Another accuser has come forward against Texas Megachurch pastor T.D. Jakes. Timothy Anderson, 57, alleges that Jakes tried to kiss him while he worked as a youth pastor at Jakes’ church. He says that the embattled pastor offered him a trip to Japan as a way to secure his silence. Despite the mounting allegations, Jakes and his legal team deny all wrongdoing.
“I arrived in Dallas, eager to work alongside Bishop Jakes and excited about the future. However, my first encounter with him in his new mansion, when I was tasked with assembling furniture, set the tone for a new kind of discomfort,” Anderson alleged. ” While I had hoped to discuss ministry with him, to learn from him as a mentor, something unexpected happened. At one point, he went into his bathroom and, when he returned, passed by me naked.”
“I was stunned. I turned away, trying to downplay the situation in my mind. This was Bishop Jakes, after all — this opportunity was a dream come true, or at least, that’s what I kept telling myself. I didn’t want to make things awkward, ” he added. “I didn’t want to be seen as homophobic or judgmental. I told myself that I couldn’t let a single uncomfortable moment ruin this chance to learn from one of the greatest preachers of my generation.”
Anderson says that these incidents continued until Jakes tried to kiss him. “I knew from my past experiences — experiences that had caused so much pain — that this wasn’t just a decision about ministry or a job. It was about power, control, and manipulation. The more I thought about it, the more I broke down emotionally,” he stated in response to an offer the embattled preacher gave him.
“I paced his office, trying to make sense of everything, trying to breathe through the overwhelming sadness. As I walked back and forth, trying to process what was happening, Bishop Jakes stood up, grabbed a box of tissues, and walked toward me, ” Anderson claimed. “His words were cold, calculated: ‘It sounds like you have a decision to make.’ And then, in a move that left me paralyzed with confusion, he grabbed me and tried to kiss me.”
“My mind was racing. Emotionally distraught, I pushed him away and tried to regain some control over my emotions,” he continued. “The tissues were placed in front of me like a symbol of my brokenness, and I told him how much I loved him, how difficult this decision was for me. I was trying to hold onto whatever shred of dignity I had left.”
“But his response was chilling. He reminded me again that it was his ministry, his leadership, and that if he gave me what I wanted — my chance to go to Japan — then I wouldn’t understand the principles of authority,” he concluded “I made the difficult decision to return to evangelism.” In a response, lawyers representing Jakes denied all wrongdoing.
I have reviewed the affidavits of Duane Youngblood and Richard Youngblood submitted in support of the motion to dismiss. The statements in these affidavits purport to describe situations where I harbored carnal desires for these men. These statements are knowingly and flagrantly false,” Jakes’ team said in the filings. “I suspect a larger network is involved in this scheme, all anticipating a share of this attempted ‘money grab.’”