10th Sunday of Pentecost
Psalm 145:8–9, 14–21 • Isaiah 55:1–5 • Romans 9:1–5 • Matthew 14:13–21
Coming Events to Diarise:
Monthly Day of Prayer & Fasting – 8 August 2026
Bi-weekly Online Bible Study – 12 August 2026
Women’s Monthly Bible Study – 11 August 2026
Women’s Retreat 2026 – 4-6 September 2026
Singles & Young Adults Retreat – 2- 4 October 2026
Spiritual Equipping Program (SEP) – 12-19 December 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit — the God in whom we are named!
Margaret and I arrived home late last night from our trip to the denominational conference in Dallas, Texas. Thank you for all your prayers. The trip went smooth. All our anxieties were unfounded.
The conference was a great celebration with GCI brothers and sisters from many nations representing the six international regions of GCI. One of this week’s passages is of a man who was also coming back home from a long trip. When you meet people and they ask you: “What is your name?”, what do you say?
Stop. Before you read another word, answer that question out loud. Really — say your name.
Now hold on to it, because by the end of this update, you may want to reflect more about your name.
Names matter deeply to God. They carry the essence of who He created us to be. And whenever a name no longer captured that essence, God did something bold — He changed it. Abram became Abraham. Sarai became Sarah. Jacob became Israel. Simon became Petros. God is not in the business of leaving us as we are; He is in the business of renaming us into who we were always meant to become.
This week’s reading takes us to Genesis 32:22-31 — the night Jacob wrestled with God. This is actually the second time Jacob meets God face to face. The first encounter was at Bethel, while he was fleeing his brother Esau after deceiving his father and stealing Esau’s birthright. Now, years later, he is running again — this time from his uncle Laban, who also feels cheated by him. The name Jacob means “deceiver,” or “one who grasps what isn’t his.” And true to form, on this second encounter Jacob wrestles God through the entire night and refuses to let go until he receives a blessing. Say what you want about Jacob — he was relentless. A go-getter. A man who went after what he wanted, by hook or by crook.
It is in the middle of that struggle, as Jacob declares “I will not let you go unless you bless me,” that God asks him the question: “What is your name?” God already knew the answer. He knew Jacob was, in that very moment, living up to his name — hustling, striving, refusing to let go. Jacob was always going to inherit the blessing promised to Abraham and Isaac; that much was destined. But God had something greater in mind for him than more striving. God had a new name — one that would forever remind Jacob whose grace had actually carried him.
Here is the truth worth sitting with: Jacob was not thriving because he was clever. He was thriving because God’s grace was over his life. Despite every flaw, every scheme, every shortcut he tried to take, God was still going to use him to carry forward the covenant made with Abraham. Scholars debate the exact meaning of “Israel,” but given everything we know about Jacob’s story, one compelling reading is “one who triumphs with God” — not by his own scheming, but by God’s hand. His victories were never really his own doing. And because of that, no obstacle ahead of him stood a chance.
That is our story too. When God is finished shaping us, our names will change as well — reshaped to reflect the grace He has poured over our lives. One of the most breathtaking promises in Scripture speaks directly to this, Revelation 2:17:
“To the one who is victorious… I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”
Think about that. God has already written a new name for you — a name known only to Him and to you. When you hear it, you will know without a doubt that it is God speaking, because no one else on earth will know that name but you. I cannot wait to discover what my real name is — the one written on that white stone, the one that will finally reflect the fullness of God’s grace over my life.
So this week, whatever name your past has given you — however many times you’ve failed, run, or grasped for things that weren’t yours — know this: God is not done renaming you. He sees past your current name to who He made you to be. You have a new name waiting for you.
My prayer for us this week is that we would rise up and live fully into the name we already carry — the name of Christ. Christians. Christ’s people. Not by our own striving, but by His grace working triumphantly through us. Amen!
PRAYER REQUESTS & UPDATES:
Offerings: Thank you for your continued generosity as God has blessed you. Our budgeted income shortfall has improved as at the end of June 2026 to -0.4%, from -3.7% in May. It is now 4.1% higher than 2025.
Peace: Please pray for peace in South Africa and across the world.
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 – 2ndTuesday 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 11thof August. 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 8 August 2026
Our next Day of Prayer and Fasting is on Saturday 8 August 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:
· 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 – 12 August 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.