John MacArthur Hospitalized With Pneumonia, Near Death in California

John MacArthur, the 86-year-old pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, has been hospitalized with pneumonia and is reportedly near death, according to updates shared with his congregation. MacArthur, who has led the church for over five decades and is known for his expository preaching and his radio ministry Grace to You, has faced ongoing health challenges including multiple surgeries for atrial fibrillation and lung procedures since 2023. His associate pastor Tom Patton informed the church that MacArthur "may be in the presence of the Lord soon" and urged prayers for him and his family. Despite previous optimistic updates from MacArthur about his recovery and readiness to return to ministry, his health has declined significantly, leading to his absence from preaching throughout much of 2024 and 2025. The church community continues to rally in prayer, reflecting on MacArthur’s decades of faithful service, while MacArthur himself has acknowledged the difficulty of his recent health struggles while maintaining gratitude and trust in God. Additionally, MacArthur's legacy is complex due to accusations related to his handling of abuse victims within his church, which has brought further attention amid his health crisis.