Category Archives: Celebrity Interviews

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Bishop T.D. Jakes Honored for 45 Years in Ministry TODAY!

Hello World,

There are a myriad of words to describe T.D. Jakes: Pastor. Global leader. Best-selling author. Filmmaker. Real estate industrialist. Conference producer. The senior pastor of The Potter’s House in Dallas, Jakes blazed the trail in bringing a message of hope to millions around the world through any mode of communication, never being limited to just the pulpit. He has counseled several U.S. presidents and been the guest of numerous leaders around the world. Jakes will be honored for his 45 years of ministry at a special worship service on Sunday, Sept. 26, at The Potter’s House beginning at 9 a.m. CT, set to feature special guests and tributes.

Jakes began his ministry in West Virginia at the age of 19. Now 64 years old, Jakes has reached the masses through his various ministries and enterprises. Since starting The Potter’s House in Dallas in 1996 with 50 families, more than 30,000 members now attend the megachurch’s multiple campuses, with millions more attending online around the world. The Potter’s House mission is carried out through global humanitarian outreach, inspirational conference series, media and entertainment venues, and thought leadership forums.

Key international events created by Jakes include:

Woman, Thou Art Loosed!
What began as a Sunday school curriculum turned into a cornerstone of Jakes‘ ministry. Now a conference, a book, a play and a movie, Woman, Thou Art Loosed! reaches into the souls of women and catapults them into the confidence to live as God intended. The first Woman, Thou Art Loosed! conference was held in Atlanta in 2004, hosting approximately 45,000 women. The conference continues to attract thousands from around the world.

International Leadership Summit
Jakes‘ leadership in the religious arena has led him to host an annual leadership conference for people of faith. Drawing in more than 10,000 leaders globally, the International Leadership Summit has featured industry leaders like Tyler Perry and Denzel Washington to teach others how to succeed in their areas of work.

ManPower
This conference for men began in 1993 to help men of all races and backgrounds address specific needs, hurts and struggles from a biblical perspective. The conference grew from 2,500 to 20,000 attendees.

MegaFest
Combining Jakes‘ conferences and the International Faith & Film festival into one, MegaFest is considered one of the largest faith-based international conferences in America. In 2015, more than 91,000 people attended to hear from a wide array of international speakers. In 2008, the global gathering was held in Johannesburg and contributed more than 60 million South African rand to the local economy.

Tapping into the digital world to further Jakes‘ message, the Bishop‘s Village offers on-demand subscribers unique, behind-the-scenes insights into the workings of the T.D. Jakes “machine.” Viewers are treated to videos and other online content, including (but not limited to) worldwide speaking engagements, conferences, business seminars, meeting preparations and sermon notes that are not available on any other Jakes platform.

Other Key Milestones

  • 1993: launched a weekly TV broadcast on Trinity Broadcasting Network
  • 1994: began weekly TV broadcasts on Black Entertainment Network
  • 2000: named one of the Top 10 Religion Leaders by PBS’ Religion and Ethics Newsweekly
  • 2001: named America’s Best Preacher by Time magazine and CNN
  • 2009: delivered the morning service for President Obama’s inauguration
  • 2016: debuted the “T.D. Jakes” talk show
  • 2021: premiered “Kingdom Culture with T.D. Jakes” (a weekly sermon and conversational series) on REVOLT, the leading Black-owned-and-operated multimedia platform servicing content 24/7 across digital, linear and live media channels

Books, Film, Comedy and Music
Jakes is a New York Times bestselling author and has published more than 40 books. His 2014 book Instinct is one of his most successful, spending 16 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. His latest book, Don’t Drop the Mic, which gives insights into communicating well, was on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon and Publisher’s Weekly bestseller lists.

An accomplished film producer, Jakes‘ movies have grossed over $500 million and catapulted the faith-based film industry. His films include: A Dog’s Way Home (for Sony Pictures) starring Edward James Olmos and Ashley Judd; Miracles from Heaven, the follow up to Heaven is for Real; the made-for-TV-film Faith Under Fire (for Lifetime); On the Seventh Day; Winnie Mandela; Black Nativity; Jumping the Broom; and Sparkle. Jakes‘ film projects continue to redefine and reimagine the ever-evolving “faith-based” genre. Stories about real people and experiences often are oversimplified with a traditional faith-based lens. Jakes‘ ability to translate stories about real people with real experiences into sales, streams and support is unprecedented.

Jakes‘ “A Time to Laugh” is a touring comedy show and concert featuring some of the hottest up-and-coming artists and comedians.

