Michael Cassidy

Dr Michael Cassidy is a Christian leader, evangelist, teacher, preacher, and author.

He holds a Bachelor of Divinity (Fuller Theological Seminary), a master's degree in Modern and Medieval Languages (Cambridge University), and an honorary doctorate from Azusa Pacific University.

Michael's personal encounter with Christ took place as a 19-year-old student at Cambridge in 1955. Two years later, he felt called to evangelise in Africa and transitioned from a career in teaching to a life devoted to evangelism. In 1961, he founded African Enterprise and launched its ministry, which began in South Africa and expanded to 11 other countries across Africa.

In addition to his work in evangelism, Michael has remained deeply committed to social justice and reconciliation. Over the past five decades, African Enterprise has led major ecumenical efforts, including the South African Congress on Mission and Evangelism (Durban, 1973), the Pan African Christian Leadership Assembly (PACLA) in Nairobi (1976 and 1994), and the South African Christian Leadership Assembly (SACLA) in Pretoria (1979 and 2003). He also led the National Initiative for Reconciliation (NIR) in Pietermaritzburg (1985) and the National Initiative for the Reformation of South Africa (NIRSA) in Pretoria (2008).

A strong advocate for Christian family life, Michael contributed to the US Promise Keepers movement, speaking at their major rallies in 1997 in Knoxville, Charlotte, and Chicago. His vision and courage were instrumental in mobilising the church in South Africa to challenge and eventually topple Apartheid. He played a pivotal role in facilitating the negotiations that led South Africa through its first democratic elections in 1994, helping to avert civil war.

In 2012, he was honoured as the Honorary Co-Chairman of the Lausanne Movement for World Evangelisation and named the Distinguished Alumnus of Fuller Seminary.

Michael is married to Carol, and they live in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal. They have three children and eight grandchildren. He continues to write, minister, and evangelise as much as his health allows.