Well-known author and pastor John MacArthur is recovering from a “very successful” procedure to “clear some blockage in his arteries,” his California megachurch, Grace Community Church (GCC), announced late Friday.
The announcement comes after two weeks of reported health problems for the 83-year-old pastor.
MacArthur first fell ill on Sunday, January 1st. MacArthur preached at the first service at GCC that day, but was replaced by Mike Riccardi, GCC pastor of Local Outreach Ministries, at the second service.
“Just so you know, Pastor John had a bug this weak and preached our first hour but asked if he might be able to take a break for the second hour,” Elder and Staff Pastor Tom Patton told the congregation.
The next day, GCC sent an email update on MacArthur’s health, noting that MacArthur had “felt lightheaded” the day earlier.
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“We are pleased to report that he is doing well,” the email stated. “He was under the weather last week but after seeing a doctor on Sunday and getting much needed rest from a busy holiday week, he is now much improved and feeling fine.”
However, MacArthur did not preach the following Sunday. In explanation, Patton told the congregation that MacArthur would be taking “just a rest” for the next few weeks.
Then, last night, in its weekly newsletter, GCC informed the church of MacArthur’s procedure.
“Thank you for praying for Pastor John over the last two weeks,” the newsletter read. “After a week of tests, a procedure took place earlier this week and it was very successful. Our pastor is recovering at home and is doing well. He will take the next few weeks off from preaching to recover and to prepare for Shepherds Conference.”
An update posted later on GCC’s website added that the procedure “was needed to clear some blockage in his arteries.”
History of obscuring MacArthur’s health problems
GCC has a history of obscuring John MacArthur’s health problems.
In December 2020 and January 2021, while embroiled in a lawsuit with California and Los Angeles County for defying bans on indoor worship, MacArthur was absent from the pulpit for several weeks.
MacArthur has since admitted that he had COVID.
Yet, at the time, GCC said MacArthur was “resting” and preparing for the upcoming Shepherd’s Conference. The church also did not respond to articles by The Roys Report (TRR) with evidence GCC was covering up a deadly COVID outbreak at the church.
On April 9, 2021, MacArthur reiterated in a declaration to the Superior Court of the State of California that his earlier absence from the pulpit was because “I decided to rest and instead let another Pastor preach.” MacArthur added, “(T)here is nothing sinister about me letting another Pastor preach. I am 81 years old. I do sometimes take a break from preaching.”
However, in August, just before GCC settled its lawsuit with the state and county, MacArthur admitted both the COVID outbreak at GCC and his own bout with COVID.
Days later, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to pay GCC $400,000 to settle its legal battle with the church.
19 Responses
I am praying for John MacArthur for healing and recovery. However, he should retire from more than 50 years in his ministry. He should also give way to the new lead pastor to continue the preaching and cleansing of the church at GCC.
I agree. However I’m strongly convinced that the success of his megachurch depends on his ability to preach. When he’s gone the church may very well flounder or fizzle out.
I pray for his speedy recovery. I have received many of his literature and enjoyed what I’ve read so far. My prayers are with him.
In all seriousness what will they do when he dies freeze him and keep wheeling him out from a distance! Why do they never appear to say the truth about this man
Yes praying for PJM yes there are some big issues with how abused people in his church get treated. And still paying he repents.
But I feel strongly on this occasion, this is not something to report on, apart from a call to prayer. As our personal health issues should remain private unless we want to share. I think he has every right not to share, and also if Covid had been what the Globalist told it was he would have been dead and most of us, that have had it, I personally don’t know anyone who hasn’t. Oh and now flu is back, so please everyone do your research and follow the money on that. God bless PJM and may he fully recover and soon, may he also reflect and repent to Eileen
Speechless. 6,730,273 (6.7 million) people worldwide have died from Covid. Sorry that number isn’t concerning enough, for some. MacArthur claimed Covid was only the flu, but confirmed that he himself had “Covid” not the “flu”.
Isn’t dishonesty the point? He is a public person who fell ill in public. How can that go unaddressed?
He once said, ‘people can consider something sin, until their kids commit it.’ Funny how cavalier people can be, until its them, its them, oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer.
I pray for him, his family, and his congregation.
By the way, I, nor my immediate family have had covid. I sadly know several families who lost multiple members to covid. I also know people who were hospitalized, and now have lingering health issues, and hefty bills related to covid.
I’m following that money.
