Pastor Ray McCauley’s legacy lives on,’ says Ramaphosa, as SA mourns a spiritual giant

Ray McCauley

Cape Town — President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended heartfelt condolences to the family of Pastor Ray McCauley and the congregation of the Rhema Bible Church following the pastor’s passing at the age of 75.

In a tribute, Ramaphosa said: “Pastor Ray’s passing leaves our deeply spiritual nation bereft of a remarkable leader whose impressive legacy lives on in the faith of hundreds of thousands of believers within and beyond the Rhema community. May his soul rest in peace.”

In statement, the Rhema Bible Church announced the tragic news of Pastor McCauley’s death, which occurred on Tuesday evening while he was surrounded by family and friends.

Pastor Joshua McCauley, Ray’s son, shared that “at 75, Pastor Ray had stepped back from active church duties but remained fully committed to serving the body of Christ. His enduring legacy as a servant leader will continue to impact communities far beyond his lifetime”.

He expressed gratitude for the support his family has received, promising that further details will be communicated soon.

As reported by IOL, born on October 1, 1949, in Johannesburg, McCauley initially pursued a career in bodybuilding, winning the title of Mr South Africa in 1974 and placing third in the Mr Universe competition.

After attending the Rhema Bible Training Centre in Oklahoma, USA, he returned to South Africa to establish the Rhema Bible Church, starting with just 13 members in his home.

Under his leadership, the church has grown to over 45,000 members and now features a 7,500-seat auditorium in Randburg.

McCauley was also instrumental in South Africa’s political and social transformation during the end of Apartheid, interacting with prominent figures such as Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Reverend Frank Chikane.

He was known as a bridge-builder in the country’s evolving political landscape.

According to Newzroom Afrika, senior members of the church met to discuss and share stories of Ray McCauley and said it would meet to discuss plans ahead to mourn the “life of a giant”.

“There are two things that define him. He loved God and he loved people. He loved his country and the people of his country. For many years, he stood in places of death and spoke life. He was famous for his words ‘no perfect people allowed, everybody is allowed to come to this church’.”

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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