Ray McCauley Biography: Age, Wife, Children, Church, Net Worth and Ministry

Last Updated on September 13, 2026 by Bakare Sherifdeen

Introduction

Ray McCauley was a South African pastor, evangelist, author and church leader best known as the founder of Rhema Bible Church and one of the most influential figures in the development of Pentecostal Christianity in South Africa.

Born in Johannesburg in 1949, McCauley went from a career in bodybuilding to Christian ministry and eventually built Rhema Bible Church into one of the largest and most recognizable churches in Southern Africa. He was also involved in interfaith relations, social justice and efforts to promote racial reconciliation during and after apartheid.

McCauley died on October 8, 2024, at the age of 75, at his home surrounded by family. His death was mourned by South African political and religious leaders, including President Cyril Ramaphosa.

His legacy extends beyond the church he founded. During the apartheid era, Rhema became known for holding multiracial services at a time when South African society remained deeply segregated. McCauley later became involved in national reconciliation efforts and served in Christian and interfaith leadership positions.

This article explores Ray McCauley’s biography, age, early life, bodybuilding career, wife, children, Rhema Bible Church, ministry, books, social impact, net worth, controversies and legacy.

Key Takeaways

• Ray McCauley was born on October 1, 1949, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
• He became a Christian in 1969.
• Before entering full-time ministry, he was a competitive bodybuilder and former Mr South Africa.
• He attended Rhema Bible Training Centre in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
• He founded Rhema Bible Church in South Africa in 1979.
• The church began with only 13 people meeting at his parents’ home.
• Rhema became one of the largest churches in Southern Africa.
• McCauley played a notable role in promoting multiracial worship during apartheid.
• He served as president of the International Federation of Christian Churches and held prominent interfaith leadership roles.
• He married Lyndie McCauley and later Zelda McCauley.
• He had children from his first and second marriages.
• He died in October 2024 at age 75.

Ray McCauley at a Glance

Ray McCauley’s life was unusual because his path to becoming a major pastor began outside traditional ministry.

As a young man, he became heavily involved in bodybuilding and eventually competed internationally. His conversion to Christianity changed the direction of his life and led him toward Bible school and full-time ministry.

After returning to South Africa from the United States, he and his first wife, Lyndie, established Rhema Bible Church.

The church grew dramatically and became known not only for its size but also for its willingness to welcome people of different racial backgrounds during apartheid.

Ray McCauley Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Full Name	Raynor McCauley
Popular Name	Ray McCauley
Date of Birth	October 1, 1949
Place of Birth	Johannesburg, South Africa
Nationality	South African
Date of Death	October 8, 2024
Age at Death	75 years
Occupation	Pastor, Author, Evangelist, Church Leader
Church	Rhema Bible Church
Ministry Founded	1979
First Wife	Lyndie McCauley
Second Wife	Zelda McCauley
Known For	Rhema Bible Church, Christian leadership, racial reconciliation
Former Career	Bodybuilder

Early Life and Family

Raynor McCauley was born on October 1, 1949, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

His early life was not initially directed toward Christian ministry. Before becoming a pastor, he explored several career paths and developed a strong interest in physical fitness and bodybuilding.

Reports about his childhood describe a difficult family environment. Later accounts of his life indicate that his father struggled with gambling while his mother battled alcoholism. McCauley eventually found direction through bodybuilding before his conversion to Christianity changed his priorities.

His experience of growing up in Johannesburg also meant that his later ministry developed against the backdrop of South Africa’s apartheid system.

That historical context would become particularly important because Rhema Bible Church eventually became known for bringing people of different racial backgrounds together for worship.

Bodybuilding Career

Before becoming a pastor, Ray McCauley was a serious bodybuilder.

He became involved in bodybuilding at a young age and eventually competed at a high level. He won the Mr South Africa title and later represented South Africa at the Mr Universe bodybuilding championships in London in 1974, where he finished third.

His physical strength also led to work as a nightclub bouncer for a period.

McCauley later operated a group of gymnasiums, making fitness and bodybuilding an important part of his life before entering full-time ministry.

His bodybuilding background remained part of his public identity throughout his pastoral career. He was often described as an unusual combination of former champion bodybuilder, businessman and charismatic preacher.

Conversion to Christianity

Ray McCauley became a Christian in 1969.

According to the Rhema Family Churches account of his life, he was born again that year and immediately began sharing his faith with other people.

His conversion eventually led him away from his earlier career ambitions and toward Christian ministry.

