Dallas megachurch The Potter's House lends its name to Denver congregation

By SAM HODGES / The Dallas Morning News samhodges@dallasnews.com


A Denver megachurch has borrowed the name of Dallas' The Potter's House, with the blessing of the latter's pastor and founder, Bishop T.D. Jakes.
The Potter's House Church of Denver, formerly Heritage Christian Center, is now being led by the Rev. Chris Hill. He's a protégé of Jakes and former youth pastor and associate pastor of The Potter's House in Dallas.
"When I think about the impact that Pastor Chris Hill made while serving the community of Dallas, I am reminded of his compassion for people, and I believe he is equipped to lead the Denver location with the same fervor and zeal," Jakes said in a written tatement.
Earlier this year, Jakes opened a second congregation of The Potter's House in Fort Worth, featuring a live praise worship team and a simulcast of Jakes' Sunday sermons from the 30,000-member Dallas church.
But The Potter's House Church of Denver, with about 10,000 members, remains separately incorporated and governed. Jakes will not be appearing there regularly, in person or by satellite broadcast.
"We'll be in close relationship, but it'll run independently," said Zunoraine Holmes, chief of communications for The Potter's House in Dallas.
Hill succeeds Bishop Dennis Leonard as leader of the Denver church. Jakes attended a Denver event honoring Leonard last week, and the renaming of the church was first announced then.
The satellite congregation of The Potter's House has been meeting at the Fort Worth Convention Center, with an average attendance of about 1,000, Holmes said.
"I'm excited about this time of expansion in our ministry," Jakes said. "It allows us to transcend our church walls and touch the needs of the people. Historically, people were expected to come to the church, but we are now taking the church to the people."