Weekly Update – 15 February 2026

by Takalani Musekwa | Feb 13, 2026 | News

Transfiguration Sunday – 15 February 2026

Psalm 2:1-11 • Exodus 24:12-18 • 2 Peter 1:16-21 • Matthew 17:1-9

Coming Events to Diarise:

Monthly Day of Prayer & Fasting – 7 March 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.

This week we come to the end of the season of Epiphany—a season of revelation, of seeing more clearly who Jesus is. And yesterday the world marked Valentine’s Day, a day named after Saint Valentine, who in the 3rd century risked his life to perform secret marriages for soldiers when such unions were forbidden. His courageous love ultimately led to his imprisonment and execution on 14 February 270 AD.

Yet this week invites us into something even deeper than romantic gestures or historical remembrance. It calls us into the mystery of Love itself.

One of the readings this week is Matthew 17—the account of the Transfiguration. I encourage you to read it slowly and prayerfully. On the mountain, as Jesus stands radiant before Peter, James and John, a cloud covers them, and the Father’s voice declares: “This is my Son, whom I LOVE…“

These words are breathtaking. Before we see glory, before we witness brilliance, before we hear instruction—there is Love. The Father’s eternal love for the Son.

This is the original Love. The purest Love. The Love that existed before creation. In truth, this is the fountain from which all real love flows. Every expression of love we celebrate—whether on Valentine’s Day or in daily life—is only authentic when it is rooted in this divine source.

Jesus told his disciples: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you” (John 15:9).

Jesus does not invent a new love—He shares the love He eternally receives from the Father. And astonishingly, we are invited into that same flowing current of love.

This is the pattern of love that shapes marriage: “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church” (Ephesians 5:25). It is not sentimental love. It is not fleeting love. It is not love defined by feeling alone.

It is love formed by the cross. The true shape of love is not a heart—it is a cross.

Love flows from the Father to the Son, from the Son to us, and from us to the world: to spouses, children, friends, neighbours, colleagues—even to those who oppose us.

This weekend, whether you celebrated Valentine’s Day or are reflecting on the Transfiguration, do not miss what is most important: you are loved with the very love of God. And that love is not fragile. It is not performative. It is not temporary. It is eternal, sacrificial, and transforming.

My prayer for you this week is that you would encounter this Love—not merely think about it, but experience it deeply. May you receive the love that comes from the Father through the Son, a love proven on the cross, and may that love overflow through you to others. That is the love worth celebrating. Amen!

PRAYER REQUESTS & UPDATES:

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

Aruka: Aruka continues to struggle to break even. Please continue to pray for more business. Please check out the update on Aruka that was sent out.

Have a blessed weekend!
Shalom!

Takalani

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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 March 2026

Our next Day of Prayer and Fasting is on Saturday 7 March 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:

· 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?

The Voice in the Wilderness

Living in Christian Freedom

Online Bi-Weekly Bible Study – 18 February 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