John Piper (theologian)

===Ministry===
[[File:2202020FLC VCFJP-7.jpg|thumb|John Piper teaching at VMware, Palo Alto, California in February 2020.]]
In 1980, Piper became pastor of [[Bethlehem Baptist Church (Minneapolis)|Bethlehem Baptist Church]] in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he ministered until March 31, 2013, as pastor for preaching and vision. Piper became involved in evangelical Christianity after the publication of his book ''Desiring God: Meditations of a [[Christian Hedonism|Christian Hedonist]]'' in 1986 and has continued to publish dozens of books further articulating his theological perspective. In 1994, Piper founded Desiring God Ministries, with the aim of "spread[ing] a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ."<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.desiringgod.org/about/mission |title=Distinctives: Mission |work = About | publisher= Desiring God}}</ref> Desiring God Ministries offers all of Piper's sermons and articles from the past three decades—and most of his books—online at no cost.

Piper took an eight-month leave of absence from his ministry from May 1, 2010, to January 9, 2011.<ref name= "Piper0328">{{cite web|url= http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2010/4555 |title= John Piper's Upcoming Leave|last= Piper|first= John |date= March 28, 2010 |publisher= Desiring God | work = Taste & See |access-date= April 2, 2010}}</ref><ref name= "CBNNews">{{cite news|url= http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2010/March/Evangelist-John-Piper-Takes-Personal-Leave/ |title= Evangelist John Piper Takes Personal Leave | work = News |date= March 30, 2010 |publisher= [[Christian Broadcasting Network|CBN]]|access-date= April 2, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.christianpost.com/news/john-piper-returns-to-pulpit-after-8-month-leave-48415/ |title=John Piper Returns to Pulpit after 8-month Leave |last= Vu|first=Michelle |date= January 9, 2011 | work = The Christian Post |access-date= December 8, 2011}}</ref> He announced in June 2011 that he would soon step down from his role of pastor. A candidate to succeed him was announced in March 2012,<ref name= "step-down"/> and on May 20, 2012, Jason Meyer was voted in (784 yes to 8 no) to be the next pastor for preaching and vision, replacing Piper.

On March 31, 2013 (Easter Sunday), Piper preached his final sermon as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist<ref name= "stepped-down"/> and announced in an open letter to the congregation that he and his family would be moving to Tennessee for at least a year for the church's new leadership to develop a strategic vision for the church without distractions.<ref>{{Citation | publisher = Hope in God | url = http://www.hopeingod.org/news-events/bethlehem-blogs/bethlehem-updates-blog/final-open-letter-my-flock | title = Bethlehem updates | contribution = My flock | type = open letter | access-date = April 2, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151002070737/http://www.hopeingod.org/news-events/bethlehem-blogs/bethlehem-updates-blog/final-open-letter-my-flock | archive-date = October 2, 2015 | url-status = dead}}</ref> He still attends the church and is designated pastor emeritus<ref name= ":0" /> with no official role in the church leadership.

Following his retirement from the active pastorship of his church, Piper has occupied himself with online work through his Desiring God ministries. He has become especially known for the [[Ask Pastor John]] podcast, in which he answers various Bible- and life-related questions submitted by listeners. He additionally works on a video series called "Look at the Book" ("LAB") in which he annotates some portion of Scripture and goes through in-depth exegesis.<ref name= "Desiring God website">{{cite web|url=https://www.desiringgod.org/about-us |title= About Us}}</ref> In 2024, a condensed book version of the Ask Pastor John podcast (adapted by its host, Tony Reinke) was released.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.desiringgod.org/books/ask-pastor-john |title= Ask Pastor John: 750 Answers to Life’s Most Important Questions}}</ref>

He has sold millions of books but has donated 100% of the royalties from his books sales to various charities.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.epm.org/blog/2017/Jul/31/receiving-royalties-books | title=Why I Love Not Receiving a Cent of the Royalties from My Books - Blog}}</ref>