6th Sunday of Pentecost
Psalm 45:10–17 • Genesis 24:34–38, 42–49, 58–67 • Romans 7:15–25a • Matthew 11:16–19, 25–30
Coming Events to Diarise:
Monthly Day of Prayer & Fasting – 11 July 2026
Women’s Monthly Bible Study – 14 July 2026
Bi-weekly Online Bible Study – 15 July 2026
Denominational Conference 2026 – 23-26 July 2026, Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre, Dallas, Texas, USA. (Registration Closed on 15 April)
Women’s Retreat 2026 – 4-6 September 2026
Spiritual Equipping Program (SEP) – 12-19 December 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings in the name of our Triune God.
This past Tuesday, 30 June, thousands of our fellow South Africans marched in various cities and towns against illegal immigration. In the weeks before, fear spread through our immigrant communities. We have seen people packing what they could carry and gather in the streets waiting for assistance.
Whatever side of Tuesday you stood on, chances are your soul was carrying a heavy burden. It would be easy to speak as if there are two stories: the story of the frustrated South African and the story of the frightened foreigner. But in reality it is actually one story — the story of people failed by those entrusted to serve them.
The refugees who fled war in the Congo or hardship in Malawi did not choose to be immigrants and refugees. They have fled intolerable conditions and wars in their home countries. They are victims of governance failures in their countries and in South Africa.
The South Africans who marched on Tuesday did not invent their pain either. They see crime go unpunished, borders unmanaged, clinics understaffed, jobs scarce, and a state machinery that seems to have collapsed around them. Their anger is real because their suffering is real.
Both are victims of the same failure of governance. The tragedy is that a failure of these governments is turning neighbour against neighbour. When the state does not do its work, the poor are left to fight over the crumbs — while those responsible watch from a distance.
It is into exactly this kind of moment that Jesus speaks: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29)
Notice who Jesus is speaking to. In the verse before, He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened.” All. Not first the citizen and then the foreigner. Not first the documented and then the undocumented. All who are weary and burdened. Jesus does not check papers at the door of His rest.
And notice how He describes Himself: gentle and humble in heart. In a season when the loudest voices are the harshest ones — voices of ultimatums, threats and blame — Jesus offers a different way. Gentleness is not weakness. Humility is not surrender. They are the strength of a heart that refuses to let fear turn into hatred.
A yoke was made for two. To take Christ’s yoke is to walk alongside Him — to let Him carry the weight with us, and to learn His pace. Perhaps it also means letting Him yoke us to one another: South African and foreigner, pulling in the same direction instead of against each other, directing our shared cry not at the person next to us but at the systems that have failed us both.
To our foreign brothers and sisters: you are not forgotten. The God who watched over Israel in Egypt, who Himself became a refugee child in Africa when Herod was killing babies, sees you. Your dignity does not come from a stamp in a passport; it comes from being made in the image of God. Scripture’s command stands unshaken: “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.” (Leviticus 19:34)
To our South African brothers and sisters: your frustration is valid, and it is legitimate. Wanting a country where laws are enforced, borders are managed and citizens can find work is not hatred — it is a longing for justice. But justice pursued through fear and threat becomes injustice. We must keep demanding accountability from those who govern us. However, we must not let these legitimate demands turn into cruelty toward the vulnerable. The measure of our nation is never going to be how we treat the powerful, but how we treat the stranger and the poor — that is the standard Christ Himself will use (Matthew 25:35).
To all of us: Tuesday passed more peacefully than many feared. Let’s give thanks for that mercy. Peace that is merely the absence of violence is fragile. The peace Christ offers, rest for our souls, is deeper: it frees us from having to carry our fear and anger alone, and it frees our hands to build.
My prayer this week is for those who fled their homes this month, and for families still separated by fear, for South Africans crushed by unemployment and crime, that hope would not die in them; for our leaders in government — that God would grant them competence, courage and compassion to fix what is broken. I pray that we may find rest for our souls in Christ, and not in deadlines, marches or promises of politicians. Amen!
PRAYER REQUESTS & UPDATES:
Peace: Please pray for peace in South Africa and across the world.
Offerings: Please remember to pray for the church’s offerings. There has been a drop in May. We are now 3.7% (3% end of April) below budget for the period January to May.
Sick Brethren: Please continue to pray for the brethren who are suffering from various sicknesses.
Have a blessed weekend!
Shalom!
Takalani
SPIRITUAL EQUIPPING PROGRAM (SEP) 2026 – Applications Open
Applications for SEP 2026 are open. The closing date for applications is 27 September 2026. A non-refundable deposit of R600 is payable by 30 September 2026. The balance is payable by 31 October.
Please read the terms and conditions, camper and staff fees, and other details on the application form. The application form must be completed online by computer or mobile phone. To access the relevant application form click below:
Camper Application Form 2025 (13-18 years)
Vacation Bible School Form (9-12 Years)
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REPEAT ANNOUNCEMNTS NOT TO BE READ IN CHURCH SERVICES
Women’s Retreat 2026
The Women’s Retreat 2026 will be held as follows:
Date: 4-6 September 2026
Venue: Rocklands Centre, Simon’s Town, Cape Town
Cost: R1,600, payments due by 31 July
Further details: Speak to your local Women’s Ministry Coordinators for payment details. There are no private rooms available, only shared accommodation. Bedding is supplied. Bring own towels.
Women of Faith Monthly Online Bible Study – 2nd Tuesday of the month
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 14th of July. Please diarise it and join.
NATIONAL BUILDING FUND NOW OVER R1.7 MILLION
The National Building Fund has now exceeded 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 11 July 2026
Our next Day of Prayer and Fasting is on Saturday 11 July 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:
· July 11
· August 8
· September 12
· October 10
· November 7
· December 12
May 2026 ISSUE OF FACE TO FACE PUBLISHED
Our May 2026 issue of the online Face To Face magazine has been published. Please find it here: Face To Face
Mission Possible
Online Bi-Weekly Bible Study – 15 July 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
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.