Pastor John MacArthur: Longtime Pastor, Mentor, and Friend!

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7). “Imitate me, (in so much) as I imitate Christ.” The Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 11:1.

When it comes to ministry mentors and pastoral role-models: Choose wisely!  For “the student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will become like their teacher.” Luke 6:40.

Dr. John MacArthur became my pastor in 1991.  I still consider him to be my primary ministry mentor, my faithful shepherd, and my humble friend.  Pastor John has been the lead shepherd at Grace Community Church steadily leading the same flock for over fifty years now; (he began his ministry at GCC in 1969)!  When my entire family moved from Wisconsin Rapids to Los Angeles in the early 90’s, little did I know the impact Pastor John MacArthur would have on my life, my wife/family, and on my own future pastoral ministry.  How could I? Seeing I was not genuinely converted until Jr. High (and only God knows the future).  Looking back, one of the greatest privileges in my life was growing up at Grace Community Church, sitting under the expository preaching ministry of John MacArthur, and attending the Master’s University and Seminary.  Here I learned the in’s and out’s of biblical Christianity and the ABC’s of pastoral ministry and expository preaching.  At this faithful church, under this faithful preacher, everything my Christian parents taught me from Scripture was reinforced and fortified (2 Timothy 3:15-4:5).

Over the past thirty years I have corresponded back and forth with Pastor MacArthur often via handwritten letters.  Despite an unbelievably demanding ministry schedule, Pastor John has always taken time to write me back (albeit sometimes through his church secretary).  As a child/teenager many of my chicken scratch notes included "difficult" bible questions, such as, “Pastor, how do you explain the discrepancies with regard to numbers recorded in the same bible verse in different bible translations?”  “Dear Pastor John, if God is absolutely sovereign, how do we reconcile ____.”  After many gracious and thoroughly biblical responses I realized that it was unlikely that I would be able to stump (my) Pastor John.   

In the 90’s my (pastor) father had the privilege of serving as missions/outreach pastor (while attending seminary) and I had the honor of serving as a deacon (a decade or so later).  During college, when the Lord changed my career trajectory from sports broadcasting to pastoral ministry/preaching, my love and appreciation for Pastor John MacArthur increased a hundred-fold.  He was now not only my favorite preacher, he was also a ministry hero in the faith.  Like Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Pastor John was a lion in the pulpit and a lamb outside of it when interacting with his beloved congregation.  As I was able to see him live out his faith in private (doing life with his children and grandchildren) my respect for him only grew.  Like my own father, he was the same godly man at home as he was behind the pulpit.

One of the most memorable highlights of our married life is when Pastor John and Patricia visited our 1-bedroom dorm apartment (see picture above) for dinner before I graduated from seminary and moved to the Midwest to pastor a local church.  

Suffice it to say, no “jar of clay” has had a greater impact on my pulpit ministry, my theological convictions, and my (biblical) philosophy of ministry than Pastor John MacArthur.  This partially explains why Andrea and I named our son Jude MacArthur Kolstad. 

Many people who find/visit the churches I joyfully pastor do so via the Master’s Seminary church finder or by calling “Grace to You.”  It's a tremendous stewardship and honor to receive referrals from any of Pastor John’s ministry volunteers, staff pastors, or university/seminary professors (1 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Peter 4:11).  To be called a "Master's man" is a great privilege and a great responsibility.

In view of the massive influence of The Master’s Seminary/University and Pastor John MacArthur on me (and all of our pastors) we believe it is quite fitting to highlight this special relationship on my ministry blog page and church website.

Included are a few of my favorite memories/pictures with Pastor John; (Unfortunately, I did not save any letters from my childhood/teen years).

Article originally posted 5/11/23

Philemon 1:24- Mark: The Tragic Failure, Restored Partnership, Recognized Usefulness Story

Mark: A Painful Failure…An Unexpected Parting of Ways...and a Powerful Restoration!

Philemon 1:24

Pastoral ministry is not just marked by joy (high highs). It is also marked by disappointment (low lows). Church hurt is sadly an all too common experience.

Faithful men sometimes falter.  Trusted partners sometimes walk away.  Ministry friendships sometimes crumble. 

And when they do—it doesn’t just affect relationships.  It affects the work.  

Not surprising then, Satan and his minions work overtime trying to discourage, distract, and divide the Lord's people (hence Ephesians 4:1-32 and Colossians 3:12-17). One Christian author rightly notes, "Satan always divides when he is most afraid of ministry multiplication...If Satan can't stop us, then he will work overtime to divide us."  The moment you put your guard down is the second the forces of darkness move in.

