3rd Sunday after Pentecost – 29 June 2025
Psalm 77:1–2, 11–20 · 2 Kings 2:1–2, 6–14 · Galatians 5:1, 13–25 · Luke 9:51–62
Coming Events to Diarise:
Monthly Day of Prayer & Fasting – 12 July 2025
National Women’s Retreat 2025 – 8 – 10 August 2025
SEP 2025 – 13 – 20 December 2025
Denominational Conference 2026 – 23-26 July 2026, Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord!
This Sunday is the last Sunday of the first half of 2025. Time is a great gift to us. It helps us to start again where we have failed. As a week ends, or a month ends, of half a year ends, we are able to re-evaluate where we are and start again if necessary.
At the beginning of each year many people make plans for the year ahead. However, most of those plans don’t survive the first half of the year because we are stuck in habits that make it impossible to pursue our plans.
Jesus was able to see whether people meant what they said or not. In one of this week’s passages we find Jesus confronting the people’s motives and their level of commitment. As Jesus journeyed toward Jerusalem, several people expressed a desire to follow Him. Yet Jesus’ responses are surprising at first reading. He doesn’t welcome them with encouragement, but rather with hard truths that exposes their real motives and level of commitment:
“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Lk. 9:58) This guy may have thought he can commit to follow Jesus to Jerusalem for a week and then come back to his life, and Jesus told him that following him is not a weekend adventure.
“Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” (Lk. 9:60) The other one came up with an excuse to first attend the funeral of his father, but Jesus told him there will always be a funeral to attend, a wedding to attend, a family event, or something to take us away from his mission. If we are not careful, we use these excuses to fool ourselves when in reality we are just not committed to the cause.
“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Lk. 9:62) In other cases, we go in just to “check it out” and then go back to our usual lives, but Jesus said the gospel is a lifelong commitment. You don’t come to check it out and then go back.
These responses remind us that following Jesus is not about comfort, convenience, or divided loyalty. Jesus calls us to follow with full commitment, knowing that discipleship may involve sacrifice, social discomfort, and a break from worldly priorities.
This passage challenges the idea of a casual Christian. It urges us to examine the cost of discipleship. Jesus’ words are not meant to drive us away or discourage us, but to refine our motives. He doesn’t lower the bar to make it easier for us to join the journey—He lifts our vision to see that the road He walks leads to a cross before it leads to the resurrection.
In our world of many distractions and divided allegiances, Jesus still says, “Follow me.” He is not asking for perfection, but for undivided hearts. He is looking for followers who won’t look back. As the popular chorus says, there is “no turning back”.
As we start the second half of 2025, may it be a time of reflection and recommitment—where we honestly consider what we’re holding onto that keeps us from fully embracing the way of Christ.
My prayer for this week is for all of us to introspect on how the first six months went, and how we plan to make the next six months better than the first. Amen!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Pastor Justin Tshibasu: The National Director of GCI in the DRC passed away this week after a few weeks of illness. He fell sick two days after returning from the National Director Retreat in Zambia which took place in April. Please remember his family and the church in the DRC.
Sick Brethren: Please continue to pray for the brethren who suffering from various sicknesses.
Offerings: Please continue to pray for the offerings and needs of the church in 2025.
Have a blessed weekend!
Shalom!
Takalani
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NATIONAL WOMEN’S RETEAT 2025 – 8 – 10 AUGUST 2025
Registration for the National Women’s Retreat 2025 is now open. The retreat will take place in Polokwane, Limpopo at the Silver Exclusive Lodge. The cost per person is R2000 sharing, and R2400 single room (non-sharing).
Further details are available on the registration form available here: Register
SPIRITUAL EQUIPPING PROGRAM (SEP) 2025 – Applications Open
Applications for SEP 2025 are open. The closing date for applications is 21 September 2025. A non-refundable deposit of R600 is payable by 30 September 2025. The balance is payable by 31 October.
Please read the terms and conditions on the application form. The application form must be completed online by computer or mobile phone. To access the application forms click below:
Camper Application Form 2025 (13-18 years)
Vacation Bible School Form (9-12 Years)
REPEAT ANNOUNCEMNTS NOT TO BE READ IN CHURCH SERVICES
NATIONAL BUILDING FUND NOW OVER R1.3 MILLION
The National Building Fund has now passed R1.3 million. The balances for the various congregation are as follows as at the end of April 2025:
Please support your congregation’s Building Fund by contributing additional offerings monthly or once off to the dedicated bank account as follows:
· Bank: First National Bank (FNB)
· Name: GCI Building Fund
· Account No: 6304 180 7835
· Deposit Reference: Name and Surname
You can also fundraise as a group or alone. You may have items that you no longer need or use which you can pawn and donate the funds, or approach friends and family who may be able to donate to the fund. If you need a letter to request donations please feel free to contact me.
Monthly Day of Prayer and Fasting –Saturday 12 July 2025 (2nd Saturday of the Month)
Our next Day of Prayer and Fasting is on Saturday 12 July 2025. Please see the dates for the rest of the year below, and diarise accordingly.
Please find some video links on Prayer and Fasting if you want to know more. Here are the links:
1. Fasting- The Forgotten Spiritual Discipline – https://youtu.be/7MgrVj_w9sY
2. Fasting Questions and Answers 1 – https://youtu.be/Mkk3U2KvPHg
3. Fasting Questions and Answers 2 – https://youtu.be/CghD-uxBbFk
4. Fasting Question and Answer #3 – https://youtu.be/ajKaWRgreLw (Question #3: How should I fast? Are there different types of fasts?)
Future Days of Prayer and Fasting:
· Jul 12
· August 9
· September 13
· October 11
· November 8
· December 13
March 2025 ISSUE OF FACE TO FACE PUBLISHED
Our March 2025 issue of the online Face To Face magazine has been published. Please find it here: Face To Face
Use the gifts we have been given
Online Bi-Weekly Bible Study
Next Bible Study on 9 July 2025
Please diarise and join the biweekly Online Bible study every second Wednesday at 19:00. The current series is: The Book of Proverbs.
To connect to the biweekly Bible Study, here are the details: Click
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89054374373?pwd=NFZVaFJjVGxqQjc5K0YyeWEzVVZMUT09
OR enter the details below to join the meeting:
Meeting ID: 890 5437 4373
Passcode: GCI2021
Time: 19:00
OFFERINGS: (should Christians pay a tithe?)
Even though some churches are not able to meet, we urge you to continue to give your weekly Thanksgiving offering that you would normally give during church services. The bank details for EFT and Cash deposits are below:
The Banking details for both the weekly Thanksgiving Offerings and the monthly Freewill Offerings are as follows:
EFT PAYMENTS
GRACE COMMUNION INTERNATIONAL-S.A –
Account No: 593 800 27523 – FNB Current Account Number
Ref. NameSurname Church
Please reference your offering so that we can send a receipt.
CASH PAYMENTS
GRACE COMMUNION INTERNATIONAL-S.A –
FNB Account No: 74451599946
Account Type: 32 Day Notice account
Ref. NameSurname Church
Please reference your offering so that we can send a receipt.