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 raised their three daughters on the mission field. Amy graduated from BJU in 2004 with a degree in special education. She married Rob Garland, also a graduate of BJU in 2005. The Lord gave them five children, Jake, Noelle, Isaiah, Noah and Asher. Clare graduated from BJU in December 2006 with a degree in biology education and again in May 2010 with a degree in nursing. In 2013 Claire and Jesse Hoff were married. Their son, Roman, was born in 2017. Emily graduated from BJU in 2009 with a degree in Biblical counseling and earned a master's degree in cross-cultural studies from Northland International University in 2011. In August 2011, Emily married Ethan Crowley, also an MK and a 2008 BJU grad. They have lived in Cambodia since 2012. Their children, Hudson and Shiloh, were born in Thailand in 2015 and 2017.
Tony and Cathy joined GFA in 1986 and arrived in South Africa in July 1988. Their 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 with cash their own property. The men of the church worked on Saturdays and holidays for 4 years building their own church, and 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, a township of nearly 200,000 people between Eersterivier and Cape Town.
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 outreaches to the community, especially through gospel literature outreach 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" 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.
