editorial matters and to become John's right hand in 'translat-
The 1980s 83
acquisitions editor. MacArthur, who was at that time a board
member of the Institute, knew of that possibility and encour-
aged 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 'translat-
ing' 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 congrega-
tion, 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 stu-
dents 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