Bio

Tony and Cathy Payne were both born and grew up in Roanoke Rapids, NC. They attended different schools and did not meet until after Tony's conversion in 1973 when he started attending the church Cathy attended. Cathy was saved at the age of six and from her earliest days dreamed of being a missionary nurse. She earned an associates degree in nursing and later a bachelor of nursing education from Bob Jones University. It was through her influence that Tony attended BJU where he earned a BA degree in Bible in 1980 and a master of divinity degree in 1986.

The Paynes were married in 1979 and joined GFA in 1986. In July 1988, they arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, where they raised their three daughters—Amy, Clare, and Emily. After completing high school in South Africa, all three girls graduated from Bob Jones University. The Lord has blessed the Paynes with seven grandsons and two granddaughters.

The Paynes' ministry focus has been on planting indigenous churches among the Afrikaans-speaking mixed race, known as the Coloureds. During their first term they learned the Afrikaans language and assisted another missionary in his work. In 1992 they began a church planting effort in Eersterivier, 20 kilometers east of Cape Town. Regular services at Immanuel Baptiste Kerk began on January 3, 1993. In 1997, Tony began Oostenberg Bible Institute. One of his first students was Kevin Simpson, whom Tony led to the Lord in 1996. After saving for 5 years, the people of IBK purchased their own property with cash. The men of the church worked on Saturdays and holidays for 4 years building their own church, and they did so debt-free and without dependence upon American dollars. On February 11, 2007, Kevin Simpson was ordained to the gospel ministry. Immanuel Baptiste Kerk became completely autonomous and indigenous when the work was turned over to Kevin and the national leadership in March 2007.

In 2008, the Paynes began a new church-planting ministry in Delft. During COVID-19, Delft, a township of nearly 200,000 between Eersterivier and Cape Town, became the fastest growing area in the Western Cape with an indigent population of 520,000 being served by Delft's Community Health Center.

Eindhoven Baptiste Kerk was officially organized and constituted in May 2011. In 2019, Eindhoven Baptiste Kerk obtained their Non-Profit Organization number to enable them to apply to purchase property in Eindhoven. Cathy renewed her nursing license in 2007 and uses her nursing skills in outreach to the community, especially through gospel literature distribution at the local shopping center where she and another nurse in their church offer free blood pressure checks and medical counsel.

In 2014 they translated the "Bridge to Eternal Life" tract into Afrikaans, and they continue to distribute many copies of "Die Brug na die Ewige Lewe" each month. The Paynes teach life skills to Grade 6 learners promoting abstinence and sharing the Gospel in the local primary school where they also hold services. Tony continues to teach at Oostenberg Bybel Instituut equipping men and women for reaching and teaching their own people. The Paynes also help to organize yearly multi-church men's and women's retreats for churches in the Western Cape.

To view Tony and Cathy Payne's photo gallery, click the picture below.