Aug 2020

W H E R E I T ' S A L L A B O U T J E S U S
VOL NO.3 | ISSUE NO.26 | AUG '20

IT DIDN’T
T DIDN’T
WORK
ORK
JANINE
GOVENDER
OUT AS
UT AS
PLANNED
LANNED
So, I guess we’re celebrating our 20th birthday at home. At first, I was of the mindset, “Let’s
just write off 2020, let’s just say this was a trial/test year and write it off as unsuccessful.”
But was it? I think I was absolutely wrong. WE TURNED 20. That is a celebration that
deserves so much attention, gratitude and praise.
How many people didn’t even think ICC would make it to year 2? On the week leading up to
the very first service, I’m sure there were talks of how Pastor David couldn’t pull it off. On the
day he declared that Orient Mall wouldn’t be the church for very long, I’m sure there were
murmurs of people thinking he was crazy. On the day Pastor Jeremy became pastor, I’m
sure there were people plotting the downfall of our church and smiling, assuring themselves
he would be a dismal failure. As ICC grew, the ministry grew, and the vision enlarged – the
sceptism did too. But with God on our side all this time, not only did the nay-sayers get
proven wrong, God elevated us to such standards that we now feel like we are walking on
sunshine (ohhh ohhh). I’m not saying for a moment that we’re proud or walk around with a
new arrogance, but we do walk around proud of a God who said ‘yes’ when others would
have said ‘no’. We walk around proud of a Father who took more than amazing care of His
children and we walk around proud of a church, a people that have become such a special
part of our lives.
Yes, this celebration didn’t go as planned. We can sulk because we didn’t get to sing
together, or assemble around the table with Uncle Mustafa’s breyani, or take our annual
anniversary selfies and pics. But the greater news is when we do reunite, it will be great, it
will be emotional and it will sure be remembered. 20 years church. On a personal level, I
couldn’t picture my life anywhere else, with any other people and call any other church my
home. You are my family, you are my home you are my church, ICC. I love you and can’t
wait to see you soon.
02

I N A N D A R O U N D O U R C H U R C H
NEWS
1 . S P E C I A L N O T I C E
Family of ICC, after consultation with the
Church Council it has been decided that our
church will continue to remain closed for
physical gatherings in August and we will
continue to broadcast our services online
exclusively. This is despite the fact that
religious gatherings of no more than 50
people are now permitted. This decision
will be reviewed at the end of the month. You
have my assurance that this decision was
taken with your spiritual and physical health
as the primary concerns. I am confident that
individuals and families are being diligent in
their responsibility to grow spiritually of which
participating in the services is of vital
importance.
However, church-based face to face
counseling have resumed by appointment
only. There is still no home visitation.
If you have any queries, feel free to contact
me.
Please continue to pray for the situation, that
God will intervene and we will be able to
safely gather together again soon. In the
meantime, take care and stay safe.
- Pastor Jeremy
2 . C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S
Congratulations to Daniel and Sheyra who got
married on 25 July. May God bless you richly
in your married life together.
Congratulations to Marlin and Trisha who
welcomed their baby, Tia Mair'e Govender into
the world on 9 July 2020. We thank God for
His Hands on this young family through what
was a difficult pregnancy at a time when
seeking medical treatment is so risky. God
bless you as you grow together in the grace of
God.
3 . S U N D A Y S C H O O L O N L I N E
We are glad to announce that we completed
the first term of our online Sunday School in
July. We thank God for the 43 learners who
were diligent in their studies and anticipate
that they will continue to do so in the terms
still to come. A special ‘Thank You’ to the
parents for helping us to facilitate this.
4 . K E E P P R A Y I N G
Please pray for the members of our church.
People are going through tough times and it is
made more difficult by the fact that we can’t
be there for them physically. At the moment,
some of our members are seriously ill, going
through tremendous financial difficulties,
losing jobs, in hospital and working on the
frontline of the pandemic. Many of our
members have returned to work even though
the risk of infection is increasing. Many of our
parents are facing the difficult decision of
whether to send their children to school or
not. In unusual, challenging times, let us
increase our fasting and prayer to carry not
just ourselves, but the entire Family of ICC.
5 . C H U R C H O N L I N E
We will be continuing with our online services
for the month of July. Sermons are uploaded
to Pastor Jeremy’s Whatsapp status (078 277
9615) and entire services are available on
ICC’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Thank you to Wesley and the Praise and
Worship Team and Nicole and the media team
for the tremendous amount of work you do to
make sure that the broadcasts are ready on
time. As at the end of June our services since
the start of the lockdown have been viewed
more than 8000 times across all platforms.
Please take note of the following:
a) Sunday services will continue to be
broadcast at 9am
b) Midweek Services will be broadcast on
Wednesdays at 7pm.
07

