MacArthur had a 'universal' appeal

June 18, 2005

MacArthur had a 'universal' appeal

John F. "Jack" MacArthur, a Christian radio host and pastor who had the unique ability to get through to children, college students, adults and his contemporaries, died Wednesday of age-related causes. He was 91.

"He had a really universal appeal," said MacArthur's daughter Jane Chase of Eugene. "He had a way of communicating to each and every person and making it contemporary to them."

MacArthur was the originator and director of "Voice of Calvary," a Christian radio and television program that has been broadcast on radio since 1942 and was on television from 1956 to 1983. He also served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Eugene for more than 10 years. He had lived primarily in Eugene since 1969.

MacArthur's son, John Jr., said he modeled his own Christian radio show, the internationally broadcast "Grace to You," after his father's successful program.

"He was clear, he was very logical, he was a real teacher," he said. "It was didactic and yet, it was passionate. He was that way in the pulpit, he was that way on the radio. I think he endeavored to make the Scripture clear."

MacArthur was born March 30, 1914, in Calgary, Alberta, to Harry and Olivia Fullerton MacArthur. He married Irene Dockendorf on June 25, 1937, in Los Angeles. She died Jan. 14, 1999.

He attended California public schools and Los Angeles City College, then studied for four years at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, from which he received a theological degree. He received a doctorate of literature degree from Pacific College, now Azusa Pacific University, and an honorary doctorate of divinity from Bob Jones University.

He worked as an evangelist, pastor and Bible teacher for most of his life. He served at Fountain Avenue Church in Hollywood, Calif., where he was co-founder of the Hollywood Christian Group, an outreach ministry to people in the film and television industries. Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were close personal friends.

MacArthur founded Calvary Bible Church in Burbank, Calif., and was pastor of the church for 15 years. He later served as senior pastor of churches in Eugene, Illinois and British Columbia. He also served on the extension of the Moody Bible Institute and, later, as director of the Charles E. Fuller Evangelistic Foundation.

MacArthur's family said the emphasis of his ministry was biblical exposition, and he was noted for his careful scholarship, ability to communicate effectively and his versatility. He had published several books, including a study of the biblical book, First Peter, "So You Have Trouble?"; "Alpha and Omega," on the book of Revelation; "How to Stay Away from the Psychiatrist," on New Testament principles for living; and "Exploring in the Next World."

MacArthur didn't stop preaching until January. His family is not surprised that he stayed active as long as he did.

"I think he felt that his calling and his ministry was to teach the word of God and that was his life's work," Chase said. "It wasn't something that he ever stopped. It wasn't what he did, it was who he was."

The National Association of Religious Broadcasters presented MacArthur with a trophy in the early 1990s for his 50 years of ministry. He enjoyed spending time with his family, reading and golf.

Along with his son and daughter, survivors include another daughter, Jeanette DeAngelis of Scottsdale, Ariz.; a sister, Dorothy Turner of Eugene; 17 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren. A daughter, Julie, died in 1997.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on June 28 at First Baptist Church, Eugene. Poole-Larsen Funeral Home in Eugene is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Masters Seminary in care of the funeral home.

Dr. John F. MacArthur is the originator and director of the "Voice of Calvary," a Christian radio and television program, carried on radio since 1942 and on television from 1956 to 1983. The radio program is heard in all the major metropolitan areas of the West Coast, and Maryland. It enjoys the distinction of being one of the oldest Christian broadcasts in the United States, having an unbroken continuity from the first broadcast to the present day. In the early 1990's he received a trophy from the National Association of Religious Broadcasters, honoring 50 years of faithful ministry.

A popular conference speaker and Biblical expositor, Dr. MacArthur has preached in city-wide and union campaigns throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. During the presidency of Dr. Will Houghton, he was on the Extension Staff of the Moody Bible Institute and later became the director of the Charles E. Fuller Evangelistic Foundation.

He has occupied the pulpits of several churches in Southern California. While pastoring the Fountain Avenue Church in Hollywood, California, he assisted Dr. Edwin Orr in founding the "Hollywood Christian Group," which became a special outreach ministry to people in the film and television industry. He founded and pastored the Calvary Bible Church of Burbank, California for fifteen years. Since that time Dr. MacArthur has served as Senior Pastor in churches in Oregon, Illinois and British Columbia.

The emphasis of his pulpit ministry has been Biblical exposition. He is noted for his careful scholarship, ability to communicate effectively, and his versatility. A lover of literature, Dr. MacArthur has a personal library of approximately three thousand books. He has himself authored many books and his books enjoy a wide circulation. Some of his publications are: an expositional study of the First Epistle of Peter, entitled, "So You Have Trouble?", "Alpha and Omega," an expositional commentary on the book of Revelation; "How to Stay Away from the Psychiatrist," an application of New Testament principles for meaningful living; and "Exploring in the Next World." In connection with the Voice of Calvary broadcasts, Dr. MacArthur has prepared a continuing series of books on the various themes and subjects presented on the program. His expositional messages and sermons, as delivered from his pulpit and in various conferences in which he has participated, have been recorded on cassette tape. These tapes now enjoy a worldwide circulation. He has found time for three sound, color Christian films. One of them, "Teleo," was given first place as the best sermon on film.

Dr. MacArthur received his theological degree from the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Doctor of Literature degree was conferred on him by Pacific College (now Azusa Pacific University), and he was the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Bob Jones University, Greenville, South Carolina.

Dr. MacArthur and his wife Irene (who passed away January 14, 1999) were the parents of four children. Their daughter Julie died of cancer in 1997. He is privileged to be the grandparent of 17 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. His son, Dr. John F. MacArthur, Jr., is the well-known pastor of Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California, President of the Master's College and Seminary, and the speaker on the "Grace to You" radio program, heard on stations around the world.