There are too many Struldbruggs (See below)
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/g/gullivers-travels/summary-and-analysis/part-iii-chapter-10
leading church organizations. I don’t know MacArthur has entered his dotage, (I hope not❗) but I have seen too many church leaders that have done so recently and are not removed. I hope he has planned for his replacement.
I hope he has a speedy recovery.????
Deuteronomy 37
7¶And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.—KJV
Fortunate is the man who can reach an old age without entering some form of dotage, some even I would expect at the age of 70 or so could have this happen. While John may be blessed with good mental faculties, this experience should show him that even if a person has a sound mind, he can expect death at any time pass the age of 70. I hope he has planned for his replacement like Moses did with Joshua!
Best wishes. My mom is still kicking at MacArthur’s age.
Could this article just present the facts of PJM’s health? It just seems that this article is counter-intuitive to the other articles. I may be wrong but I always believe that there are 2 sides to every story. It just seems more personally subjective than purposefully objective. The term “Outbreak” has the connotation of that Dustin Hoffman movie. Which isn’t the measure of what happened. My dad died from Covid-19/pneumonia (1-21-22) Almost a year ago. While we are heart broken. We believe, based on scripture, that God ordained his days before he even had his first breath. Where or how he got C-19 isn’t important. The science has proved that isolation did squat to control this virus. We know that the government hid information and used this virus to make a sweeping outbreak of a profoundly corrupt environment. By making systematic changes in every sphere and now those who question them are extremists. I wish more churches stood up to the government. Both democrats and republicans have been corrupted by greed and power. The gospel is an affront to the government. Jp
I’m sorry for your loss. My friend had cancer but died tragically by another means. Hebrews 9:27 beautifully affirmations God’s providence.
“I may be wrong but I always believe that there are 2 sides to every story.” There may be 2 sides, but one truth.
“The science has proved that isolation did squat to control this virus.” Not true. The facts proved the steps taken mitigated the spread.
It’s heart breaking when death is the only focus because the devastation was multifaceted. Our healthcare system was stretched beyond its limits. Hospitals are a business. Some hospital bills can never be paid. What about them? Front line workers were exhausted and exposed to a barrage of deaths. What about them? Some jobs require mask wearing all day. What about them? Businesses closed. Over 1 million Americans died so some businesses remain short staffed. What about them? Families were faced with sudden funeral cost. What about them?
Pharmaceutical companies don’t’ develop solutions to nonexistent problems just to make money. It’s the other way around. Diabetes came before insulin. Statins were developed to treat high blood pressure, not the opposite.
“I wish more churches stood up to the government.” There will be consequences for “the church” declaring the government is the bogeyman. How can anarchy not be the ultimate result? We were NEVER forbidden from worshiping God. We were merely asked to make adjustments, temporarily, like everyone else, for the common good.
Some of those same churches complaining about the government took PPE money. They also take tax breaks, from the government, and pastors are shielded in many ways.
I bet anyone with clogged arteries will follow the recommendations of their cardiologist. The same medical society who was made to be our enemy.
Thank you for your commonsense reply to Jaime Piper. Too many Christians live in a bubble of their own making.
D H,
” Statins were developed to treat high blood pressure, not the opposite.” What is the source for this claim?
Statins were developed to treat high cholesterol, not HBP.
The order of the day when we observe death on so many fronts, physical death…….
Jesus said to “repent or you too will die” – a second death for remaining dead in sin. He has an open door, be alive in Christ!
Hi Meredith N,
Are you addressing me? And if so, what are you referring to?
Thank you,
AT
It’s odd that as a Christian I can’t sense the full truth expressed herein about Pastor John’s health on his website.
Rather I’m hearing Covid issues left and right. Please just post the facts so we can pray for our brother intelligently for his recovery.
Glen Jackman
I and many of our family declined the Covid vaccinations primarily for one reason. We presumed the doctors of the CDC and NIH would have the intelligence to identify the source of this virus – but NO! The CDC and NIH know but remain silent and dumfounded?
Pastor John MacArthur is first a Proclaimer of the Truth in Christ Jesus – I praise God! Born again Christians in our country and around the world are being persecuted by the fiery darts of the evil one because of that great Name, Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb.
Dr. MacArthur is not perfect and sinless nor am I nor any one of us – only Jesus, the Lamb of God, spotless and without blemish.
Deaths of anti-vaccine advocates from COVID-19 – Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Deaths_of_anti-vaccin…
Media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic includes reporting on the deaths of anti-vaccine advocates from COVID-19 as a phenomenon occurring during the …
This article mentions the coverup of a deadly COVID outbreak at the church. Do we know how many people died from that outbreak?