Pastor Phil Johnson, a longtime associate of the late John MacArthur, has revealed that his cancer has returned less than three months after going into remission.

Johnson, who spent more than four decades working with MacArthur's Grace to You ministry, shared the news with followers on social media after receiving an update from his oncologist last week.

“The oncologist told me last week that the cancer seems to be making a rebound,” Johnson wrote on X. “‘Remission’ lasted less than 3 months.”

The 73-year-old recently retired from Grace to You after more than 40 years with the ministry, but has continued preaching despite his illness.

According to The Roys Report, Johnson appeared in the pulpit at Grace Community Church several times during July and early August. The church's sermon archive lists his latest message on 2 August, when he preached about the lives of preacher Charles Spurgeon and his wife, Susannah.

Johnson revealed in 2024 that he had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, after kidney problems prompted doctors to carry out blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy.

He said at the time that doctors had discovered cancer-related proteins were damaging other organs. While his medical team believed treatment could put the disease into remission, Johnson said he had been told the cancer was incurable.

His retirement came during a period of major change at Grace to You following the death of its founder, John MacArthur, in July 2025 at the age of 86.

MacArthur's son, Matt MacArthur, subsequently became president and chairman of the ministry's board.

When announcing his retirement, Johnson said Grace to You needed a new generation of leadership capable of navigating changes in technology and developing the ministry's strategy for the future.