12th Sunday of Pentecost
Psalm 133:1–3 • Genesis 45:1–15 • Romans 11:1–2a, 29–32 • Matthew 15:10–28
Coming Events to Diarise:
Women’s Monthly Bible Study – 11 August 2026
Bi-weekly Online Bible Study – 12 August 2026
Monthly Day of Prayer & Fasting – 12 September 2026
Annual General Meeting (AGM) – 23rd August 2026 (3-5pm)
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 from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe! Margaret and I are here for the annual GCI Zimbabwe Family Festival, which began Wednesday, 12 August, and runs through Sunday, 16 August. It has been a beautiful celebration of what God is doing through GCI in Zimbabwe. We’re meeting in the church hall the Bulawayo congregation built this past year — a lovely building in the Suburbs area of the city.
I last visited Bulawayo for this same event in August 2010. Back then, all they had was the stand. They had lost every cent of their building savings when the Zimbabwean dollar collapsed. Looking at the hall we’re sitting in now, I find myself wondering: would they have built something this good if they’d gone ahead in 2010? Maybe losing those savings wasn’t the end of the story — maybe it was God delaying something small so He could give them something better. He works in strange and wonderful ways.
One of this week’s passages tells of Joseph confronting the brothers who sold him into slavery. Yet by then, years later, he isn’t angry with them. He can see God’s hand in every step of that journey — even the years as a slave — using it all to save Egypt, and to save his own family.
It was in Egypt, of all places, that God formed Israel into a nation, even while they were slaves. Joseph didn’t understand it at the time. Years earlier, God had shown him a dream of what was coming, but he had no idea how it would actually unfold.
That’s a powerful reminder of how God works. Sometimes He leads us into the pit before He leads us to the palace. Sometimes it’s the prison before the palace gates. So wherever you find yourself today — whether it feels like a good season or a hard one — remember that God is at work in it. It will make sense one day. Hold on to that.
My prayer for us this week is that we learn to persevere through the tough times, knowing that everything works out for good when God is involved. Amen!
PRAYER REQUESTS & UPDATES:
Offerings: Our budgeted income shortfall has cleared as at the end of July 2026 to 0% from -0.4% in June. It is now 4.5% higher than 2025. Thank you for your continued generosity as God has blessed you.
Sick Brethren: Please continue to pray for the brethren who are suffering from various sicknesses.
Have a blessed weekend!
Shalom!
Takalani
SEP GROCERY DRIVE.
In order to keep the cost of SEP low, we are asking for donations of grocery in kind or cash. If you are able to donate a bag of potatoes, rice or mealie meal, please complete the attached form and indicate your selection. Please add a comment on how many items you are able to provide, for example, 2 bags of 10kg rice, etc. The attached form will guide you on how to indicate your donation. The donation can be delivered to a Pretoria address which we will provide to those who have pledged at the end of November.
SEP Grocery Donations Pledge
https://forms.gle/CX1xJjXzSrMccgnd7
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:
· 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.