“I am profoundly thankful. I miss him. I look forward to seeing him again,” he added. “Our prayers are with his church, his fellow elders, his family, and especially his dear widow, Pat.”
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Apologist Ken Ham said,
Well-known Pastor JohnMacArthur, a long-time friend of our ministry, passed away last night at the age of 86 in California. We’ll soon be posting a tribute to this man who stood with us at @AiG for biblical authority starting in Genesis—with photos and a video from me, including images of his visits to see the Ark Encounter @ArkEncounter and Creation Museum @CreationMuseum.
“Meanwhile,” Ham added, “pray for his family—wife Patricia and their four children—and his church family at Grace Community Church. The last time I met with Dr. MacArthur was last year when I spoke at his school, The Master’s University.”
Tom Buck, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Lindale, Texas, wrote a tribute to his friend and posted it on social media:
Why I Loved John MacArthur and His Pastoral Heart: My fondest memory of John MacArthur was how he was a pastor’s pastor. There are few men who have made a greater impact on me as a pastor. Let me share three times John pastored me. First time I was a young pastor attending my first Shepherds Conference. On the final day, I received news that our two-year old [sic] daughter was going to need open heart surgery. I had traveled alone and knew no one there and was hurting. John would linger down front and talk to pastors. I went down and asked John if he would be praying for my daughter. John said, “Let’s pray right now!” With men waiting in line behind me, John stood there and prayed the most loving and pastoral prayer for my family. I will never forget that moment and it taught me as a pastor that whenever someone asks me to pray, don’t just tell them you will pray but stop and do it right then. Second time was after I received horrible backlash over my infamous “Jezebel” tweet (IYKYK). The media was calling me a racist. Multiple articles were written grossly misrepresenting what I said, and even Jake Tapper of CNN had publicly accused me of inciting murder. Dr. MacArthur called to encourage me. He reminded me of all the misrepresentations and attacks he had received by the media over the years and gave me wise counsel on how to process and respond to it all. Third time was after the political attack by SBC leaders on me and my wife,@JenniferBuck65. John called us to see how we were doing. We were pretty distraught that day and John just ministered to us. I remember telling John how I was being accused of being an abusive husband. Jennifer and I explained that the early years of our marriage [were] rough and that I had not been a godly husband then but how God had changed me. He asked, “How long have you all been married now?” I said, “35 years.” John said, “I think you all are doing pretty well.” He went on to encourage us in so many ways. I tell these stories publicly for the first time to illustrate the kind of man John MacArthur was. I am a relatively unknown pastor – completely unknown the first time John spoke with me about my daughter. But John took the time to be concerned about me and even call me to encourage me. John was a big name with a big church and a big ministry with much bigger things to care about than a small-town pastor. But what I remember most was how John never thought of himself as being big or important. He was one of the most humble men I have ever met, and he truly loved and cared for people. He pastored me in some of the most trying times of my life. There was something bigger than John’s name, church, or ministry, and that was his pastoral heart! That’s one reason I will always love John MacArthur.
Owen Strachan, provost and theology professor at Grace Bible Theological Seminary, wrote in his tribute, “John MacArthur has died. Yet he is not presently mortified; he is presently more alive than he has ever been. For the Christian, God saves one last miracle for the end: death for us is only the gateway to glory.”
“At this very moment, John MacArthur is face to face with his Savior,” Strachan added.
Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church Senior Pastor H.B. Charles Jr., wrote:
From his pastoral leadership at Grace Church over five decades to his expositional preaching through the New Testament (and the subsequent radio ministry and commentary series) to the scores of books filled with biblical truth to the stalwart leadership of The Master’s University and Seminary to the many around the country and who have counted on his clear and consistent voice for biblical truth in the face of error and confusion, John MacArthur has been a unspeakable blessing to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. As his work ends, his impact and influence will continue for years to come. Rest well, faithful soldier of the cross.
“Saddened to hear of Pastor John MacArthur’s passing,” Andrew T. Walker, associate professor of Christian ethics and public theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, posted. “In an age of moral revolution, he stood with clarity and conviction. His bold, unwavering witness strengthened the church in a time of cultural confusion. He fought the good fight and finished well.”