ICF International Newsletter Nr. 11/2009

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Heartbeat from Leo & Susanna Bigger

Dear ICF

In October thirty people got baptised in ICF Zurich, Rappi and Winti! What an honour to be there when people openly testify that they want to live a life with Jesus. In October we had 3000 visitors attending on one weekend! Our church is growing – also biologically! On the same day the baptisms took place, 23 children were dedicated.

As a church we have been blessed by God and we want to give these blessings on to other churches. With the project “Download 2010” a dream, we never would have dreamt of 10 years ago, is becoming possible! In the future all our resources, sermons, multimedia, podcasts and I-phone applications will be accessible free of charge. On the 6^th of December we are having a special collection for this project and look forward to making this dream reality with the help of your financial possibilities.

Warm wishes

Yours Susanna und Leo

Step up – enthusiastic about God!

Series in Nov./Dec. 09.

This series will light up a new passion for our VIPs. Invite your friends, family and neighbours to come to the great musical!

Sunday, 22^nd Nov. 09 Step up – there where you are!

Sunday, 29^th Nov. 09: Step up – get to the point!

Sunday, 06^th Dec. 09: Step up – your story counts!

Sunday, 13^th Dec. 09: Step up – the door is open!

Sunday, 20^th Dec. 09: Musical in Zurich: Santa Reloaded

Sunday, 27^th Dec. 09: Open Topic in all three locations

Santa Reloaded Tour 2009

The biggest event of ICF’s history!

This year’s Christmas musical “Santa Reloaded” is on tour from the 4^th to the 23^rd of December 2009. ICF Thun will have the joy of seeing the world premiere on the 4^th of December. The curtains to a story full of adventure about Bad Santa and the time machine open at 8pm.

28 very motivated and talented actors and technicians will be touring in the Santa tour bus to 14 ICFs in Germany and Switzerland. The audiences from the metropolis Berlin to deep in the Emmental will be enchanted with 24 shows before the tour high light takes place in their home church – in ICF Zurich! The Santa Crew is ready to go and get things rocking. Rock it!

More information under: santareloaded.icf.ch

Newcomer

A year ago his girlfriend at the time invited Matthias, 23 years old from Winterthur, to ICF for the first time. Though he was sceptical and everything seemed strange, he kept on coming to the celebrations. When they split up, he discovered his love for Jesus.

“The day after our separation I bought a Bible and spent the rest of the day reading Proverbs. From this moment on I have been on an exciting trip with God. I have been able to share happy and sad moments with God, go though trials with Him and hold on to Him when I have needed strength.

When ICF spread its tent to Winterthur I started going to the celebrations even more regularly. The sermons accompanied me in my everyday life. Lately God has been telling me that I shouldn’t continue fighting alone, but that I should look for fellowship. So I took all my courage, went to the Welcome Bar and signed up for a small group.

I was in awe how God brought me together with just the right people. I enjoy the time and intensive conversations I have with other Christians. It is this honest fellowship which gives me strength and a hold in life.”

Glamour party in ICF Zurich

Kiefer Sutherland also known as Leo Bigger threw a very fancy Hollywood thank you party for his volunteers. As of 7pm stars like Audrey Hepburn or Pete Doherty entered into the celebration hall walking over the red carpet.

The guest of honour; Elvis Presley, shook his hips and sang evergreens like “Love me Tender.” Because our entertainer Robbie Williams had the swine flu, he had to cancel his show at short notice. At such short notice, that even the moderator didn’t know anything about it and announced him. Sutherland saved the situation in his usual cool manner and sang “Angel” himself.

As a grand finale ICF let the “calorie”-bombs explode. The guests were spoiled with a sweet buffet set up on the stage, where they could pick from all kinds of goodies, for example “Luxemburgerlis” on towers which were a meter high. All in all it was a very successful party!

Ladies Lounge 09

Generations: to each other – with each other – for each other

If this were the Latte Macchiatto year for ICF, then, in my eyes, the Ladies’ Lounge would be the “chocolate topping”! The best of all!

I was already captivated at the sight of the beautiful decorations: a fountain, an over-dimensional birdcage, goodies arranged on silver platters ... there was even the sounds of birds singing to encourage you to enjoy the fresh salads and exotic fruits!

But as an experienced Ladies’ lounge visitor I strategically went to the second hand shop first. With a few bargains in my bag I could lean back, enjoy and be amazed. The absolutely cute tee lounge, the trendy girlie bar, a huge book store, a sewing atelier for scarves and “click”, a quick professional portrait with a friend! How could these things not make our female hearts beat quicker!

We also want to honour all the nice men who welcomed and served us ladies. (Leo was an eye catcher behind the coffee bar). Before even one word was said on the stage I felt so blessed by everything and happy to be a part of this great church!

On both days the hall was buzzing with 900 women. Strikingly many daughters came with their mothers; laughter and hugs were everywhere. The air was full of joy for each other and God! The topic: generations surely touched each person and I strongly believe that in one way or another God spoke to every woman there, be it though the wonderful worship, the honest and encouraging interview with Andy Vara and her mother or the shocking but still so hope-filled life story of Amanda Lord. Also the very interesting breakout sessions and the inspiring words from Susanna and Leo Bigger opened our horizon. Whoever was not there definitely missed out on something great! But do not worry, as you know, one year passes by really quickly ...!