Rather than abandoning his interest in leadership and public communication, he redirected those abilities toward preaching, evangelism and church leadership.

His decision to pursue ministry ultimately took him to the United States for formal Bible training.

Bible College and Ministry Training

McCauley attended the Rhema Bible Training Centre in Tulsa, Oklahoma, during 1978 and 1979.

It was there that he received ministry training and developed relationships that would influence the direction of his future church.

He was ordained in Tulsa in 1979 after completing his studies.

His time at Rhema Bible Training Centre also connected him to the ministry of Kenneth E. Hagin, whose teachings became influential in the Rhema movement internationally.

After returning to South Africa, McCauley and his first wife, Lyndie, began the work that would eventually become Rhema Bible Church.

Founding Rhema Bible Church

Rhema Bible Church officially began in 1979 with only 13 people meeting in the home of McCauley’s parents, Jimmy and Doreen, in Johannesburg.

The congregation quickly grew.

As the number of worshippers increased, the church moved from the family home to the former Constantia Cinema in Rosebank. It later moved into a warehouse in Randburg before eventually moving into its purpose-built church facility.

In 1985, Rhema moved into a newly constructed auditorium that was dedicated by Kenneth E. Hagin. The church’s growth continued over subsequent decades.

The story of Rhema’s growth from 13 people in a family home to a major South African church became one of the defining achievements of McCauley’s ministry.

Growth of Rhema Bible Church

Under McCauley’s leadership, Rhema Bible Church developed into a large Pentecostal congregation with extensive ministry operations.

The church’s impact eventually extended beyond Sunday services through Bible school, evangelism, church planting, television and other forms of Christian outreach.

Rhema’s current historical account says that over the years the ministry recorded:

• More than 1.5 million personal responses to the Gospel
• Impact in more than 70 countries
• More than 10,000 Bible school students
• More than 500 churches planted

These figures are published by Rhema Bible Church as part of its account of the ministry’s historical impact.

McCauley eventually became one of the most recognizable Pentecostal leaders in South Africa.

Rhema’s Role During Apartheid

One of the most significant aspects of McCauley’s ministry was Rhema’s approach to race.

During apartheid, South African society was heavily segregated. Religious congregations were also frequently divided along racial lines.

Rhema Bible Church deliberately promoted multiracial worship.

The church’s own history states that under McCauley’s leadership, Rhema held non-racial church services and became a visible example of racial unity during a deeply divided period in South African history.

This position was not always comfortable for the apartheid government.

McCauley’s ministry therefore became associated with the broader Christian movement against racial segregation and social injustice.

Ray McCauley’s Wives and Marriage

Ray McCauley was married twice.

His first wife was Lyndie McCauley. The couple married in 1976 and attended Bible college together in the United States before returning to South Africa and establishing Rhema Bible Church.

Their marriage later ended in divorce in 2000.

In 2001, McCauley married Zelda Ireland, who became known publicly as Zelda McCauley.

Zelda remained his wife until his death in 2024.

The couple appeared together at numerous Rhema events and public functions, including the church’s 40th anniversary celebration. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa publicly addressed Zelda and the McCauley family during that celebration.

Ray McCauley’s Children

McCauley had children from his marriages.

His son Joshua McCauley became particularly prominent in the Rhema ministry. In May 2022, Ray formally handed over the role of senior pastor of Rhema Bible Church North to Joshua and Joshua’s wife, Tara McCauley.

This transition represented an important generational change for the church.

Ray remained involved as founding pastor and continued preaching and supporting the ministry, while Joshua and Tara assumed responsibility for the church’s day-to-day senior leadership.

Rhema’s current leadership structure therefore represents part of McCauley’s broader legacy of preparing the next generation to continue the ministry.

Ray McCauley’s Leadership and Influence

Ray McCauley became one of the most recognizable Christian leaders in South Africa during a period of enormous political and social change. His influence eventually extended beyond the pulpit into national conversations about religion, reconciliation, democracy and social responsibility.

Through Rhema Bible Church, he helped establish a model of Christian ministry that combined large-scale preaching with Bible education, television, conferences and leadership development.

Rhema says that during McCauley’s more than four decades of leadership, the ministry recorded more than 1.5 million personal responses to the Gospel, trained more than 10,000 Bible school students, impacted people in more than 70 countries and was directly or indirectly associated with the planting of more than 500 churches.

His influence also reached prominent figures in South African public life. McCauley was known for building relationships across political, religious and social circles, although those relationships sometimes attracted criticism.

