Dr. Rolf K. McPherson, the son of evangelist, Aimee Semple McPherson, the founder of The Foursquare Church, died Thursday May 21, 2009 at the age of 96.
He 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.

When Aimee Semple McPherson's life was concluded in 1944, the leadership of the Foursquare movement was entrusted to her only son, Rolf K. McPherson. He served as the president and chairman of the board of directors and became the pastor of Angelus Temple, which is now pastored by Matthew Barnett who founded the Dream Center. Pastor Matthew Barnett was very inspired by the life of Dr. McPherson and his mother Aimee McPherson as well.

McPherson followed in his mother’s footsteps as he stood and preached in the same white-domed landmark, where his mother delivered fire-and-brimstone sermons during the 1920s and 30s.

McPherson brought his cognitive approach to the management of the finances and operations of the church, which now claims 8.4 million members in 144 countries. As president of the church, McPherson oversaw its LIFE Bible College, now called Life Pacific College in San Dimas and radio station KFSG-FM, which his mother founded in 1924. KFSG was one of the first radio stations in Los Angeles and was the oldest continuously operating Christian radio station until it went off the air in 2003.

McPherson "was a good preacher," said author Daniel Mark Epstein, “In his own quiet way he was very articulate, his faith was very deep and authentic, and he spoke from the heart." Epstein said.

"His most important legacy was laying the foundation for the explosive growth of the church in the second half of the 20th century," said Washington State University historian Matthew Avery Sutton. He also stated that McPherson guided the denomination into “the mainstream of America evangelicalism.”

"He laid a foundation that made it possible for the Foursquare Church to move forward around the world," Pastor Jack Hayford, the current church president, said in a statement. Dr. McPherson will be missed, as his legacy lives on in the hearts of all the people that were blessed by his life.