Grace Community Church in the US has named Nathan Busenitz as its new senior pastor, a year after the death of its long-time leader, John MacArthur.
The church’s elders unanimously selected Busenitz last Thursday, following an interim period after MacArthur’s death.
In a statement, the church said the elders approached the decision with "prayer, patience, and careful deliberation".
It continued: "Their unanimous decision reflects both their confidence in God’s providence and their conviction that Nathan has been uniquely prepared by God to serve our church in this next season."
MacArthur, who served as the church’s pastor-teacher for more than 50 years, died in July 2025 at the age of 86, shortly after being admitted to hospital with pneumonia. Busenitz was subsequently appointed as a staff pastor while church leaders searched for a permanent successor.
He previously served as MacArthur’s personal assistant and held teaching and leadership roles at The Master’s University and The Master’s Seminary, institutions associated with MacArthur.
The church elders said: "Having grown up at Grace, Nathan is already known and beloved by our church family," the church elders said. "Nathan’s giftedness for preaching and shepherding became evident in these ministries through his clear teaching and humble leadership."
They added: "As Nathan steps into his new role and transitions from leading the seminary, the elders ask the congregation to faithfully lift up him and his family in prayer. We enter this new season of ministry with gratitude to God for His faithfulness in the past and with joyful confidence in His plan for the future."
Speaking to the congregation on Sunday, Busenitz said he was thankful to the elders for their "kindness and affirmation".
“First and foremost, I want to give thanks to the Lord. This is his church. Grace Community Church belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ, and everything that we do is for his glory and to make his name great,” he added.
“Having grown up here at Grace, I am profoundly grateful for all of you. So many of you have invested in me personally and in my family. And so I want to say thank you for that and what a joy it is for me to have the opportunity to serve alongside all of you,” he said. “I can’t imagine a sweeter group of saints.”