Born Raynor McCauley
Ray McCauley is a prominent South African religious leader, Senior Pastor of Rhema Bible Church, President of International Federation of Christian Churches IFCC, author and former champion body builder.
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Born in Johannesburg on October 1, 1949, McCauley took a keen interest in bodybuilding. He was a former Mr South Africa and took part in the Mr. Universe bodybuilding championships in London in 1974 where he finished in 3rd place. Ray McCauley was also a night club bouncer for a time.
McCauley attended bible college with his former wife Lyndie at Rhema Bible Training Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma during 1978/1979.
On returning to South Africa after Bible College the McCauleys started Rhema Bible Church under Rhema Ministries SA in the home of his parents, Jimmy and Doreen in which 13 people attended. Membership grew and the church moved into the former Constantia Cinema in Rosebank, Johannesburg. Under the leadership of Ray and Lyndie McCauley, the church outstripped the size of its premises and it moved to a warehouse in Jan Smuts Avenue in Randburg before moving to its current premises. In 1985 the church moved into the newly constructed 5,000 seater auditorium in Randburg, Johannesburg which was dedicated on June 16, 1985 by Dr Kenneth E Hagin, the late founder of Rhema Ministries in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The auditorium was later upgraded to over 7 500 seats to accommodate the growth of the church. Today the church has a claimed 45,000 strong congregation and which is the single largest church congregation in Southern Africa.
Towards the end of the Apartheid era McCauley and his associates were involved in numerous critical events that helped with the peaceful transition to a democratic nation in 1994. During this time he interacted with leading churchmen like Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Reverend Frank Chikane.[1]
McCauley is a well known speaker at church events around the world.
Ray McCauley has been a controversial figure in South Africa. Rhema has been accused in the press of being a proponent of the prosperity gospel.[2] His opposition to apartheid also caused controversy, with the congregation being inter-racial, this contravening the apartheid laws of South Africa at the time.
The location and building of the sanctuary at the corner of Rabie and Hans Schoeman streets in Randpark Ridge, Randburg also caused tremendous controversy with local residents vehemently objecting to the construction of the church.
McCauley's greatest controversy came with the divorce of his first wife Lyndie in 2000.[3] According to the ministry, Lyndie McCauley instituted divorce proceedings, which the ministry believed had no biblical grounds for. The divorce caused a large portion of the then congregation to depart from the church. Shortly after the divorce, McCauley became romantically involved with a two time divorcee, Zelda Ireland, whom he married in July 2001.[4]
It was announced in January 2010 that McCauley and Ireland had separated and that divorce proceedings had been instituted by Ireland.[5]
Ray McCauley is and has been controversial with regards to his lifestyle, with many alleging that he lives a millionaire's lifestyle. McCauley has defended himself on numerous occasions in the press on this matter, with the argument that he only earns the salary of a chief executive of a medium sized company.[6][7]
McCauley caused waves politically when he invited (the then unelected) president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma to speak at a Sunday morning meeting. This brought about accusations of political bias from McCauley, mostly from the opposition parties in South Africa.[8]
McCauley has also been a strong opponent of gay rights.[9]
McCauley has written a couple of books, his latest book is Live Long, Die Young released in 2008. McCauley's other books include, Our God Is An Awesome God(1993), Walk In Faith(1998), Making Your World Different(2000), The Secret Place(2003), Expect More(2005), Bottom Line(2005), Choose This Day(2007), Power & Passion, Holy Ghost Fire, Purpose Powered People. His biography, "Destined To Win" was written by Ron Steele and was released in 1986. Rhema Television is broadcast through Rhema's "A New Day with Pastor Ray", broadcasting across channels in South Africa and Africa, featuring teachings by Ray McCauley.