22nd Sunday after Pentecost – 9 November 2025
Psalm 145:1–5, 17–21 • Haggai 1:15b–2:9 • 2 Thessalonians 2:1–5, 13–17 • Luke 20:27–38
Coming Events to Diarise:
Monthly Day of Prayer & Fasting – 8 November 2025
National Church Board – 15-16 November 2025
Regional Leadership 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 the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
When the people of Judah returned to Judea after the exile in Babylon, they started to rebuild their houses and go back to their fields. Although God had fulfilled his covenant by returning them from exile, many became self-absorbed with their own needs and issues. They were not concerned about the state of the temple and the worship that was supposed to take place there.
God sent the Prophet Haggai to remind them about God and his covenant to provide for them. “On August 29 (520 BC) the Lord gave a message: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.'” The people were focusing on building their own houses, and neglecting the rebuilding of the temple. They were telling themselves that the time is not right yet. Once they have finished their own houses, they will focus on the temple.
Then the Lord sent this message: “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? Look at what’s happening to you! You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! … rebuild my house.
You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. I have called for a drought on your fields and hills—a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.”
After Haggai had delivered this message, they began to work on the house of their God on September 21 (520 BC).
Then on October 17 of that same year, the Lord sent another message: ‘Does anyone remember this house … in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all!
The reality is that only a small remnant remembered the old temple of Solomon. Many had died in exile. A whole new generation with no recollection of the former temple was the one rebuilding it. For the few who remembered the old, this new project was an embarrassment. But God had a message for them:
“But now the Lord says: Be strong… Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you. My Spirit remains among you. So do not be afraid.’ … I will fill this place with glory. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine. The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord have spoken!” (Hag. 1:1 – 2:9 NLT)
It will be forty years in January 2026 since the founder of GCI died in 1986. Many who remembered the GCI of the 1980s have passed on, although there are still a few that are alive. Much has changed. The Book of Haggai has a message for us today as we rebuild and move forward.
My prayer for this week is that this letter of Haggai may speak to each one of us as we participate with Christ as he builds his church today. Amen!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Special Service at Aruka: For those who are able to attend the special church service at Aruka on 7 December, please give your names to your pastors, who will submit your names to the national office for catering purposes. Food will be for sale, and we need to make sure there will be enough for everyone. Please let us have the numbers by 30 November.
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 as we count down to the end of 2025. Income is still below budget.
Have a blessed weekend!
Shalom!
Takalani
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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.
SPIRITUAL EQUIPPING PROGRAM (SEP) 2025
Applications for SEP 2025 are closed. The fees are now due, as the deadline of 31 October has passed.
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REPEAT ANNOUNCEMENTS NOT TO BE READ IN CHURCH SERVICES
NATIONAL BUILDING FUND NOW OVER R1.4 MILLION
The National Building Fund has now passed R1.4 million.
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 8 November 2025 (2nd Saturday of the Month)
Our next Day of Prayer and Fasting is on Saturday 8 November 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:
· November 8
· December 13
SEPTEMBER 2025 ISSUE OF FACE TO FACE PUBLISHED
Our September 2025 issue of the online Face To Face magazine has been published. Please find it here: Face To Face
Online Bi-Weekly Bible Study
Next Bible Study on 12 November 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.