Memorial Service Held for Late Pentecostal Leader McPherson
A memorial service was held Saturday for Rolf K. McPherson, the man who served as president of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel for more than four decades following the death of his mother, the Pentecostal denomination's founder.
McPherson had died at the age of 96 at his home in Los Feliz, Calif., on May 21 – just days before the denomination that he had led for 44 years was scheduled to meet for its annual convention.
His memorial service late Saturday morning – just one day after the convention concluded – was held at Angelus Temple in Los Angeles, where his mother started and led the denomination up until her death in 1944.
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Under McPherson's leadership, the Foursquare Church grew from around 300 churches to over 19,000. Today, the Pentecostal denomination claims over 60,000 churches worldwide and over 8 million members and adherents.
"Dr. McPherson gave of himself selflessly and faithfully for more than four decades as he carried on the work that his mother had begun," commented Foursquare's current president, Pastor Jack Hayford.
"The blessing that we are currently experiencing is due, in large part, to the work that Dr. McPherson accomplished during his presidency. He laid a foundation that made it possible for The Foursquare Church to move forward around the world and take the Foursquare Gospel to many nations," Hayford added.
"He will be missed, but the legacy that he left will result in eternal blessedness for millions."
McPherson is survived by his wife, Evangeline Carmichael McPherson; his daughter, Alicia McPherson Santacroce; two granddaughters, Heidi Ledesma and Leslie Young; a grandson, Ronald LaRue; a niece, Victoria Salter; a step-daughter, Carol Parks; and two step-granddaughters, Amanda Leddy and Acacia Steiner.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lorna De Smith McPherson; his daughter Marlene McPherson LaRue; and his sister, Roberta Star Semple Salter.
