'Michael Cassidy is one of Africa's foremost evangelists and prophets. His story deserves a wide readership and will make a deep impact.' - Moss Ntlha, General Secretary, Evangelical Alliance of South AfricaAs Africa shook off colonialism in the 1960s, a young man was gripped by a singular purpose: to play his part in God's plans for the fractured nations of Africa.A son of apartheid South Africa, Michael Cassidy appeared an unlikely candidate to lead a team bringing a gospel message of salvation, reconciliation and hope to a continent overturning white rule. Over five decades, and with the support of his extraordinary wife Carol, Michael and his African Enterprise team courageously built up ten national teams and a network of relationships criss-crossing Africa.Michael saw clearly the need for quality leadership. He fostered vital dialogue among top politicians in the tense run-up to South Africa's 1994 elections. As the country hurtled towards civil war, he helped facilitate a last-minute settlement, paving the way for the peaceful inauguration of Nelson Mandela.Told with inimitable charm and humour, this is a personal story of family, friendship and faith and beautifully demonstrates God's love at work in the turbulence of Africa's recent history.'A must read.'Joni Eareckson Tada'African Enterprise has made, under God, a real contribution in South Africa. This is the founder's inspiring story. I warmly commend it to you.'Archbishop Desmond Tutu
As the nations of Africa shook off the shackles of colonialism and embraced their newfound independence in the 1960s, a singular figure burst into prominence in the tumultuous and expectant atmosphere gripping the continent. A son of apartheid South Africa, Michael Cassidy appeared an unlikely candidate to bring a Gospel message of salvation, reconciliation and hope to a land throwing off the chains of white rule.
Undaunted, he forged vital friendships with black heroes such as Ugandan Bishop Festo Kivengere, preaching - and living - a searing message of Kingdom love, grace, justice and non-racialism. Cassidy beat a unique path of Gospel faithfulness by calling Africa uncompromisingly to embrace Christ as Saviour and Lord, while fearlessly challenging oppressors such as the South African National Party to treat all citizens justly.
Educated at Cambridge and Fuller Theological Seminary, Cassidy nevertheless operated as a layman, yet graced with the authority to summon the church in Africa to unprecedented gatherings. The Pan African Christian Leadership Assembly in 1976 brought 5,000 Christian leaders from nearly every country to Nairobi to strategize together how to tackle the Great Commission across so vast a space during a time of pain and convulsion.
Following the South African Christian Leadership Assembly in Pretoria in 1979, Cassidy helped push the Dutch Reformed Church to declare unequivocally in 1986 that apartheid was a sin. The National Party, now shorn of theological justification, began to dismantle its racist governing apparatus in 1990.
Throughout his 55-year ministry, Cassidy saw clearly the glaring need for quality leadership across Africa, and especially as South Africa finally transitioned to democracy. He fostered vital dialogue among top politicians in the run-up to the Beloved Country's 1994 elections. As the country hurtled toward civil war that year, Cassidy brought in a Kenyan Christian politician who engineered a last-minute negotiated settlement that paved the way for the miraculously peaceful inauguration of Nelson Mandela.
As Founder of African Enterprise, Cassidy laboriously built up over five decades what has emerged as the first African-led global partnership impacting a continent of vast untapped potential. Empowering Africans to rise up and call their fellow men and women to embrace Christ and live out the power of the Gospel in every facet of their lives is enabling Africa in the 21st century to realize the hopes that beat so strongly in the hearts of forbears who sought the freedom that only Jesus Christ can offer.
