John MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, died on July 14, 2025, at the age of 86. He had been hospitalized with pneumonia just days earlier.
The news was confirmed through a statement on the church’s official website, where they wrote, “It is with both sadness and hope that the elders of Grace Community Church announce that Pastor John MacArthur has gone to be with the Lord after 56 years of faithful ministry.”
During the Sunday service on July 13, Associate Pastor Tom Patton told the congregation that MacArthur had been admitted to the hospital and might soon be “in the presence of the Lord.”
For over five decades, MacArthur led Grace Community Church while also building Grace to You, the broadcast ministry that brought his Bible teachings to millions across the country.
Away from the pulpit, the renowned theologian was a family man—married to his wife, Patricia, for more than 60 years, and surrounded by a growing family that includes four children, 15 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
John MacArthur and His Wife Patricia’s Love Story
In 1963, MacArthur met Patricia while he was still a seminary student. At the time, he hadn’t yet fully begun his ministry—he was still chasing his early dream of playing professional football. Patricia, meanwhile, was already engaged to someone else and preparing for a wedding that was just around the corner.
She was also a close friend of his sister, Jeanette. John was already interested and used to taking her to his football games, hoping to impress her. “I thought, ‘If there’s no other way to win this girl, I’ll wow her on the football field,’” he later told Grace To You.
With her wedding approaching, he didn’t say anything. The invitations were already addressed and packed in the trunk of her car. But Patricia never mailed them. People around her kept pushing her to send them out. She couldn’t do it.
Eventually, she called off the wedding. She gave the ring back and threw out the invitations. That’s when John decided to speak up. One evening after church, he told her, “Maybe that all happened because you’re supposed to marry me.” He didn’t know how she’d take it, but he asked anyway.
Their connection had started long before that conversation. For a couple of years, John had been teaching the college Sunday school class, and Patricia was one of his regular students. That quiet familiarity began to grow into something else.
Not long after, they started seeing each other. And in August of that same year, they got married.
In 2024, nearly a year before his passing, John marked what would be their final anniversary together. He shared a black-and-white photo on Facebook from his college days, wearing his football jersey with his spouse, Patricia, beside him, and wrote, “Celebrating 61 years of marriage with my precious Patricia. My college sweetheart for life.”
MacArthur’s Children and Grandchildren
John and his wife, Patricia, raised four children—Matt, Marcy, Mark, and Melinda—all of whom are married and settled now. Over the years, their family grew, eventually spanning 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
In June 2020, John shared a photo capturing four generations of MacArthurs on his Twitter. Alongside the image, he posted, “Four generations of John MacArthurs. Psalm 100:5, ‘For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.’”
Controversy Around His Son Mark MacArthur
While John often taught that church leaders should be held accountable—even when it comes to the behavior of their adult children—his own family didn’t escape public scrutiny.
In 2023, his son Mark faced federal charges tied to an investment scandal. According to Ministry Watch, Mark agreed to pay $397,000 to settle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which accused his advisory firm of defrauding clients in a $16 million scheme. The amount covered the profits he earned, along with interest and penalties.
The situation stirred tension around a ministry known for its firm views on integrity, especially when applied to others.
