Bishop T.D. Jakes, senior pastor of The Potter’s House (TPH) in Dallas, TX, is the visionary and chief architect behind the Texas Offenders Reentry Initiative (T.O.R.I.). Prior to T.O.R.I.’s inception, Bishop Jakes and his TPH team realized that their ministry efforts, including visiting prisons and building deep one-on-one relationships, were impacting inmates and their families on a holistic level. To this end, T.O.R.I. was launched in January 2005 to provide hope – in the form of tangible solutions – for the countless men and women returning to society after incarceration.
Whether an individual needs assistance obtaining housing, employment, education, or healthcare, among other services, T.O.R.I. provides dedicated support that helps former inmates acclimate back into society. Under the stewardship of Bishop Jakes, T.O.R.I. continues to be a proverbial light at the end of the tunnel for former inmates seeking help upon release. To date, T.O.R.I. has served over 33,000 formerly incarcerated adults across the state of Texas.