Construction workers suing the late John MacArthur's Grace Community Church say the legal battle has cost them far more than their jobs-they claim it has left them questioning church leadership, struggling to trust pastors again, and, in some cases, shaken in their faith.
According to a new report by The Roys Report, three former members of Grace Community Church allege they were exposed to asbestos during a church renovation project after leaders falsely assured them the building materials had been tested. The men claim they were later dismissed after raising concerns about workplace safety and that church leaders admitted the testing claims were untrue but refused to apologize. Grace Community Church has denied wrongdoing in court filings.
For Mauricio Calderon, the lawsuit has become deeply personal. Once transformed by John MacArthur's preaching after leaving behind a gang lifestyle, Calderon says he expected church leaders to practice the same biblical accountability they regularly preached from the pulpit.
"I really thought the elders would do the right thing," he said. Instead, he now believes protecting the church's reputation became the priority.
Another plaintiff, Jose Antonio "Tony" Lara, said the experience completely changed how he views large churches. After spending years helping renovate Grace Community Church's campus, he now believes megachurches can become too focused on institutions rather than people.
"I don't think there should be megachurches," Lara said, while adding that he still appreciated the biblical teaching he once received there.
Chad Pritchett echoed similar concerns, saying the ordeal has made it difficult to explain the situation to his son, who had recently been baptized at Grace. Although he insists he has not lost faith in God, he admits he no longer knows whether he will ever be able to trust church elders again.
Perhaps Calderon's strongest criticism comes after visiting the church following MacArthur's death in 2025. He noticed new signage reading, "We preach Christ, continuing the legacy of Pastor John MacArthur," with MacArthur's name prominently emphasized. Calderon said it reinforced his growing belief that the church had become overly centered on its longtime pastor's legacy.
"My whole bookshelf... the majority of the books are from John MacArthur," he reflected, admitting he once viewed the influential preacher as "the holiest man on earth." Today, he says the experience has forced him to wrestle with whether devotion to a ministry can gradually become devotion to a personality instead.
The lawsuit, originally filed in 2025, remains ongoing, with both sides continuing through discovery as the case moves toward trial. Grace Community Church continues to deny liability for the workers' allegations.
