3rd Sunday of Epiphany – 25 January 2026
Psalm 27:1, 4-9 • Isaiah 9:1-4 • I Corinthians 1:10-18 • Matthew 4:12-23
Coming Events to Diarise:
Monthly Day of Prayer & Fasting – 7 February 2026
Denominational Conference 2026 – 23-26 July 2026, Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre, Dallas, Texas, USA. (Registration Open) – To Register, Click Here:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings in the name of the Triune God revealed in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Many years ago, one of my subordinates said to me, “How can an intelligent man like you believe in God?” I was surprised that he had the guts to tell me, although indirectly, that I am a fool for being Christian – to my face.
Many of us know what it feels like to carry our faith quietly in a world that does not understand it. We experience subtle mockery. We feel dismissed, misunderstood, and we are treated as if our beliefs are outdated or foolish. In such a climate, it is easy to grow discouraged, to withdraw, or to wonder whether it is worth continuing to speak about Christ at all.
The apostle Paul reminds us of a sobering but comforting truth:
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
The gospel has always been received in this way. It has never depended on human approval or cultural acceptance. From the very beginning, God chose to reveal his power through what the world considers weak, unimpressive, or foolish. The cross itself stands as a reminder that God’s ways do not align with human pride or worldly definitions of success.
To follow Jesus, therefore, is to walk a humble path. It is to accept that our faith may not be admired, applauded, or celebrated. Yet humility does not mean shame or silence. It means knowing who we belong to and whose voice matters most.
When Jesus called his first disciples, he simply said: “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)
Before Jesus sent the disciples into the world with the gospel, he first invited them to walk with him. Their confidence did not come from their status, education, or influence, but from walking closely to Jesus. The same is true for us today. Our witness flows not from trying to convince others by strength or cleverness, but from walking faithfully with Christ in our everyday lives.
If society looks down on you because of your faith, remember this: you are walking a humble path that Jesus himself walked. The gospel you carry may be considered foolish by some, but it remains the power of God to save, heal, and transform lives. You are not responsible for how others respond—only for being faithful in love, truth, and humility.
My prayer this week is that we may boldly continue to witness to the ‘foolish’ gospel of Christ even as we walk in humility with him every day. Amen.
PRAYER REQUESTS & UPDATES:
Sick Brethren: Please continue to pray for the brethren who are suffering from various sicknesses.
Have a blessed weekend!
Shalom!
Takalani
___________________________
REPEAT ANNOUNCEMNTS 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 7 February 2026
Our next Day of Prayer and Fasting is on Saturday 7 February 2026. 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:
· January 10
· February 7
· March 7
· April 11
· May 9
· June 13
· July 11
· August 8
· September 12
· October 10
· November 7
· December 12
DECEMBER 2025 ISSUE OF FACE TO FACE PUBLISHED
Our December 2025 issue of the online Face To Face magazine has been published. Please find it here: Face To Face
Is Christmas pagan or a Gospel Proclamation?
Online Bi-Weekly Bible Study – 28 January 2026.
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.