Ray McCauley and South Africa’s Political Transition

One of the most significant parts of Ray McCauley’s legacy was his involvement in South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy.

During the early 1990s, religious leaders became involved in efforts to reduce political violence and encourage dialogue between opposing groups. McCauley was among the church leaders involved in these efforts. Historical records show that he participated in forums seeking to encourage negotiations and reconciliation after the collapse of apartheid-era political structures.

Rhema Bible Church also became known for holding non-racial services during apartheid. This was significant at a time when racial segregation affected virtually every part of South African society. The church’s official history describes its non-racial services as an expression of the unity that would later become possible in a democratic South Africa.

His contribution was later recognized by political leaders. Following his death, South Africa’s Parliament described McCauley as a leader whose commitment to unity, justice, democracy and peace contributed to the country’s journey toward a free society.

Ray McCauley’s Books

Ray McCauley was also a prolific Christian author. His books focused on faith, personal development, Christian living and spiritual growth.

Some of his known publications include:

• Our God Is An Awesome God
• Walk In Faith
• Making Your World Different
• The Secret Place
• Expect More
• The Bottom Line
• Choose This Day
• Live Long, Die Young
• Power & Passion
• Holy Ghost Fire
• Purpose Powered People

His book Our God Is An Awesome God was published in the 1990s and is catalogued by WorldCat as a work authored by Ray McCauley.

A biography of McCauley titled Destined To Win was also written by Ron Steele, documenting his life and ministry journey.

His books helped extend his ministry beyond people who attended Rhema Bible Church, giving readers access to his teachings on Christian faith and practical living.

Ray McCauley on Television

McCauley understood the importance of television in expanding the reach of Christian ministry.

Through Rhema Television, his teachings were made available to a much wider audience. One of the programmes associated with him was A New Day with Pastor Ray, which featured his Bible teachings and messages.

Television became an important part of Rhema’s broader media strategy and helped establish McCauley as a recognizable Christian broadcaster in South Africa.

His ministry therefore developed beyond the traditional church model, combining physical congregations, Bible schools, television, conferences and other forms of Christian communication.

Ray McCauley’s Net Worth

Ray McCauley’s wealth was frequently discussed in South African media because of the size and influence of Rhema Bible Church and his long career as a pastor, author and broadcaster.

There is no publicly audited figure that definitively establishes his personal net worth. However, several media and biographical publications have estimated his wealth at around $28 million to $29 million.

A 2024 TimesLIVE report also noted that McCauley had previously defended his income by comparing it with the compensation of a chief executive of a medium-sized company. The publication reported that he earned approximately R68 million in 2008, with most of that amount reportedly coming from tithes and offerings.

Based on the estimates that have been published, Ray McCauley’s estimated net worth was approximately $28 million to $29 million at the time of his death.

It is important to distinguish published estimates from independently verified personal wealth, particularly because church finances, ministry income, personal assets and institutional assets are not necessarily the same thing.

Controversies Surrounding Ray McCauley

Like many prominent religious leaders, Ray McCauley’s public career was not without controversy.

Divorce and Remarriage

One of the most significant controversies involved his divorce from his first wife, Lyndie, in 2000.

Ray and Lyndie had married in 1976 and had worked together during the early development of Rhema Bible Church. They later divorced, and Ray married Zelda Ireland in 2001. The divorce attracted criticism because McCauley preached strongly about marriage and family values. Some members reportedly left Rhema because of the situation.

His relationship with Zelda also went through a difficult period. The couple divorced in 2010 but later remarried in 2013.

Despite the controversy, Zelda remained his wife until his death.

Questions About His Income

McCauley’s earnings also attracted public attention. His income was discussed in South African media, particularly because of the large size of Rhema Bible Church.

Critics questioned whether the income associated with a prominent pastor was appropriate, while McCauley defended his remuneration and compared his compensation to that of a corporate executive.

Political Associations

McCauley’s relationships with politicians also generated criticism.

He was involved in interfaith initiatives and maintained relationships with political figures. His decision to allow prominent politicians, including Jacob Zuma, to address church audiences led to accusations of political bias.

Supporters viewed his relationships as part of his broader effort to engage society, while critics questioned whether the church should become so closely associated with political figures.

Ray McCauley’s Death

Ray McCauley died on 8 October 2024, at the age of 75.

The South African government confirmed his death and described him as the founder of Rhema Bible Church and a former Co-Chair of the National Interfaith Council of South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa extended condolences to McCauley’s wife, children and the wider Rhema community.

