Sarah Jakes-Roberts, daughter of T.D. Jakes, the prominent pastor of Potter's House in Dallas, Texas, has announced she is filing for divorce from her husband, Robert Henson, after four years of marriage. In a statement on her personal website, she cited biblical grounds and concerns for her personal safety and that of her children as reasons for the decision.
A Difficult Decision After Counseling and Prayer
In her online announcement, Sarah explained that she had tried to navigate serious troubles at home but ultimately concluded the marriage could not last. She said: "I have built my ministry and identity around being the best wife and a mother I can be. For quite sometime I have tried to steer through some serious troubles at home. As much as I wanted my marriage to last, it cannot."
Sarah, who leads the Women's Ministry at Potter's House, added that her decision came after professional counseling and prayerful consideration. She stated: "There are biblical grounds supporting this decision and I have attempted every other recourse but after multiple infractions over the course of the union, and for my personal safety and that of my children, I have come to this painful decision."
From Teen Mother to High-Profile Wedding
Sarah's journey has been marked by public scrutiny. At age 14, she became pregnant out of wedlock, a situation made more difficult by her father's prominence as a charismatic preacher. In a blog post titled "Guided Home" last year, she recalled the experience: "I can remember feeling like everyone was staring at me, thinking negative thoughts. I became very familiar with shame, learned quickly how loud whispers can be, how fast rumors travel."
She also reflected on her resilience: "More importantly I learned to never let anything or anyone convince me I was no longer worthy of dreaming, living my life to the fullest." At 19, she married Robert Henson, a linebacker for the Washington Redskins. Their lavish wedding was attended by celebrities including Tyler Perry, Emmitt Smith, Tom Joyner, and Dr. Phil McGraw. The couple had a daughter together.
Family and Community Reaction
T.D. Jakes, whose congregation numbers about 30,000 members, acknowledged that his daughter's divorce is difficult but said "love overrides everything." Sarah has requested prayers and privacy "while I navigate through this difficult season in my life so that I may now concentrate on being the best parent for my children possible. Thank you for your prayers."
Sarah is not the first child of a prominent American preacher to face divorce. The late Kenneth Hagin, a respected faith preacher, wrote in his book Marriage, Remarriage and Divorce about his despair when his daughter's marriage ended. Renowned televangelist Oral Roberts also watched as his son, Oral Roberts Jr., went through a divorce before remarrying and taking over the expansive ministry.
Broader Context in Christian Community
Sarah's divorce comes amid ongoing discussions in the Christian community about marriage and divorce, following the recent crash of Pastor Chris Okotie's marriage. The news has sparked conversations about the pressures faced by families of high-profile religious leaders and the personal struggles behind public facades.
As Sarah moves forward, she focuses on her role as a mother and her ministry work. The impact of her decision will likely continue to resonate within her congregation and beyond, as she navigates this personal transition with the support of her father and community.
