Weekly Update 11 July 2025

by Takalani Musekwa | Jul 11, 2025 | News

5^th Sunday after Pentecost – 13 July 2025

Psalm 82:1–8 • Amos 7:7–17 • Colossians 1:1–14 • Luke 10:25–37

Coming Events to Diarise:

Monthly Day of Prayer & Fasting – 12 July 2025

National Women’s Retreat 2025 – 8 – 10 August 2025

Regional Pastoral Conference – 5 – 7 December 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!

Since last Sunday, South Africa has been reeling from the shocking revelations of the provincial police commissioner of Kwazulu-Natal. However, his revelation was not really a revelation. Most South Africans have been experiencing the lawlessness in the country every day. Lawlessness is the absence of love for others. Where there is love, there is no need for law. The only way to describe our country today is that it is everyone for themselves.

Unfortunately it is easy for us as Christians to also get caught up in this lawless culture and forget the kingdom culture that we are called to reflect. We can become self-absorbed and forget the plight of the poor, the weak and the needy amongst us and around us. Our world has created a culture where it is all about I, Me and Mine.

This week, the Psalmist reminds us of the heart of God – the heart God wants us to have. We need to be reminded of this often because our world works on a different basis and it is constantly pulling us away from the kingdom culture. We are called to action:

“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” (Ps. 82:3-4 NIV)

Our society has learned to outsource caring for the needy to the government. However, we know how our governments operate. Their ‘help’ is self-serving. It is meant to make the poor beholden to the government. James reminds us of true Christianity (religion): “… to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (Jas. 1:27)

My prayer for this week is that we may respond to the Spirit’s leading to care for those that God cares about. God cares about the poor, the widows, the weak, the vulnerable and his church. Amen!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Pastor Emeritus Leonard Christofells: The funeral of Pastor Lennie Christofells will take place next Wednesday in Cape Town. Please remember his wife of 54 years, Joan Christofells, in your prayers.

Sick Brethren: Please continue to pray for the brethren who are suffering from various sicknesses.

Offerings: Please continue to pray for the offerings and needs of the church in 2025. Our income in the first six months was 8.3% below budget.

Have a blessed weekend!
Shalom!

Takalani

___________________________

Regional Leadership Conference – 5 – 7 December 2025

We are pleased to announce a Special Regional Leadership Conference taking place from 5 to 7 December 2025 at Aruka.

GCI President, Dr. Greg Williams, and his wife Susan will be joining us as the special guests, along with the Superintendent for Africa, Pastor Kalengule Kaoma and all Africa Regional Directors.

A special worship service is scheduled for Sunday, 7 December, and all members are warmly invited to attend. Please watch out for more details soon.

NATIONAL WOMEN’S RETEAT 2025 – 8 – 10 AUGUST 2025

Registration for the Women’s Retreat is full. The women who have registered are requested to settle the balances remaining.

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)

Staff Application Form

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

Messenger of God

The Art of Godly Restoration

Online Bi-Weekly Bible Study

Next Bible Study on 23 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