Reports from his family indicated that he died peacefully at home after experiencing health problems.

His death generated tributes from across South Africa’s religious and political communities. Parliament also recognized his contribution to unity, peace and democracy in the country.

Ray McCauley’s Funeral

Ray McCauley’s funeral was held at Rhema Bible Church in Johannesburg on 19 October 2024.

The South African government designated his funeral as a Special Provincial Official Funeral Category 2, reflecting his national contribution and public significance. The designation is also recorded in government documentation.

The funeral brought together family members, church leaders, political figures, public personalities and members of the Rhema community to remember his life and ministry.

Who Leads Rhema Bible Church After Ray McCauley?

Before his death, McCauley had already taken steps to ensure the continuation of Rhema Bible Church.

In May 2022, leadership of the church was handed over to Pastors Joshua and Tara McCauley. Joshua is Ray’s son, while Tara serves alongside him in ministry. Rhema’s official website identifies them as the church’s senior pastors.

The transition meant that Ray’s death did not leave the church without established leadership. Instead, the ministry had already entered a new generational phase.

Joshua and Tara have continued to emphasize the Gospel of Grace while maintaining the church’s commitment to reaching people in South Africa and internationally.

Ray McCauley’s Legacy

Ray McCauley’s legacy is closely connected to the growth of Rhema Bible Church and the development of modern Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity in South Africa.

He helped build Rhema from a small gathering of 13 people in his parents’ home into an influential Christian organization with a significant national and international footprint.

His legacy can be seen in several areas:

• The growth of Rhema Bible Church
• Training thousands of Bible school students
• Church planting and ministry development
• Christian television and broadcasting
• Christian literature and publishing
• Non-racial ministry during apartheid
• Participation in national reconciliation efforts
• Interfaith engagement
• Mentoring younger Christian leaders
• Preparing the next generation to lead Rhema

Although his ministry attracted both admiration and criticism, his impact on South African Christianity is difficult to separate from the story of Rhema itself.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

1. Who was Ray McCauley?

Ray McCauley was a South African pastor, author, former bodybuilder and founder of Rhema Bible Church. He became one of the country’s most influential evangelical and charismatic Christian leaders.

2. When was Ray McCauley born?

Ray McCauley was born on 1 October 1949 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

3. When did Ray McCauley die?

Ray McCauley died on 8 October 2024, at the age of 75.

4. What church did Ray McCauley found?

He founded Rhema Bible Church in South Africa. The church began in 1979 with 13 people meeting in his parents’ home.

5. Who is Ray McCauley’s son?

His son is Joshua McCauley, who became senior pastor of Rhema Bible Church alongside his wife, Tara McCauley.

6. Who was Ray McCauley’s wife?

Ray McCauley’s wife at the time of his death was Zelda McCauley. He had previously been married to Lyndie McCauley.

7. How many children did Ray McCauley have?

Ray had children from his marriages. His first marriage to Lyndie produced Joshua and Kristen, according to reporting on his family history.

8. What was Ray McCauley’s net worth?

Published estimates placed Ray McCauley’s net worth at approximately $28 million to $29 million, although there is no publicly audited figure confirming his personal wealth.

9. Was Ray McCauley involved in South Africa’s political transition?

Yes. He participated in religious and interfaith initiatives during the transition from apartheid to democracy and was involved in efforts aimed at dialogue, peace and reconciliation.

10. Who leads Rhema Bible Church today?

Rhema Bible Church is led by Pastors Joshua and Tara McCauley, who became senior pastors in May 2022.

Conclusion

Ray McCauley was more than the founder of one of South Africa’s best-known churches. His life combined bodybuilding, pastoral ministry, Christian publishing, television, church leadership and involvement in some of the country’s most important social and political transitions.

From beginning Rhema Bible Church with just 13 people in 1979 to building a ministry that has influenced people across dozens of countries, McCauley’s career was marked by ambition, controversy, resilience and significant influence.

His death in 2024 brought an end to a remarkable chapter in South African Christian history, but the ministry he built continues under the leadership of Joshua and Tara McCauley.

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References

• Rhema Bible Church, official history and leadership information.
• South African Government, statement on the death of Pastor Ray McCauley.
• Parliament of South Africa, tribute to Ray McCauley.
• TimesLIVE, report on Ray McCauley’s legacy, ministry and controversies.
• The South African, report on McCauley’s family and first marriage.
• O’Malley Archives, historical record on religious leaders and South Africa’s transition.
• WorldCat, bibliographic record for Our God Is An Awesome God.