7th Sunday of Pentecost
Psalm 119:105–112 • Genesis 25:19–34 • Romans 8:1–11 • Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23
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 week I would like to remind you of something that has destroyed, and continues to destroy many lives every day. It is a story about what God hates, and what he loves.
The story is told through twin brothers who were wrestling each other before they’re even born. One bowl of stew settled their wrestling match in a tragic way for one of them. Genesis 25 tells us that Esau, the firstborn, came in from the field exhausted and famished, smelled Jacob’s red stew, and said, “Let me eat quickly – what good is a birthright to me?” (v.32). He traded his inheritance for a single meal. Jacob, meanwhile, wanted that birthright badly enough to bargain for it on the spot.
These two brothers represent two kinds of people that still exist today. Esau is the person that looks at what God has promised and, in a moment of hunger or lust, decides God’s promise isn’t worth the wait. He trades the eternal for the immediate, the lasting for the momentary, because the flesh is loud and the promise feels far away. Jacob, for all his flaws, is the person that says: whatever it costs me, I want what God has for me more than I want momentary pleasure right now.
The birthright we’re offered is Jesus – the firstborn over all creation, our older brother, the one through whom we become heirs of God (Colossians 1:15, Romans 8:17). Every day we’re handed the same choices Esau and Jacob faced. Fleshly passions will always show up hungry and impatient, promising instant gratification if we’ll just set Jesus aside for a moment. And every day, desiring Jesus again – choosing Him again and again– is what it looks like to be Jacob rather than Esau.
If you are a Jacob – who is saying no to your flesh so you can say yes to the Spirit – keep going. You are not missing out. You are the one who understands the value of the birthright. What you’re forsaking is a bowl of stew; what you’re inheriting is Christ Himself, and everything that is His. Jesus is worth it.
My prayer this week is for all of us to seek and desire the birthright with everything we have, and not let our earthly passions steal our eternal inheritance. Amen!
PRAYER REQUESTS & UPDATES:
Peace: Please pray for peace in South Africa and across the world. Fighting has resumed in the Gulf region.
Sick Brethren: Please continue to pray for the brethren who are suffering from various sicknesses.
Have a blessed weekend!
Shalom!
Takalani
SINGLES & YOUNG ADULTS RETREAT.
A Singles and Young Adults Retreat is being planned as follows:
Date: 2-4 October 2026
Venue: Aruka, Bela Bela
Cost: R1600 per person, including all meals, plus a complimentary copy of Marriage is Not Obsolete by Pastor Takalani Musekwa. To book, please complete the booking form here: Singles & Young Adults Retreat.
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.