Dexterity Sounds is responsible for some of the most innovative expressions in Gospel Music today. Receiving numerous industry accolades, including Grammys for “The Storm is Over” and “A Wing and a Prayer.” Dexterity may be best known for the fan-favorite album Sacred Love Songs II, which featured music inspired by the film Jumping the Broom. The label is also known for its award-winning worship experience DVDs and the all-female contemporary gospel group, Grace.

The Potter’s House charter is to extend a “hand of help to the needy, a heart of compassion to the hurting, and a message of empowerment to the disenfranchised.” Jakes has led and lived this mission each day in his ministry.

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DeVon Franklin & Amazon Studios to Develop Romantic Comedy Based on Pastor Michael Todd’s New York Times Bestselling Book ‘Relationship Goals’

Hello World,

So far, I’ve enjoyed every film that movie producer DeVon Franklin has been associated with so I was truly excited when he announced that he along with Amazon Studios will be developing a romantic comedy based on Pastor Michael  Todd’s New York Times bestselling book Relationship Goals: How to Win at Dating, Marriage, and Sex. Below is the description of the book if you haven’t heard of it before today:

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A candid, inspiring guide to finding lasting love and sustaining a healthy relationship by getting real about your goals—based on the viral, multi-million-view sermon series about dating, marriage, and sex

“No matter where you are and no matter what stage of life you are in, Relationship Goals will be a game changer.”—Levi Lusko

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY COSMOPOLITAN

Realer than the most real conversation you’ve ever heard on the topic, Michael Todd’s honest, heartfelt, and powerful teaching on relationships has already impacted millions of people in all seasons of life around the world. Now, in Relationship Goals, Michael tells his own story of heartache and healing, unpacks explosive truths from God’s Word, and tells it to you straight to help you win at relationships in every part of your life.

Where did the idea for relationships come from in the first place? Does God really care who I hang out with? Is it even possible to avoid relational train wrecks? From his plan for intentional dating in the age of social media to handling break-ups well to doing family instead of just being in a family, Michael tackles the questions we all have about relational success.

As he candidly examines our most common pitfalls in relationships and the start-today ways to get past them, Michael helps you align your longings with God’s awesome desires for your life. Now, that’s a good relationship goal.

Michael Todd is the lead pastor of Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His driving passion is representing God to the lost and found for transformation in Christ. Michael speaks at a variety of influential churches, events, and conferences each year, including Elevation Church, C3 Conference, Lakewood Church, VOUS Conference, Relentless Church, XO Conference, and many others. Michael and his wife, Natalie, have been married since 2010 and live in Tulsa with their three children.

Below is DeVon’s announcement about the upcoming movie!

And click HERE to read the Deadline story!

Any thoughts?

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Deborah Joy Winans aka Charity Greenleaf from OWN’s ‘Greenleaf’ is Pregnant in Real Life!

Hello World,

While Charity Greenleaf’s pregnancy and motherhood was a major source of drama on OWN’s Greenleaf, Deborah Joy Winans, the actress who portrayed her, had yet to experience pregnancy and motherhood. In fact, I asked her about this when I interviewed back in 2016. See the excerpt below:

And now you’re pregnant on the show, do you have any children in real life?

I do not. I’ve got two nieces and three nephews so that’s about all of the kids I have right now. I spoil them rotten and send them back home. Hopefully, in the future if the Lord blesses us to have kids of our own, that would be awesome.

To listen or read the entire interview, click HERE.

Well, Deborah Joy Winans and her husband have been blessed by the Lord in due time! Pun intended! See an excerpt of the ESSENCE article in which Deborah Joy shared about her pregnancy below:

Although a pregnancy can last up to 40 weeks, sometimes longer, actress and singer Deborah Joy Winans, best known for playing Charity on the OWN hit series Greenleaf, is prayerful that she will make it to 28. For the 37-year-old, that will be the end of a nerve-wracking process, but also a beautiful beginning.

“As long as I can get to 28, we should be okay,” Winans tells ESSENCE, 26 weeks at the time of our conversation and expecting a son. “Once we get to 28 weeks, [my doctor] knows that he’ll be good and healthy if he came that early. So, 28 is the goal.”

Winans and her husband of eight years, Terrence Williams, knew from the very beginning that their unborn son would possibly come early. Before she found out she was pregnant, as she consulted her doctor about how to begin the process to conceive last December and stopped taking birth control, she found out, by her own inquiry, that she had fibroids. Not just one fibroid, but eight, and one in particular that is the size of a watermelon, having grown for what’s estimated at eight years. Surgery, a procedure similar to a Cesarean section, was recommended to remove them all.

Read the rest HERE. 

And see her jubilant IG announcement below:

I wish Deborah Joy Winans and her husband the absolute best in their pregnancy and delivery, and I looking forward to the news that their son (I wonder what what his name will be) has arrived! And I hope he inherits the Winans’ gift of music as well!

Any thoughts?