is Over wins both NAACP Image and Stellar Gospel Awards for "Best Gospel Album – Contemporary."
• Receives the "Chairman’s Award" from the National Religious Broadcaster’s Association (NRB).

2003

• March 12, 2003 – The Bridge – Collaborates with Grammy-award winning gospel singer Bill Gaither during a celebration of cultural
  and ethnic diversity held at The Potter’s House.
• Launches the God’s Leading Ladies Conference Tour.
• Receives Grammy Award nominations for Follow the Star (Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album) and A Wing and a Prayer
  (Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album).

2004

• February 8, 2004 – Bishop Jakes and The Potter’s House Mass Choir wins a Grammy Award in the Best Gospel Choir
  or Chorus Album category for the album A Wing and a Prayer.
• March 6, 2004 – Receives the NAACP President’s Award, given to a person who exemplifies high standards of character, conviction and achievement.
• October 1, 2004 – Magnolia Pictures releases Woman, Thou Art Loosed: The Movie
  
  • Winner: "Best American Film at the 2004 Santa Barbara International Film Festival;
  • Winner: "Audience Award for Best Feature" at the 2004 American Black Film Festival;
  • Named one of 10 best films of 2004 by U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office for Film and Broadcasting,
    a list including The Aviator, Hotel Rwanda, The Passion of the Christ and Ray.
  • Kimberly Elise and Loretta Devine nominated for Independent Spirit Awards;
  • Opens No.6 at the box office;
  • First film since Amistad to break the top 10 on only 400 screens;
  • Nominated for a NAACP Image Award

2005

• February 2005 – Time magazine names him one of the "25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America."
• May 2005 – Officials honor Bishop and Mrs. Jakes for their MegaFest 2004 attendance record, which surpassed the previous record
  held by the Rev. Billy Graham. A plaque depicting their image and recording the accomplishment is presently displayed in the Dome.

2006

• Bishop Jakes celebrates his 30th year in ministry.
• January 2006 – Readers of The Church Report magazine choose Bishop Jakes No. 1 among The 50 Most Influential Christians in America.
• October 10, 2006 – Bishop Jakes wins 2006 Quill Award in the Religion/Spirituality category with his best-selling book, Mama Made The Difference.
• February 2006 – Launches TDJakes.com

2007

• January 2007 – Readers of The Church Report magazine choose Bishop Jakes No. 4 among The 50 Most Influential Christians in America.
• Launches BEST: Black Economic Success Training conferences, touring 5 cities, with speakers such as
  Magic Johnson, Dr. Cornel West, Max Siegel, Carla Harris and Susan Taylor.

2008

• Bishop Jakes serves as correspondent for MSNBC during the 2008 presidential elections.
• Essence magazine presents Bishop T.D. Jakes with the 2008 President’s Award for his book, Reposition Yourself (Atria).
• Bishop Jakes receives the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award from the Congress of Racial Equality.

2009

• Oct. 31, 2009 Bishop Jakes inducted into the International Black Gospel Music Hall of Fame & Museum.
• Essence magazine presents Bishop Jakes with an All-Star Tribute.
• As a panelist for the June 2009 Aspen Institute, Bishop Jakes speaks alongside former Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Conner
  and Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree.
• President Barack Obama asks Bishop Jakes to deliver the morning service before the historic Presidential Inauguration.
• January 9, Bishop Jakes releases new movie Not Easily Broken, which ranked No. 9 nationally during opening weekend.

2010

• Produced third feature film, Jumping the Broom, starring Angela Bassett, Paula Patton, Laz Alonso, Mike Epps and
  Loretta Devine which is scheduled for release May 6, 2011.