From Ben’s Desk

This Sunday we once again celebrate our International Sunday, recognising the fact that although we are a congregation of people drawn from at least 20 countries, in Christ we are one new people. I have no doubt in my heart and mind that this unity is just what Jesus wanted. The beauty of the gospel…

This week in our study through Luke’s gospel, we come to see Jesus withdrawing into the quiet seclusion of the Garden of Gethsemane to pray just before facing the deception of Judas, the denial of Peter and the desertion of the disciples. What struck me as I read Luke’s account of the Gethsemane prayer, is…

Despite the fact that G.P.C. is a medium sized family church, we punch above our weight in many ways when it comes to sending people out in the service of God. Over the years at least 20 of our people have given themselves to full time ministry or mission work and in more recent years…

This Sunday we hold our AGM after the morning service. Now I am aware that AGMs are not occasions that people usually queue up to attend or all rush to the front seats. Having said that our church AGM will only last 20 minutes and I trust will be a time to remember the past…

From Ben’s Desk (13 September) In history there have been some defining moments captured by a photographer that have become iconic images that have stirred people to action. There was the photo from the Vietnam War of an 11 year old girl fleeing naked from her burning village, and now there is the picture of…

It is true to say that the role of the father figure in the home has become really confused today. Increasingly more and more homes are led by single parents.  The media seems bent on destroying every last vestige of what we grew up to accept as an ordinary, normal home ie. dad, mum, children,…

When our church leadership meet as elders once a month we start off by having a shared devotion. At present we are working our way through J.I. Packer’s book, “Knowing God’. This month the chapter covered the important subject of the Holy Spirit, and his work in our lives and the church. It was a…

Did you know that we speak about 1600 words a day, 112 000 a week, about 6 million a year, and about 480 million in a lifetime. Of all those words which word is the most beautiful? I think it is the word, grace. Grace in a biblical sense means God’s rich love and forgiveness…

In one of the Bible studies I lead, we have started on a year-long study of the book of Revelation. As we have begun Chapter 3 we have been confronted by the repeated call to be spiritually vigilant and alert. Chapter 3 is addressed to the church at Sardis that had become lazy, docile and…

I was discussing with Sue what I should write about this Mother’s day, and she suggested that I speak about my mother. My mother was born in the U.K. She played a part in WW II, serving with a team of ladies that sent coded messages to British war ships. She immigrated to S.A. in…