Paul was not immune to these struggles.  He too experienced shocking heartbreak (see 2 Corinthians).  He too was abandoned. He too made mistakes.  He too endured relational falling outs.

Such things should not catch us by complete surprise. The Scriptures and church history remind us that "the best of men are still men at best." All men, includes the legendary Paul, and every other Christian leader. They too are "men at best."  

In my own life, some of my longtime ministry role models changed over time or proved not to be who I thought they were.  Initially, I was completely devastated.  In moments of despair the Holy Spirit reminded me that Jesus and Jesus alone is the perfect, never failing, Good Shepherd! He alone is the (great) Hero of heaven (see Revelation 5)!  He alone is Faithful and ever True. "What a (perfect) Friend we have in Jesus." He is unrivaled! But back to Philemon.

A Failure That Couldn’t Be Ignored (at least not by Paul)

When Paul lists his fellow workers in Philemon 1:23-24, one name really stands out: "Mark."

Mark's story doesn’t start here, however.  In Acts 13, Mark joins Paul and Barnabas on an important missionary journey.   Later, this theological powerhouse team stood shoulder to shoulder at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). Paul and Barnabas functioned as the original dynamic duo! A formidable force.

But---something unexpected occurs.  

Earlier in the story, Mark turned back. He walked away. He abandoned ship.  Scripture doesn’t provide many details. It does show the result.

The work continues. "The show must go on." But now it’s far more challenging.

People often forget that ministry role players, by definition, play vital roles. When someone unexpectedly abandons their ministry post others have to carry extra weight. Productivity and progress can be negatively impacted. Morale often takes a hit.

And that kind of disappointment is not easily forgotten. Those who value loyalty and fortitude as highly as Paul did can feel the apostle's pain.

Mark was someone Paul believed he could count on. Someone he trusted. Someone he invested in.

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A Sharp Conflict Between Godly Men and Good Friends

By Acts 15, the Mark issue resurfaces.

Barnabas wants Mark to rejoin them. He believed it was time to restore him to ministry.  The son of encouragement may have appealed to the perfect example of the Lord Jesus, who graciously restored Simon Peter, after epic failure(s)- see John 21:15-19; Matthew 26:69-75.  

Paul views things differently and has different plans. And Luke records it plainly in Acts 15: "There arose a very sharp disagreement."

Not mild tension. Not a quiet difference of perspective.  A very sharp conflict.

Paul likely emphasized faithfulness and fortitude. Barnabas likely emphasized grace, forbearance, and forgiveness.

Both men love Christ, the lost, and the Lord's Church. Both men want the gospel to advance. 

And yet—they lock horns and eventually they divide and go separate ways!  

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When Unity Breaks

In Acts 15 a ministry dream team experiences a contentious and unexpected breakup. Shockingly, Paul and Barnabas could not find a way to "agree to disagree" and move forward together. The inspired text does not take sides.  Luke (the human author of Acts) does not say if both men were in the wrong or if one missed the mark more than the other. The inspired text just describes how and why Paul and Barnabas fought and parted ways.

Barnabas leaves and takes Mark. Paul moves forward with Silas.

And just like that, a powerful and fruitful ministry partnership is over.  Two church leaders have a very heated disagreement and go separate ways.  

It is important to note that both men continue to serve the Lord. Just not together.  

If we are being humble and honest we would quickly admit that this sort of thing happens far more often than Christians would care to admit.  Long time church leaders and/or dear friends encounter unexpected turbulence.  The more they talk the further apart they grow.  Eventually, a painful break up happens. 

Surely, this is one reason why the Holy Spirit includes this sad chapter in the sacred Scriptures. Ministry impasses and relational falling outs can and do happen within the Body of Christ.

This account should sober us. Because unity is good (Ps. 133), is commanded (Eph. 4); and is a gift from God (Jn 17).

And yet—even among good and faithful saints—it can fracture.

That is not new. It happened then.  It still happens. 

One author adds the following commentary, "From the relationship of Paul and Barnabas we can draw an important lesson. Here were two godly men, loved by the churches, filled with the Spirit, enduring persecution together, seeing people saved, and enjoying an effective ministry. Yet they were fallible and did not see eye to eye on everything. They quarreled and parted ways. Even the best and most faithful among us are prone to interpersonal conflicts. Every Christian is a fallen, frail, fallible human being." 

BUT God Is Not Thwarted! He works good out of this messy breakup (Rom. 8:28f; Gen. 50:20). What looks like a setback… becomes expansion.

Two Christ-centered missionary teams now move forward (instead of just one).  More outreach. More people reached.

God Almighty is never limited by human failure or ministry impasses.

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The Risk of a Second Chance