Weekly Update – 19 April 2026

by Takalani Musekwa | Apr 17, 2026 | News

3^rd Sunday of Easter

Psalm 116:1–4,12–19 • Acts 2:14a, 36–41 • 1 Peter 1:17–23 • Luke 24: 13–35

Coming Events to Diarise:

Bi-weekly Online Bible Study – 29 April 2026

Monthly Day of Prayer & Fasting –9 May 2026

Women’s Monthly Bible Study – 12 May 2026

Denominational Conference 2026 – 23-26 July 2026, Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre, Dallas, Texas, USA. (Registration Closed on 15 April)

Spiritual Equipping Program (SEP) 2026 – 12 -19 December 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Greetings in the name of our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.

We continue to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ—an event that took place two thousand years ago, yet continues to transform lives today.

The resurrection is not merely a historical moment we remember; it is a present reality we are invited to live in.

Throughout the history of the Church, one of the most powerful responses to the message of the resurrection has been baptism. When people truly grasp what Christ has done—His death for our sins and His resurrection into new life—they are moved to respond. That response is not passive; it is decisive.

Just as the death and resurrection of Jesus were the defining moments of His earthly mission, baptism becomes the defining moment in the life of a believer. It is the point where faith becomes visible; where belief becomes commitment; and where the old life is laid down, and a new life begins.

Baptism is not merely a ritual—it is a declaration:

· That we have died with Christ

· That we have been raised with Him

· That we no longer belong to our old life, but to a new life in Him

This is why Peter, convicted by the power of the resurrection and the Holy Spirit, proclaimed with clarity and urgency:

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38–39)

Notice the breadth of that promise: for you… your children… and all who are far off. That includes us. That includes those in our families. That includes those we have not yet reached.

The resurrection always leads to invitation. So the question for each of us this Easter season is not only, “Do I believe?” but also, “How have I responded?”

For some, the response is clear: it is time to take the step of baptism. Not when everything feels perfect, not when every question is answered, but when the call of Christ becomes undeniable. For others, the question is deeper: Are we living out the reality of our baptism?

Have we truly left behind the old patterns, the old fears, the old identities? Are we walking daily in the newness of life that the resurrection secured for us? To be baptised is to live differently.

If you have questions about baptism, I encourage you to speak to your pastor. Do not journey alone when guidance is available. You may also explore further through these resources:

· Why Get Baptised

· “I am not ready for baptism”

My prayer for you this week is that as we continue to reflect on the resurrection, we would not only remember what Christ has done—but fully embrace what it means for our lives today. May we live as people who have died with Christ… and truly risen with Him. Amen!

Women of Faith Monthly Online Bible Study – 2^nd Tuesday of the month

Starting on April 14, the National Women’s Ministry has started a women’s monthly bible study every second Tuesday of the month, from 7pm to 8pm. The next Bible Study will be on the 12^th of May. Please diarise it and join.

PRAYER REQUESTS & UPDATES:

Offerings: Please remember to pray for the church’s offerings. We are 5% below budget for the period January to March. I appeal to everyone to consider giving 5% more in their offerings. That means an additional R5 for every R100 of your offerings.

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 R1.7 MILLION

The National Building Fund has now reached R1.7 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 9 May 2026

Our next Day of Prayer and Fasting is on Saturday 9 May 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:

· May 9

· June 13

· July 11

· August 8

· September 12

· October 10

· November 7

· December 12

February 2026 ISSUE OF FACE TO FACE PUBLISHED

Our February 2026 issue of the online Face To Face magazine has been published. Please find it here: Face To Face

Parable of the Vineyard Workers

The Church Is A Temple

I Will Hold Your Hand

Online Bi-Weekly Bible Study – 29 April 2026 – Ephesians

Please diarise and join the biweekly Online Bible study every second Wednesday at 19:00. The current series is: The Book of Ephesians.

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