John MacArthur’s Health Recovery ‘Has Been Slower than Expected,’ Church Says

Author and pastor John MacArthur's recovery from a series of surgeries has been "slower than expected," according to an elder from his church who requested prayer for the 85-year-old minister. Grace Community Church (GCC) elder Tom Patton gave church members an update on MacArthur's health on Sunday.

"He suffered a series of health issues that kept him out of the pulpit and required three surgeries in the second half of 2024," Patton said. "His recovery has been slower than expected, with occasional setbacks affecting his heart, lungs, and kidneys." 

Elder Tom Patton of Grace Community Church gave an update today on John MacArthur’s health. pic.twitter.com/1xHhS3bwwi

— Protestia (@Protestia) January 6, 2025

MacArthur's doctors, Patton explained, "have not yet discovered any single root cause for these diverse troubles." MacArthur has been hospitalized the past two weeks, undergoing tests and treatments, Patton added. 

"So please pray for him and for the physicians that are handling the case, for the physicians that they will identify a suitable treatment or treatments, and for John that he will recover strength and health enough to resume public ministry," Patton said. "Pastor John and his family covet your prayers. Please pray earnestly and steadfastly. Our pastor desires to return to his beloved church soon."

MacArthur is perhaps best known for his books, commentaries, and his popular radio ministry, Grace to You.  

Joel Beeke, chancellor of the Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, preached at Grace Community Sunday. Beeke said on X (formerly Twitter) that MacArthur "is still recuperating in the hospital and remains quite weak, though, in the last few days, he has improved somewhat," ChurchLeaders reported. 

I had the privilege of preaching yesterday three times for Dr. John MacArthur at Grace Community Church in Los Angeles. Between the morning services, I was given an opportunity to rest briefly in Dr. MacArthur’s office (photo 1). About 6,000 people attend one of the two morning… pic.twitter.com/Gstyk6svYu

— Joel Beeke (@JoelBeeke) January 6, 2025

In 2023, MacArthur underwent a heart procedure and missed multiple weeks. He updated listeners on his condition in a May 2023 broadcast. 

"They took my blood pressure and determined that I had some kind of atrial fibrillation, and they took me to the hospital," he said in 2023. "And the upshot of it all was they put four stents in my arteries that were blocked 80 percent or 90 percent. And the good news is the doctors said, 'You didn't have a heart attack, and you have a very strong heart. And your heart is now like the heart of a 16-year-old.' So I was thankful to the Lord that there was no damage done to my heart and that they were able to remedy the situation."

Although MacArthur returned to the pulpit after the 2023 health incident, he missed several months in 2024. He preached again in November 2024.

"I can be grateful because I know the outcome of everything," he said in November. "The outcome of everything is to the glory of God and the benefit of His children, right? So I want to make sure I allow my own heart to rejoice in the fact that God will perfect me and will bring glory to Himself through my trials, probably more than any other way."

Photo Credit: ©John MacArthur Facebook

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

Originally published January 07, 2025.