21st Sunday of Pentecost
Psalm 99:1–9 • Exodus 33:12–23 • 1 Thessalonians 1:1–10 • Matthew 22:15–22
Coming Events to Diarise:
Bi-weekly Online Bible Study – 21 October 2026
Monthly Day of Prayer & Fasting – 7 November 2026
Women’s Monthly Bible Study – 10 November 2026
GCI Africa Regional Conference, Harare, Zimbabwe – 11-13 December 2026
Spiritual Equipping Program (SEP) – 12-19 December 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
“We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of FAITH and labor of LOVE and steadfastness of HOPE in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess. 1:2–3)
As we are in the last quarter of 2026, it is a good moment to pause, give thanks for all God has done this year, and look ahead with expectation to what He will do in the weeks to come. As we journey toward Vision 2027 and beyond, to become a Healthy Church that is Living and Sharing the Gospel, we need to reflect on how far we have come since 2019 when we started articulating this vision.
Over the past several weeks, our scripture readings have walked us through Israel’s wilderness journey after they crossed the Red Sea. God had promised to bring them into the land He swore to Abraham, yet for many the harshness of the Sinai desert became all they could see. They could not look beyond the desert sand to the promise, and that generation did not enter the land. But a faithful few, Joshua and Caleb among them, kept their eyes on God’s word. They saw the same desert and the same giants, yet they believed, and they crossed the Jordan into everything God had promised.
Our Vision 2027 and beyond is a form of our promised land. God is leading us there, and He is faithful to finish what He has started in us. The question for us is not whether God will bring His church into health and fruitfulness, but whether we will be among those who believe and join Him in it. Some of us may labour in the desert so that others can cross the Jordan, as Moses did, and that too is a holy calling. The promise is near, and it is worth every step.
God used the wilderness to free His people from a slave mentality and to form them into a free nation. In the same way, He is shaping us now. I invite each of us to ask honestly: what way of thinking might be holding us back from becoming the Healthy Church? Old habits, fear of change, or a small view of what God can do? Whatever it is, God is able to set us free from it.
My prayer this week is that God will search our hearts and minds, show us anything standing in the way, and fill us with fresh faith, renewed hope and overflowing love, so that we move forward with joy and confidence into the Healthy Church that is Living and Sharing the Gospel. Amen!
PRAYER REQUESTS & UPDATES:
Offerings: We are now left with only one quarter of 2026. Our budgeted income is now 3% above budget as at the end of September 2026, and 7% higher than 2025. Thank you for your continued generosity as God has blessed you. May your blessings overflow.
Sick Brethren: Please continue to pray for the brethren who are suffering from various sicknesses.
Have a blessed weekend!
Shalom!
Takalani
SEP GROCERY DRIVE UPDATE
Thank you to those who have already pledged to support the SEP Grocery drive. The following items have been pledged to date:
| Items | Kg, Litres Estimates | Pledged |
| Mealie meal | 30kg (10kg bags) | 2 |
| Rice | 10kg (1 x 10kg bag) | 3 |
| Samp | 10kg (4×2.5kg bags) | 1 |
| Flour | 10kg (2x5kg) | 1 |
| Longlife milk 6 pack | 48 | 1 |
| Baked beans | 20 tins | 20 |
| Apples | 2 boxes | 2 |
| Campers | 2 |
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.
NB: Please see at the bottom of this update for the quantities required for each item, and what has already been pledged.
SEP Grocery Donations Pledge
https://forms.gle/CX1xJjXzSrMccgnd7
SPIRITUAL EQUIPPING PROGRAM (SEP) 2026 – Applications Closed
Applications for SEP 2026 have closed. A non-refundable deposit of R600 was payable by 30 September 2026. The balance is payable by 31 October.
___________________________
REPEAT ANNOUNCEMNTS NOT TO BE READ IN CHURCH SERVICES
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 10thof November. Please diarise it and join.
NATIONAL BUILDING FUND NOW OVER R1.7 MILLION
The National Building Fund has now exceeded R1.775 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 7 November 2026
Our next Day of Prayer and Fasting is on Saturday 7 November 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:
· November 7
· December 12
Online Bi-Weekly Bible Study – 21 October 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.
Grocery Pledge List
| Category | Items | Kg, Litres Estimates | Quantity | Pledged | Shortfall |
| Starches | Mealie meal | 30kg (10kg bags) | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Starches | Rice | 10kg (1 x 10kg bag) | 1 | 3 | -2 |
| Starches | Samp | 10kg (4×2.5kg bags) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Starches | Macaroni | 10kg (10x1kg bags) | 10 | 10 | |
| Starches | Spaghetti | 10kg (10x1kg) | 10 | 10 | |
| Starches | Oats | 10kg (5x2kg) | 5 | 5 | |
| Starches | Cereal corn flakes | 8kg (8x1kg) | 8 | 8 | |
| Starches | Flour | 10kg (2x5kg) | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Breakfast | Bread | 50 loaves | 50 | 50 | |
| Breakfast | Tea | 100 teabags x 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| Breakfast | Coffee | 750g x 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| Breakfast | Longlife milk 6 pack | 48 | 8 | 1 | 7 |
| Breakfast | Salt | 2kg | 2 | 2 | |
| Breakfast | Sugar | 20kg | 2 | 2 | |
| Breakfast | Eggs | 40 trays | 40 | 40 | |
| Breakfast | Baked beans | 20 tins | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| Breakfast | Margarine | 6 x 200g | 3 | 3 | |
| Breakfast | Peanut butter | 3kg | 3 | 3 | |
| Meats | Beef Stew | 14kg | 14 | 14 | |
| Meats | Chicken portions | 20kg | 4 | 4 | |
| Meats | Wors | 12kg | 12 | 12 | |
| Meats | Mince | 12kg | 12 | 12 | |
| Meats | Beef | 10kg | 10 | 10 | |
| Condiments | Cheese | 8 kg | 9 | 9 | |
| Condiments | Tuna tins | 20 tins | 20 | 20 | |
| Condiments | Cooking oil | 5 x 3litres (5 litre bottles) | 3 | 3 | |
| Condiments | Syrup | 3 x bottles | 3 | 3 | |
| Condiments | Jam | 900g x 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| Condiments | Bacon | 6kg | 6 | 6 | |
| Condiments | Macon | 6kg | 6 | 6 | |
| Condiments | Mayonnaise | 3kg x 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| Condiments | Chutney | 1.1kg x 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Condiments | Tomato sauce | 3 litres (1.5kg bottle) | 2 | 2 | |
| Vegetables | Spinach | 12 bundles | 12 | 12 | |
| Vegetables | Cabbage | 8 heads | 8 | 8 | |
| Vegetables | Carrots | 10 kg | 10 | 10 | |
| Vegetables | Beetroot | 10kg | 10 | 10 | |
| Vegetables | Onions | 10kg | 10 | 10 | |
| Vegetables | Potatoes | 6 bags | 6 | 6 | |
| Vegetables | Tomatoes | 4 boxes | 4 | 4 | |
| Vegetables | Green beans | 5kg | 5 | 5 | |
| Fruit | Bananas | 1 big box | 0 | ||
| Fruit | Apples | 2 boxes | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fruit | Oranges | 3 bags | 0 | ||
| Fruit | Mangos | 60 depending on packaging | 0 | ||
| Fruit | Pears | 2 boxes | 0 | ||
| Fruit | Peaches | 60 depending on packaging | 0 |