Author and pastor John MacArthur has been released from the hospital, following multiple recent surgeries, Grace To You Executive Director Phil Johnson announced in a post on X Friday.
“John MacArthur is recovering at home now. Keep him in your prayers,” Johnson wrote.
MacArthur leads Grace Community Church (GCC) in Sun Valley, California, and hosts the national Christian radio and television program Grace to You. In recent months, the 85-year-old pastor has dealt with a number of health setbacks.
MacArthur was admitted to the hospital in December, his megachurch previously shared. He experienced “a series of health issues that kept him out of the pulpit and required three surgeries in the second half of 2024,” GCC staff pastor Tom Patton said.
Because of that, MacArthur had been in the hospital the past couple of weeks for tests and treatments.
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MacArthur’s recovery had been going slower than expected due to “occasional setbacks affecting his heart, lungs, and kidneys,” Patton added.
MacArthur did not preach at GCC between July to November of last year, The Roys Report (TRR) previously reported. The pastor returned to the pulpit the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving 2024, stating, “I’m still here, and thankful to the Lord for that.”
“I’m just thankful I see the good and gracious and kind and providential hand of God in every vicissitude in my life, every hard experience, every challenge, whatever that challenge may be,” MacArthur said.
Johnson noted in a December Facebook post that McArthur was receiving additional treatment due to persistent symptoms following a heart-valve replacement.
Johnson, who is also a GCC elder, pushed back against social media rumors that implied his boss was near death.
“The suggestion that he has been handed over to palliative care is a sinister lie,” Johnson wrote. “There’s no conspiracy by the elders at GCC to keep people from hearing information they need to know.”
Johnson added that any other details regarding MacArthur’s family are up to the family to share and make public.
Johnson also acknowledged GCC’s lack of public announcements regarding MacArthur’s health. He said MacArthur does not want “public announcements to be made about his health.”
GCC’s history of misleading medical statements
GCC has a history of giving misleading statements about MacArthur’s health, TRR previously reported.
In January 2023, MacArthur was absent from GCC’s second service after preaching during its first. Patton initially told congregants that MacArthur “had a bug” and later updates said MacArthur was “under the weather.”
However, after MacArthur missed the next two Sundays, the church changed its story. The church website announced that MacArthur had undergone a surgical procedure “to clear some blockage in his arteries.”
Similarly, in December 2020 and January 2021, MacArthur was absent from the pulpit for several weeks. At the time, GCC claimed that MacArthur was “resting” and preparing for an upcoming conference.
However, MacArthur later admitted that he had COVID.
During this time, Macarthur and his church were embroiled in a lawsuit with California and Los Angeles County for defying bans on indoor worship. The church also failed to report an outbreak of COVID-19 to health officials, as required.
MacArthur has been leading GCC since 1969 after graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary, according to the church’s website. MacArthur’s church regularly fills its 3,500-seat auditorium during its two Sunday morning services, GCC’s website said.
MacArthur’s ministry website calls him “the world’s premier expository preacher.”
Liz Lykins is a correspondent covering religion news for The Roys Report, WORLD Magazine, and other publications.
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17 Responses
MacArthur lies about his medical condition and the cover-up by his mini-me Phil Johnson remind me of the Monty Python scene with the Black Knight. “It’s only a flesh wound.” Maybe when MacArthur finally pushes up the daisies they will finally be honest about his medical issues (after his cult followers wait 3 days to see if he rises up from the dead of course).
Yes, there are definitely echoes of Monty Python. But, it also reminds me of the way the Scientology elites treated L Ron Hubbard’s illness and eventual death. He wasn’t sick either.
Multiplying words about a situation like this is sinful. No one should guess about these things. Pray and ask God to guide and change a heart if need be but judgement is wrong because we don’t know it all. Pray for them, their families and their church. Hopefully anyone can seek out the help they may need. Forgive, but realize things of this nature precludes him from continuing in Ministry. We all will make mistakes wearing this tent. God bless all of those affected by this and I pray you will ask God for guidance and direction and help everyone to do what God would want you to do.
I assume he did his own research before going in for care?
It’s worth noting that Covid 19 can have long term impact on the heart, lungs and kidneys, as well as other organs. And JMac DID have it, even though he tried to lie about it.
I wonder if he now regrets being so adamantly anti-mask.
He is in mid 80s so health issues are bound to happen, covid or not
I never could understand what this big secrecy thing is about health issues with John Macarthur and even the congregation is at GCC. I can understand some level of privacy would be preferable for a pastor and his staff but this secrecy cult-like cover it up, and don’t talk about it posture, is really confusing. Maybe they think that illness is some type of punishment from God and don’t want to admit their sin! I know some congregations like that. Weird!
I’m sure they had to balance family privacy and church transparency, I’ve listened to him for a long time and he’s not one to deny illnesses or the human condition of frailty, he is in his mid 80s and health issues can be expected
Pastor John has been a faithful servant of the Lord all these many years and he deserves more understanding and respect then the hacks on this site are giving him and his church! As far as Covid is concerned there are also many commenting on this site who are still woefully ignorant as to what that was all about! Pastor John understood and handled the workings of his church very well at that time! Pray that God grants you all wisdom and discernment!
He never preached that health issues are a punishment but rather just the human condition, were all going to die, how and when who knows? It’s not about this life anyways.
I am not surprised by the mean spirited comments directed at pastor John and his ministry. I am however saddened to read that people can kick a man when he is down.
JMac is not a victim. He’s the villain in many people’s stories.
A certain sinful bent surfaces in some people who seem to rejoice when others’ heroes are down. Knowing that sinful tendency we often hold back information that we know our detractors will gleefully use. BTW anyone wearing a mask to prevent the spread of infection while seated in a full 3500 seat auditorium is on a fools errand.
The evil comments confirm the Bible is truth and that satan and his children ( those leaving evil comments) are reprobate.
So sad.
Pastor John deserves more respect then many of you are giving.He handled his church affairs very well during Covid and he understood the issues regarding Covid very well! Many of you I am afraid do not.
Am so completely excited for the moment this pastor or whatever people want to call him,expires & he exits this planet & hopefully people finally realize how utterly evil this man was & always has been,he’s a liar & completely takes advantage of those seeking spiritual guidance thru god & Jesus.since I was 18 (am 66) I’ve had to hear about this guy thru both my parents being best friends w/him AND his sister. Anybody who doesn’t understand he’s a “fake” definately needs intense education on what real love & guidance thru Jesus & God are & is.& this pastor of GCC is not it.i will have a huge celebration when I’m informed he’s GONE.& I am allowed to express the truth about this guy.we do have free speech in America.
What’s is your issue with JMac? Are you a Christian?