I N A N D A R O U N D O U R C H U R C H
NEWS MORE
6 . H O W T O K E E P I N T O U C H
To be a part of ICC’s Whatsapp broadcasts
and receive daily devotionals, please send
your number to 084 658 5916. It is important
that you save this number on your device as
well. You can also receive the daily
devotionals by sending your email address to
isipingocommchurch@gmail.com. You can
contact Pastor Jeremy on 084 738 9271 or
078 277 9615 or email
pastorjeremygovender@gmail.com.
7 . C H U R C H M O B I L E A P P
Make sure you download the new ICC Mobile
App! All the lockdown content, all time, all in
one place. Get access to things like our
sermons, music and a special ‘Must See’ video
page. You can download the app by sending
us a request for the link or by logging on to
our Facebook or Instagram pages and clicking
on the link.
8 . H E L P I N G O U R C O M M U N I T Y
ICC is working together with other churches
and organizations to assist those in need with
basic food hampers. Any member of our
church who is in need or knows of anyone
who genuinely needs assistance can contact
Pastor Jeremy on 078 277 9615. Thank you to
Jerome and the team for the hard work that
enabled us to distribute grocery hampers to
our community in June.
9 . C O V I D - 1 9 S T A T S
At the time of writing, more than 17 million
people around the world have been infected
with COVID-19 (July’s newsletter reported 11
million, June was 6,5 million, and May was 3
million) with more than 670 000 deaths being
recorded (up from 520 000). In South Africa
there are more than 471 000 infections
(July’s newsletter reported 165 000, June was
35 000, May was 5 000) with more than 7
500 deaths (up from 2 700). The good news
in a grim situation is that globally, almost 11
million people have recovered, almost 300
000 of which have been in South Africa.
08

Christians living in Yemen request prayer as they experience persecution amidst
ongoing war, food shortages, and COVID-19. These challenges have created a
significant burden of isolation, both spiritually and physically. The Christian
population, which once numbered approximately 40 000, has been reduced to only a
few thousand. Most live unaware of each other’s existence and in great fear of
discovery from their neighbours. The impact of COVID-19 arrived late in Yemen,
compared to the rest of the region. The country is embroiled within a civil war that has
left it split between two governments and conflicting international actors. On the one
hand, such an environment has led to persecution that keeps the church
underground. On the other hand, after
so many years of hardship, many Yemenis are spiritually hungry for answers. Many
pastors working in Yemen report an openness for the Gospel message that
encourages them for the future of the church.
A month after local authorities brought in more than 100 officers from four different
agencies to demolish Xingguang Church on June 11, dozens of security guards and
officers from the local Ethnic and Religious Bureau returned to demolish the
remaining homes within the residential building, where the church also once stood.
On 10 July, radical Hindu nationalists in India threatened and attacked Pastor
Rukachand Fulmali’s home in an attempt to demolish his house church and remove
the cross. The incident took place in the Nabarangpur district of India’s Odisha state.
According to local sources, a group of radical nationalists attacked Pastor Fulmali,
saying, “You have received the Christian religion, built a church in the village, and
converted some of our villagers to Christianity. We will not allow you to reside in the
village. We will kill and burn all of your family members.”
P L E A S E J O I N U S I N P R A Y I N G F O R O U R P E R S E C U T E D B R O T H E R S
A N D S I S T E R S A R O U N D T H E W O R L D , T H A T :
- G O D W I L L P R O T E C T H I S P E O P L E
- G O D W I L L E A S E T H E S I C K N E S S A N D D E A T H F R O M T H E
C O R O N A V I R U S
- C H R I S T I A N S W I L L B E A B L E T O B E S A L T A N D L I G H T , E V E N I N
A V E R Y H A R D T I M E A N D I N P L A C E S W H E R E T H E Y A R E
P E R S E C U T E D
- B E L I E V E R S W I L L H A V E O P P O R T U N I T I E S T O P R A Y A N D R E A D
T H E B I B L E W I T H O U T B E I N G H A R A S S E D O R A B U S E D
- G O D W I L L P R O V I D E F O R H I S P E O P L E W H O A R E S T A R V I N G A N D
I N N E E D O F F I N A N C I A L H E L P
P E R S E C U T E D
09
C H U R C H

We love you! Happy birthday
Hi Church this is Janine and Nicole – the InTouch editorial team.
We just want to wish you ICC a very happy 20th birthday and say that we love and
miss you so much.
This newsletter wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for you. You are our reasons to report.
Thank you for the amazing articles, the hilarious pictures we could attach over the
years and for giving us the ICC spirit that keeps this newsletter alive and fresh.
We pray you enjoy this edition and as always stay blessed, stay safe and always
InTouch