News from the ICF staff

Marianne Wunderlin End of October Marianne Wunderlin left us and is going to take up new challenges in the future. For that last two years she had been the leader of the Media Stores of ICF. We thank you for all you did and wish you all the best and God’s blessings in your future.

Doris Fischer  Doris Fischer is now in charge of the daily business of the Media Store. She is doing the ICF College for one year and during this time she is going to volunteer in ICF two days a week. We welcome you warmly and look forward to working with you!

Be careful: Parking tickets on the Maag-Area!

It is illegal to park your cars on the whole Maag-area and also on the access roads to the Wälti-Furrer Area and Turbinen street (former access road to Coop). All access roads have to be open for the fire brigade to be able to pass at all times. Illegal parking can lead to the towing of your car and the owner of the car can count on a very, very high penance. We suggest using public transport, the parking spaces under around the Hardbrücke (bridge) or the Pfingstweid car park (which costs).

Winterthur

End of October we experienced an amazing weekend in Winterthur. During the evening service we spontaneously baptised 3 young people! That was an adventure! These were surely the first baptisms that ever took place in this former erotic cinema. Another great success was the thank you party a day later. It is exciting to see the team in Winterthur growing in number and in faith. We now have found a “team celebration” leader: Päsce Schmidli from Oberwinterthur. He is a talented young man full of expectations and passion to build the kingdom of God. Thank God!

Numbers in October - ICF Winterthur

Budget income: 10'000.-

Actual income: 11'210.-

Budget expense: 9'000.-

Actual expense: 28'800.- (including investment due to reconstruction)

Rapperswil

In Rapperswil we also honoured, marvelled at and cheered famous people at this year’s thank you party. For example the famous Gandalf, Cleopatra and Nemo walked over the red carpet and turned the lounge in Rapperswil into the hall of fame. Paris and Nicky Hilton (Pietro and Josua) received the Golden Glove for their deafening screams.

It was an honour for us to thank everybody for their hard work and passion, which is what make our church function, with this cool evening. It makes us happy to see how you have made this church in Rappi get its personality and character!

The next high light is going to be the tour of the Musical Santa Reloaded which is coming to Rapperswil on the 23^rd of December at 8pm. So that we do not only invite our relatives, acquaintances and friends, but also many people from Rapperswil, we are going to take a “Step Up” and go to the streets with a big group of santa clauses and advertise.

Santa clause action: Saturday, 5^th December at 3pm (meeting point: Eventhouse)

Numbers in October - ICF Rapperswil

Budget income: 12'500.-

Actual income: 19'564.-

Budget expense: 12'000.-

Actual expense: 29'761.- (including purchase of the video technique for the live broadcasting)

ACTS

Step up – Serve Zürich, Rapperswil und Winterthur

Around Santa reloaded – be a part of it!

On the 7^th of December the third blood donating campaign is taking place in the celebration hall!

Between 5pm and 9pm you can donate blood! We look forward to having you, your small group and your friends supporting us!

Beginning of December we will also be making, buying and collecting presents at the ICF locations in Zurich, Rapperswil and Winterthur as part of a joint Christmas campaign. We will then pile the presents up on the stage and later distribute them at the ACTS-children’s oasis and other chosen organisations!

The highlight is going to be the musical Santa reloaded. Before this takes place not only one "Santa is going to town”, but many santas are going to hand out mandarins and invitations.

We are excited to see what we will experience with this year’s projects and we believe that through serving practically we will not only be able to bring God’s love to Zurich, but also to Rapperswil and Winterthur.

Further information will be posted on www.icf.ch/events/step-up-serve-zueri-rappi-winti.html

Movement

ICF Geneva, Grand Opening - historical day!

More than 100 volunteers worked all summer to make it happened, renovate & transform an old cinema into a conference, business & art center.
Finally ICF-Geneva, a church, settled down in the center of the city after 5 years of nomadism. Who would have thought that 6 months ago when we had no more place to go?
On November 1st, ICF Geneva celebrated his "Grand Opening" in his new "hype" place. More than 1100 people showed up. The celebration hall was so packed in the night that we had to project the show -live- into another room, people queuing 30 minutes before to get a seat! Even if the church was tired after the summer marathon, all the teams gave their best again for that day. Seated in the night, after a hard-beat count down, a noise started to row... then after a couple of second the first violin started, then the second one and the third... all playing in the public. You could feel the tension and the presence of God in your all body. Then all musicians from the stage started "bittersweet symphony" and a video of Geneva with a light was showing all the places where we, as a church, have been...
An historical day for all of us, and the beginning of something bigger. Thanks to all for your generosity & support to make this dream come true.

Information and News about the movement:

Blog: http://ndstrupler.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/icf_movement

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/icfmovement

Web: http://www.icf-movement.org

Numbers in October - ICF Zürich

Budget income: 320'000.-

Actual income: 318'000.-

Budget expense: 291'000.-

Actual expense: 256'000.-

Donations for ICF Zurich

As of now ICF Zurich, Rapperswil and Winterthur, as well as the ACTS foundation have new bank arrangements. Following you will find the appropriate information:

ACTS Foundation

Payment for:

Raiffeisenbank Zürich

8001 Zürich

Clearing-No.: 81487

Account-No.: 96475.41

Postal Bank: 87-71996-7

In favour of:

IBAN CH91 8148 7000 0096 4754 1

ACTS Foundation

c/o ICF Zürich

Hardstr. 219

8005 Zürich

We ask all donators and supporters to only use these accounts from now on. Thank you so much!