Written by: Gillian Fraser
Article source: JOY! Magazine
John MacArthur’s decades of ministry impacted the global Church in ways that cannot be overstated. As pastor of Grace Community Church in California for over 56 years, founder of Grace to You, president of The Master’s University, and founding chancellor of The Master’s Seminary, John poured his life into proclaiming the truth of God’s Word. He went to be with the Lord on 14 July 2025, aged 86.
His desire was never to make a name for himself, but to be faithful to Scripture. In his own words, “I just really want to be known as someone who was a servant of the Lord … faithful to the teaching of the Word of God and to the unfolding of the mysteries of the Gospel.”
His voice among us
Over the years, JOY! and JUIG! readers came to know and trust John’s teaching through the many sermons and articles we published. His expository preaching style, steadfast commitment to Biblical truth, and refusal to compromise resonated deeply with local believers seeking doctrinal clarity in a confused world. His was a voice of reason and faithfulness, and it will be missed.
A lasting legacy in South Africa
John MacArthur visited South Africa in 1992, ministering in Pretoria and other cities. That visit led directly to the founding of Grace Fellowship Pretoria in 1993. In 1995, Joel James, a graduate of The Master’s Seminary and former intern at Grace Community Church, was called to be the church’s pastor-teacher. He and his wife, Ruty, moved to South Africa permanently, where they raised their children and where Joel continues to faithfully preach the Word.
Today, Grace Fellowship is one of several churches in the country shaped by John’s legacy. Through the lives of trained pastors, faithful congregations, and a commitment to verse-by-verse teaching, John’s ministry continues to bear fruit in South African soil.
Faithfulness to the end
John’s health declined in recent years, yet he remained faithful in service until the Lord called him home. He leaves behind his wife, Patricia, 4 children, 15 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. But more than that, he leaves a legacy of truth. A generation of believers across the world now love and understand Scripture better because John taught them how to handle it rightly.
Let us follow his example
The Church does not stand on the foundation of any one man, and John would be the first to say so. Our hope is not in people, but in Christ alone. Yet we are right to give thanks for those who point us to Jesus with faithfulness, clarity, and courage.
John MacArthur ran his race well. His life reminds us that it is possible to live with integrity, serve without compromise, and finish strong. May we do the same. “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matt 25:21).
This article is featured in the September issue of JOY! Magazine. Read a digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za
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Date published: 15/08/2025
Feature image: John F. MacArthur (19 June 1939 – 14 July 2025)
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