Cape Town — The tributes came flying in for Pastor Ray McCauley during his memorial service on Saturday, which was attended by several local and international dignitaries.
McCauley’s death sent shockwaves throughout the country as many paid tribute to his outstanding legacy. He passed away on 8 October aged 75 and was known as the founder of the Rhema Bible Church in South Africa.
President Cyril Ramaphosa declared McCauley’s funeral as a Special Provincial Official Funeral Category 2 and many people gathered in their droves to attend McCauley’s funeral at the Randburg campus in Johannesburg on Saturday morning.
Some of the congregants of Rhema Bible Church, in Johannesburg, have formed a guard of honour in anticipation of the arrival of the hearse carrying the remains of Pastor Ray McCauley
You are listening to an @SAfmRadio Broadcast of the funeral services of McCauley & #TitoMboweni pic.twitter.com/x9Eg4M9jfO
— SABC News Radio (@SABCNews_Radio) October 19, 2024
Among the guests spotted attending the event included American televangelist, Creflo Dollar, ANC bigwig Tokyo Sexwale, and Bishop Mosa Sono, TimesLIVE reported.
Other notable guests include former sports minister Zizi Kodwa, Tshwane mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya, ACDP leader Dr Kenneth Meshoe, ex-city of Joburg speaker and now finance MMC Margaret Arnolds could be seen making their arrival.
Many people took to the stage and paid tribute to McCauley, including Pastor Kabelo Mabalane who opened the funeral proceeding. He described McCauley as a “titan of faith” and encouraged people to follow McCauley’s words to keep having spiritual guts.
“As this titan that lays here, this titan that has had an impact on the faith of gargantuan proportion. This Hercules always used to say to us ‘have spiritual guts,” he said.
Pastor Kabelo Mabalane opened the funeral programme for the late Pastor Ray McCauley. He expressed his privilege to address the gathering, acknowledging that there are others more qualified to stand before them.
He emphasised the monumental loss of Pastor Ray, describing him as… pic.twitter.com/G449ZEOLsm
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) October 19, 2024
Bishop Mosa Sono reflected on the journey he and McCauley shared and said he had a profound influence on many spiritual leaders. Sono said McCauley’s death was as if a big tree had fallen.
Sono said McCauley’s leading of an altar call during the same service was a “day that made a mark” on him, He said McCauley’s death left him heartbroken and he cried every day.
“This is what we learnt from Pastor Ray. He said the role of the church has to be on all four legs. It must be evangelistically potent, prophetically relevant, spiritually vibrant and socially significant,” he said.
He added that McCauley transitioned from his privileged white background to a man who knew Apartheid was a sin.
Bishop Mosa Sono, founder of Grace Bible Church, honours Pastor Ray McCauley at his funeral, reflecting on their shared journey. He recalls joining Rhema Bible School in the ’80s, a pioneering church that embraced all races: “We sat side by side with those I protested
against.”… pic.twitter.com/GYeMUpm0hZ— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) October 19, 2024
Pastor Bert Pretorius, chairperson of Rhema Family Churches, remembered McCauley as someone who “always stood for the truth”.
“[He’d always say] ‘Bert what’s right is right. What’s wrong is wrong … [and] add truth to truth, love your neighbour and get into their world’,” he recalled of the well-known clergyman.
Pretorius also shared his fondest memories of McCauley, including how he always made those he’d interacted with feel like they were special.
“No one single person can claim to know pastor Ray because his world was so large and captivating and diverse.”
Pastor Bert Pretorius delivered a heartfelt remembrance speech at the funeral of the late Rhema Church founder Pastor Ray. “As a peacemaker, Pastor Ray always stood for the truth,” he began. “He urged us to go into all the world and preach the gospel — this was who Pastor Ray… pic.twitter.com/zEhwqouwhj
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) October 19, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
