MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE MCCAULEY FAMILY ON THE PASSING OF PASTOR RAY MCCAULEY, A GIANT, A GENERAL OF FAITH AND A SERVANT LEADER.
FOR ATTENTION – ALL MEDIA
For Immediate Release
Amid the darkest part of our history defined by segregation and division, he founded a place that brought everyone together despite our differences.
A spiritual mentor to many irrespective of race, creed or faith, a giant, a general and a servant leader who pioneered the faith movement in Africa. He fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith (2 Tim 4:7-8).
Ps Ray will be remembered as a person who pioneered inclusive worship in South Africa long before others did. A leader who stood resolute on matters of integrity in state affairs playing a pivotal role in CODESA and the “Peace Accord.’
Ps Ray McCauley founded Rhema Bible Church in 1979. Rhema was the first church to have a bible school in 1986, and from the bible school hundreds of churches have been planted including some of the biggest churches in South Africa and around the world. Rhema was the first church to have an intentional social justice wing called Hands of Compassion (HOC) in 1987.
The first to have a TV ministry in 1991. The church grew to capacity and it was decided to build overflow areas, which was opened by President Nelson Mandela in 1996. Through Ps Ray McCauley and Rhema Bible Church, over 500 churches were planted globally. Over 10 000 bible school students graduated from the Rhema Bible College. The church has seen over 1.5 million responses to the gospel and over 70 countries have been impacted globally. He pioneered a 45 000 membership church, with three services every Sunday.
At 75, Ps Ray had stepped back from active church duties but remained committed to serving the body of Christ. In May 2022, Ps Ray with the leadership of Rhema Bible Church appointed Pastors Joshua and Tara McCauley as the incoming Senior Pastors and anointed them to take the church forward into the future. In Ps Ray’s own words, he believed in “honouring the past and pledging loyalty to the future.” He also believed, “the best is yet to come and that God is a generational God whose heart is to see the gospel preached from generation to generation.”
In his transition season, he continued to support his son, Ps Joshua McCauley as the Senior Pastor of the church and believed that Ps Joshua carries the vision for the future of the church. He is celebrated by his family, friends and spiritual family.
Funeral details and events leading up to the funeral are as follows:
Comfort service – Thursday 10th October at 7 pm at Rhema Bible Church North
Honouring service – Thursday 17th October at 7pm at Rhema Bible Church North
Funeral service – Saturday 19th October at 8 am, doors open at 7 am at Rhema Bible Church North
The public is welcome to bring flowers to Rhema Bible Church North campus in Randburg.
For more information please contact info@rhema.co.za.
