Servant of the Word and Flock
The 1980s 83 acquisitions editor. MacArthur, who was at that time a board member of the Institute, knew of that possibility and encouraged him with the words, 'Tl tell you what. If you come to Moody as acquisitions editor, Pll make The Gospel According to Jesus a Moody Press book.' The younger man did go back to Moody and his first official job was to issue a contract to John
MacArthur for that book. The friendship between the two men developed and the outcome was an invitation to serve as an elder in Grace Church and as Executive Director of Grace to You.
Thus Phil, with his wife, Darlene, and their two children (and a third son already on the way), moved to Sun Valley in March
1983. From that date Phil Johnson began to take a lead in all editorial matters and to become John's right hand in 'translating' material preached into readable form. Until this point
MacArthur's books had been comparatively few, and Johnson's presence would have a marked consequence in the flow of the preacher's titles that now went to the press. aS eas
If there was any thought that had priority in MacArthur's mind in the 1980s, next to the ministry in his own congregation, it was the need to help preachers, and to see others raised up for that work. He would often state the principle: "Nothing is more critical to the health of a church than the quality of its leadership.' That conviction lay behind his input into the students at the Talbot extension program at Grace. It meant much to him that he could write in 1980, Our tape ministry sends more tapes to pastors than any other single group. God has answered our prayers in this