Revd MX Dladla - AEC President

“A New Heart for a New Season”

Year Verse: “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony stubborn heart and give you a tender responsive heart.” (Ezekiel 36:26 NLT)

1. Introduction:

The year 2026 is our pivotal year for our church as a denomination. We encourage all our members on personal and communal transformation.

2. Change of heart:

We call for all members to reflect on their spiritual journey as we are still living our earthly lives. We are led to understand the significance of replacing a heart of stone with a heart of flesh. The heart of flesh is described as a tender responsive heart where the Holy Spirit is in control.

The change of heart can only occur through the divine transformation by our Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. A tender responsive heart is very essential for spiritual growth of every Christian.

As we reflect on the book of John 3:16. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” We can be assured that; God’s love is the catalyst for transformation.

3. Reflecting to Jews in Exile:

Reflecting to the Jews who were in exile, God said to them, “They are a stubborn and hard-hearted people. But I am sending you to say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!” (Ezek. 2:4) God filled the Prophet Ezekiel with his spoken word saying, “Open your mouth and eat what I give you.” (2:8) Only the word from God’s mouth can bring change in our lives.

We can be assured that God’s solutions from the past, remain relevant today. The writer of the book to Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

It is my prayer that Christ will transform many lives in 2026.

4. Missions and Evangelism:

The AEC in its General Conference which was held in KwaZulu=Natal on the 16-20 December 2025, has pledged its commitment to remain steadfast in our Missions and Evangelism.

We focus on the propagation of the gospel as a command from Christ in the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20)

Given the contemporary style of preaching by many preachers who are known as, “Motivational Preachers” We as AEC are still steadfast in preaching the Evangelical Doctrine of Salvation.

5. 64 Years of Autonomy

The year 2026 marks the 64th Anniversary of the AEC’s autonomy from SAGM (our Mother body). We are celebrating our heritage as we are striving forward to the future growth of our denomination.

We are grateful to God as we see the unity of the AEC Botswana, Eswatini and South Africa. We really struggle to get proper accommodation that can accommodate our Annual General Conference satisfactorily, but we give God all the glory for the level of growth as we cannot complain about it.

6. Reflecting God’s Character:

AEC encourages all its church members to embody God’s character in all practical and spiritual endeavour. We pray that all those who are appointed to lead on various structures, may reflect love, compassion and integrity.  May we represent Christ wherever we are.

Let us embrace this new Season with a new heart. Together, we can witness the transformative power of God. It is only God who will remove our stoney stubborn hearts.

May 2026 be a year of profound change and growth to all our church members and partners in Christ.

God bless you all

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