A Tapeboy goes home.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved Brother Ronnie Pillay has gone to be with the Lord. He has been our office manager in Durban, South Africa for more than 25 years and he will be greatly missed. He was 54 years old.

He came from a Pentecostal background. In 1983, he was visited by an old friend who witnessed to Ronnie that Brother Branham was a true prophet, and not false as he had been taught in his church. He didn’t listen and the conversation ended in an argument. He threw away the Message book his friend gave him. Then, a few weeks later, another man visited him to discuss the Word. Brother Ronnie had never heard such wisdom as this man spoke. The conversation started at 10PM and didn’t end until 5 o-clock the next morning. Brother Branham’s name was never mentioned until the man was leaving, and he placed two of Brother Branham’s books in his hand. He was disappointed when he read the name across the cover: “William Marrion Branham.” He didn’t bother to read, then placed them in his top drawer.

Two weeks later, while searching for his belt, he noticed the books. He picked up “The Masterpiece” and began to read. Brother Ronnie’s journey began at that point, and he’s been a Tapeboy ever since.

We say “Tapeboy” because he always found strength in listening to Brother Branham’s tapes. He battled diabetes for years, and at one point spent weeks in bed. He fought the battle with the best weapon he had: The Word. Hour after hour, day after day, and week after week, he played tapes. Eventually, he was able to return to his office chores, and then it wasn’t long before he was back to his passion, delivering that same Voice to hundreds of tiny villages in the African bush.

What were the fruits of his labors? By our best estimation, Brother Ronnie baptized about 3,500 people in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Brother Ronnie went to be with the Lord on Thursday evening, as he arrived home from a good day’s work at the office. His heart stopped beating here on earth, but because of his labors, the Gospel is beating in the hearts of thousands of believers in Africa. Truly, we have lost a great servant of the Lord. Please remember his wife, two daughters, and his son in your prayers as they get through this difficult time.