LOS ANGELES / CHICAGO — Philip Yancey, one of the most widely read evangelical Christian authors of the past half‑century, has stepped down from ministry and public speaking after confessing to a long‑term affair.

Yancey, best known for books such as What’s So Amazing About Grace? and Where Is God When It Hurts?, revealed the affair in a letter published by Christianity Today. He described his conduct as a betrayal of his marriage vows and his faith.

“My conduct defied everything that I believe about marriage,” Yancey wrote. “It was also totally inconsistent with my faith and my writings and caused deep pain for her husband and both of our families”.

According to reports, Yancey admitted to an eight‑year relationship with a married woman. He characterized the affair as “sinful” and said it contradicted the very principles he had spent decades teaching and writing about.

Yancey, who has battled Parkinson’s disease in recent years, said the decision to retire was necessary both for personal accountability and to protect the integrity of his ministry.

Legacy and Impact

Over a career spanning more than 55 years, Yancey wrote dozens of books that reached millions of readers worldwide. His works often addressed themes of doubt, suffering, and grace, resonating deeply with Christians struggling with faith questions. He was also a longtime columnist and contributor to Christianity Today, shaping evangelical thought for decades.

Despite his retirement, Yancey’s writings remain influential in churches and seminaries across the globe. His admission, however, has sparked difficult conversations within evangelical circles about leadership, accountability, and the gap between public ministry and private life.

Christian leaders and readers expressed both sorrow and disappointment at the news. While many acknowledged the pain caused by Yancey’s actions, others emphasized the importance of transparency and repentance.

Private Sin, Public Impact

A private failure does not stay private when the person involved shaped the faith of millions. Philip Yancey’s admission of an eight-year affair ripples far beyond one household. Families are hurt first. Trust is broken closest to home. That damage is quiet, deep, and lasting.

Then come the readers. Many turned to his books during doubt, grief, and spiritual struggle. They trusted not just the words, but the witness behind them. When that witness collapses, confusion follows. Some feel betrayed. Others feel disoriented. A few may even question the faith that once steadied them.

Churches feel it too. Leaders now face hard conversations about integrity, accountability, and how long secrecy can survive without challenge. Believers are left holding two truths at once: meaningful writing can coexist with moral failure, and influence magnifies consequences.

How do believers hold space for grace without ignoring the real harm done to those who trusted that voice most?

Image from Philip Yancey