On October 28, Jon Bloom came to tell us he sensed God was calling him away from Desiring God to a new work. This news didn’t catch us completely off guard, because I and the other leaders have walked with Jon for a couple of years now as he’s prayerfully explored this possibility. While we are sad, we also sense God calling him and Pam into something new and exciting in this season of their life and ministry together.

A few know Jon’s story well, but others may not know that Jon was cofounder with John Piper of Desiring God. In March 1994, John Piper asked Jon (his ministry assistant at the time) to oversee the tape ministry at Bethlehem Baptist Church. A month later, the two men agreed to found Desiring God Ministries as a production and distribution outreach from the church — with no idea of how it would grow and flourish over decades.

For all but two years between 1994 and 2011, Jon led the ministry, first as Executive Director and then as President & CEO. This leadership role meant stepping into many and varied responsibilities and challenges. The needs changed dramatically over those years — from replicating cassettes to broadcasting on radio to streaming online. Jon has been a remarkably humble leader, but he’s also been remarkably ambitious and courageous. We simply wouldn’t have taken many of the risks we did if he hadn’t been given faith to match those harrowing moments.

Beginning in 2011, Jon continued in the roles of founder and board member, but he focused his vocational life more toward writing. He has now written more than 750 articles (more than 750,000 words!), second only to Piper, and his articles have been viewed more than forty million times. Over the years, his unique voice and heart have especially ministered to the hurting who are battling doubt. One of his most-read articles could be a wonderful banner over his writing ministry with us: “Don’t Give Up.”

We Must Decrease

When I think about this treasured friend, fellow soldier, and father in the faith, I almost immediately think of John 3:30, when John the Baptist says of Jesus,

He must increase, but I must decrease.

I have known these words by heart for years, but I have also known them by friendship — because I have known Jon Bloom. No one in Desiring God’s history, and no one in my life, has lived these seven words more diligently and beautifully — and happily — than Jon. It’s that joy, in particular, that ties our Jon to John the Baptist:

You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, “I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.” The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:28–30)

Oh, for more founders, more executive directors, more presidents, more CEOs, more authors, more pastors, more husbands, and more fathers who so delight in decreasing, that Jesus might increase.

David Mathis, who worked under Jon for years before becoming his boss for the last decade, reflected on the unique fatherly role Jon has played among our teachers:

It has been a life-shaping gift from God for younger men like me, Marshall, Greg, Scott, and others to have been fellow workers with Jon in teaching. He has been both a friend and father to each of us in very formative seasons of our lives — looking for a wife, having our first children and learning to parent, learning to fulfill our callings at home, church, and work.

When I asked John Piper to share his heart for this lifelong friend and comrade in Christian Hedonism, he wrote a lengthy poem. And then he said,

I love Jon Bloom. I have known him 36 years and worked with him for over 30. We have never had a falling-out. There would be no Desiring God without him.

Besides being the builder at my side for thirty years, he became a precious friend. He is uncommonly wise. If I desperately need counsel, Jon would be one of the first two I would call. Thankfully, he will remain a crucial part of our board of directors. And thankfully, he will be my friend forever.

He Ended as He Led

After I received the news, I went back and found an article Jon wrote the month I took my first job at Desiring God, in May 2012. Yet again, he quotes that verse he so embodies: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

As I read it, I realized he was preparing us for this day. And he was preparing us for all of our own endings, because all of our seasons and callings will eventually come to an end (and probably sooner than we think or want). One paragraph in particular moved and challenged me all these years later:

We must remember that our role is not our reward. Jesus is our reward. Roles will begin and they will end. And the only way for us to end well is if in our heart Jesus has increased and we have decreased.

Thirteen years ago, he was already preparing to end well. In this first year of leadership at Desiring God, feeling the weight of the stewardship that has been passed down to me, I read that paragraph and pray that God would give me the grace to lead, serve, and end as well as Jon has.

In another article, he crafted a short prayer inspired by John 3:30 that I know he has prayed again and again:

Whatever it takes, Lord, increase my love for your supremacy and my trust in your wise purposes so that, when it’s time for me to step out of something to which you had appointed me for a season, I will receive the decrease in personal influence with joyful faith.

As I look back over these last couple of decades, with fresh tears in my eyes, I believe he has answered my friend’s prayer.