Cora Jakes Coleman, daughter of the renowned Bishop T.D. Jakes, has inspired many with her remarkable weight loss journey and her openness about personal struggles. Her story is a testament to resilience, faith, and the power of self-acceptance. This article explores Cora's weight loss transformation, her battles with infertility and depression, and her work as a minister and author.
A Dramatic Transformation
Cora Jakes Coleman's weight loss journey has been nothing short of incredible. Sharing before and after photos on Instagram, she revealed the significant progress she has made. In the "before" photo, Cora stood beside her mother, Serita Jakes, wearing a black blazer and skirt. The difference in her appearance compared to the "after" photo is striking.
In the more recent photo, Cora looked radiant in a blue dress, exuding happiness and confidence. She proudly captioned the photo, "315 down to 233 and I am never going back." This post garnered thousands of likes and heartwarming reactions, with fans expressing their admiration and motivation.
Cora's initial weight was 315 pounds, and she has since lost 71 pounds, bringing her down to 233 pounds. While she is happy with her current body, she emphasized that she is not finished and is determined to continue improving. She stated, "No I'm not finished. I'm still fighting to become even greater."
Choosing Life and Inspiring Others
Cora's weight loss journey is not just about physical transformation; it's about choosing a healthier and more abundant life. She acknowledged that while she looked beautiful in both images, the extra weight was detrimental to her health, potentially shortening her life. Now, feeling healthier, she is living more fully and abundantly.
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Cora's inspiring message to her fans is to keep pushing towards their goals and never give up. She shared, "I would have never thought I would be this girl, but I am. I challenge you to choose life. Don’t give up. Get up!! You deserve to choose you!!" To support her fans in achieving their body goals, she often posts monthly water challenges and provides motivational messages.
Battles with Infertility and the Path to Adoption
Beyond her weight loss journey, Cora Jakes Coleman has been open about her struggles with infertility. At the age of 24, she was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition that causes infertility. This diagnosis came after a serious car accident where her vehicle was hit by a truck, and a CT scan revealed cysts in both her ovaries.
She recalls the pain of being told it would be difficult for her to get pregnant, saying, “I vividly remember the day the doctors told me it would be difficult for me to get pregnant. I can still feel the dampness from the tears that flowed down my face." After several failed IVF attempts, Cora and her husband Richard Coleman decided to explore adoption.
Despite the heartbreak and confusion, Cora remained steadfast in her faith. She looked to her sister, Sarah, who had also struggled with infertility, for strength and support. Ultimately, Cora and Richard adopted a daughter, Amouri Noelle, and a son, Jason.
Cora remembers the first time she saw Amauri's picture and was told she was available to adopt. Initially, she was apprehensive because Amauri is half-Hispanic and half-black, and Cora didn’t want her to feel out of place in their African American family. However, she soon realized that God had already set them up for success. When her husband saw the photo of Amauri, he knew she was their daughter. When they first met her, she ran and jumped into their arms.
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They were also blessed with the opportunity to adopt Jason as a newborn. Cora shared, "We were there for his first bath, his first steps, his first words-the whole nine yards." A year after Jason was born, his mother relinquished her parental rights to Brandon and Cora. A year after that when they were finalizing the adoption, they faced the fight of their lives as the adoption was contested. They had to face a judge to defend their character.
"Ferocious Warrior": Inspiring Others Through Her Story
In 2019, Cora published a book titled "Ferocious Warrior," where she detailed her struggles with insecurity, loss, and depression, including the pain of a previous adoption that did not work out.
Josiah “JoJo” Jackson was her first son. “He was the first baby boy I would love beyond words. Cora was devastated! “I have never felt so much sorrow and anger at one time,” she shares. Through all the pain, Cora went into a deep depression.
The book aims to inspire readers to adopt a warrior mindset in facing their own challenges. Cora also shared her struggles with infertility in the book, further connecting with readers who may be going through similar experiences. In her latest book, Coleman encourages readers, especially women, to learn how to pray by faith. “God used the hurt in my heart to heal me,” she said. “God always has a plan. I couldn’t see what God would bring after heartbreak. Each chapter ends with prayers that teaches the reader the secret of how to pray and ask God for exactly what you want.
Cora explains, “It hurt my heart when JoJo was taken from us, but the healing process God took me through helped make me ferocious.
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Ministry and Motivation
Apart from her personal journey, Cora Jakes Coleman is also deeply involved in ministry. She is the pastor and executive director of children's ministry at The Potter's House of Dallas, following in the footsteps of her father, Bishop T.D. Jakes.
She is also a motivational and spiritual leader, using her platform to inspire and uplift others. Before publishing her books, Cora began expressing her thoughts through a blog titled "Fertility Faith." This blog served as a platform to share her experiences with infertility and to encourage others who were feeling lost or doubting their dreams and purpose.
Cora encouraged people to pray, referring to it as a powerful tool. She stated that whatever she asks for in prayer, God grants it in a way that is better than she imagined. Amid her early diagnosis, Coleman managed to move forward and continued preaching the word of God.
Overcoming Insecurities and Finding Self-Love
Growing up, Cora struggled with insecurities and self-doubt. She explains, “At the age of twelve or thirteen, I went through depression. As a young brown-skinned girl, I didn’t feel like I was pretty or even valuable. It wasn’t like I didn’t feel loved. My family and friends made me feel extremely loved. I just didn’t love myself… I believe I attempted suicide at least three times during that season in my life.”
To combat these feelings, she turned to the Word of God and began to remind herself of how the Lord saw her. Cora explains, “I started telling myself a different story-the story of what God said about me-and kept repeating it until I finally believed it."
The Power of Prayer and a Warrior Mindset
Cora emphasizes the importance of prayer, fasting, and the Word of God in overcoming challenges. During the intense battles surrounding the adoption of her son Jason, she learned how to fight by using these weapons.
You also have to learn how to think like a warrior. Cora explains, “You would be surprised how much your thinking controls your outcomes. , KJV). Paying attention to what we allow our minds to dwell on is crucial to learning to fight effectively. The weapon of approach is also important. “How you approach is as important as your weapon,” Cora says, “When David faced Goliath, he made a point to shut him down. That is how you approach the enemy.” As we pray, read the word, and fast, we understand our authority in Christ.
Bishop T.D. Jakes: A Legacy of Faith and Influence
Cora's father, Bishop T.D. Jakes, is a highly influential figure in the religious community. Time Magazine called him "America's Best Preacher" in 2001. His ministry is based out of The Potter's House in Dallas, reaching millions around the world.
Beyond preaching, Jakes is also an entrepreneur, film producer, and author. He has a remarkable ability to connect with people's emotional and spiritual needs, particularly women. His "Woman Thou Art Loosed" movement, based on the Bible story of Jesus healing a woman, has empowered countless women around the world.
Married to his wife, Serita Jakes, for 39 years, they have five children, two of whom have followed in his footsteps: Sarah Jakes Roberts and Cora Jakes Coleman.
Jakes' ability to connect with people's - and particularly women's - emotional and spiritual needs is how he ignited a movement that proved pivotal in his early preaching. It was called, "Woman Thou Art Loosed," based on the Bible story where Jesus heals a woman of her physical infirmity, and gives her new hope. Jakes applied it to women's struggles today and went from a small Sunday school class to packed auditoriums and stadiums.