Megachurch pastor John MacArthur dead: 'His faith became sight'

( USA )

John MacArthur, the 86-year-old pastor of a Los Angeles megachurch, died after being hospitalized with pneumonia, his church announced July 14.

"This evening, his faith became sight. He faithfully endured until his race was run," Grace to You, the media ministry he founded, posted on X Monday night.

MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church in the working-class community of Sun Valley since 1969, contracted pneumonia last week, associate Pastor Tom Patton told the congregation at a July 13 service.

"He was admitted into the hospital and may be in the presence of the Lord soon," Patton said. "We place our dear pastor at the feet of the glorious savior, whom he has served so faithfully for so many years and now awaits his final command to be in his presence forever."

MacArthur, like some other preachers across the U.S., catapulted into the public spotlight during the COVID-19 pandemic when he hosted large gatherings despite city policies to limit congregations to small numbers outside.

MacArthur is survived by his wife Patricia, their children, 15 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Pastor John MacArthur's death draws reaction

The announcement of MacArthur's death drew an outpouring from those that followed him

"He was my spiritual father as a teen in 1979," Randy Robertson posted to the announcement of the death on Facebook. "Under his expository preaching on Sundays and Wednesdays the foundation of my new faith was firmly established."

Adam Boyer added, "Praise the Lord for an exemplary life of faithfulness and service to Christ, whom he is now seeing face to face. Every day I want to be more like the man John MacArthur was."

Pastor MacArthur's diagnosis comes days after televangelist Jimmy Swaggart died

The news comes after the weekend the Rev. Jimmy Swaggart was buried in Louisiana.

A global televangelist in the 1980s before an adultery scandal diminished his influence, died on July 8 in a Baton Rouge hospital.

Swaggart, who was 90, never regained consciousness following a heart attack in his home June 15.

His publicist told USA TODAY he died surrounded by family and loved ones.