ICF International Newsletter Nr. 1/2010

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Heartbeat from Leo & Susanna Bigger

Dear ICF

Each new year offers new, wonderful opportunities to glorify God through our lives, to personally grow closer to Him, and to tell others about Him. We don't want to settle with what we have achieved so far, but rather progress forward and take on greater challenges. The wounded lion will stand up and not be dictated by his past! With God's help we will turn Zurich, Switzerland and Europe upside down. We experienced the first evidence of this new dimension with the musical Santa Reloaded:

Santa Reloaded Tour: 14 cities, 24 performances and 11,690 visitors

In Zurich: 5,060 visitors

In Rapperswil: 550 visitors

In Winterthur: 640 visitors

Total 6,150 visitors

In Zurich alone, we could give a Bible to each of the 255 people who entrusted their lives to Jesus for the first time. This year the radius will get even bigger: We are planning five worship tours, an awesome conference at Easter with an Easter musical, and a four-week musical tour next December.

Despite all that we don't want to forget what is most important: Our love for God must deepen, because that is the driving force for everything that we do!

Yours Susanna and Leo

Radicals - God writes history

Sunday, 24^th Jan.2010 Radicals:

Augustine – a seeker becomes a church father

Sunday, 31^st Jan. 2010 Radicals:

Benedict of Nursia – a father for the western world

Sunday, 7^th Feb. 2010 Radicals:

Francis and Clara from Assisi – two radical dropouts

Sunday, 14^th Feb. 2010 Radicals:

Elisabeth of Thuringia – a princess serves the poorest of the poor

Sunday, 21^st Feb. 2010 Radicals:

Peter Waldes – a rebel sparks a fire

New Series 40 days on the topic of thoughts

As every year we as a church want to look at one topic for 40 days and allow God to change our thoughts.

Sunday, 28^th Feb. 2010: 40 days:focused thoughts

Sunday, 7^th March 2010: 40 days: healthy thoughts

Sunday, 14^th March 2010: 40 days: happy thoughts

The Alphalive course

Discover the Christian faith!

Alphalive is a practical introduction in the Christian faith. The course participant has the possibility to be founded in the Christian faith and at the same time experience it in an unconventional way over 10 weeks and one weekend. Up to today over 11 million people in more than 165 counties have gone to an Alphalive course. Alphalive courses have been offered in local churches all over Switzerland for the last 13 years. Alphalive is open for everyone. You can also invite your VIPs to come to the course. We really look forward to having you there!

Start of the course: 27^th January 2010

End of the course: 14^th April 2010 (Every Wednesday other than week 7 and 8 because of the sports holidays)

Weekend: 13^th/14^th March 2010

Course location: ICF Zurich, Hardstr. 219, 8005 Zurich

Costs: non (an optical contribution towards expenses)

Information and registration: at the information desk or under www.icf.ch/kurse/alphalive.html

Ladies House

All women are warmly invited to the Women’s Celebration on the 27^th of January 2010! Enjoy community, get to know people, get new power for everyday life, be inspired and encounter God. We look forward to you coming!

Susanna Bigger and Ladies’ House Team

Topic: “Typical God and purely Geri” with guest speaker Geri Keller

Start: 7.30pm, Food bar open from 7pm

News from the ICF staff

Tiziana Strehler is 60% employed in ICF as from the 4th of January for the areas Small Group Administration and Small Group Events, as well as in the Welcome Bar (Integration) Leadership. Up until now Tizi was already responsible for these areas as a volunteer and can carry on her work with new vigour as an employee! Tizi, welcome into our Team!

Andi Amstutz worked his last day in ICF at the end of December 2009. His short term employment contract has sadly come to an end. Andi left a lasting impression behind in the area Graphic and Video and at the Bar. We wish you all the best in your training to be a graphic designer at the F&F! Thank you Andi for your brilliant input!

As from the 4^th of January 2010, Karin Hitz has joined us as 60% employee for Acts. She will be working in the areas Case Management & Fundraising. Additionally, she will be supervising the new apprentices as of summer 2010. A big welcome Karin!

Since the 4th of January 2010, Wagner Silva Cruz has been working with us in GenX International. Wagner (Brazilian and Swiss) moved to Switzerland in January to take over the leadership of the GenX International starting end of February. Wagner is married to Vivienne, a native Swiss. They have three children. Daniel Fürst, who is the current leader of International, envisions founding a new ICF in Germany in the coming year. We wish Wagner a great settling in period in this cold time of year. ;o)

Winterthur

A historic day!

Tuesday, 22 December 2009 - the date on which the musical Santa Reloaded was staged in a cinema definitely went into the history of the ICF Winterthur! It is no understatement to say that we were literally overwhelmed. 640 attendees found their way into the two shows. At the second performance we only had "standing" room available!

One of the many stories is that of a young woman who entrusted her life to Jesus that night for the first time! God has exceeded all our expectations. Above all, we became aware in a wonderful way that much more is possible in the future, and that greater things are waiting of us which we can now only dream about.

On the last two Sundays we were again able to gain some new (young) people to serve in ICF Winterthur. It's fun to see how our former dream of "one church three locations“ is becoming more and more reality and how people are helping to complete the picture. Thanks for your support, in any form whatsoever. Together we are building the church!

Numbers in December - ICF Winterthur

income

budget: 12,000.-

actual: 13,450.-

expenses

budget: 9,000.-

actual: 20,625.- (including investment due to reconstruction)

Rapperswil

Looking back on 2009, we are grateful to God for everything we have experienced. A huge highlight and conclusion of the year, apart from our successful New Year's Eve fondue party, was the musical event Santa Reloaded in the Eventhouse. Our faith was great and we put out 450 seats in our hall because of the enthusiastic friends, acquaintances and relatives that we had invited. In a rush the ushers had to put out extra chairs because so many visitors arrived. The musical was a great success and we thank Leo and the crew for the many hearts that received much and were set on fire again!

2010 is still young, but the cry of the lion could be heard all the way to Rapperswil. We are motivated to serve the true King, and are excited to rise up as a church and take our places in Switzerland. City of Rapperswil-Jona get ready, for the lion of light is roaming around and the print of his paws will be seen in the uttermost parts of Glarus!

Numbers in December - ICF Rapperswil

income

budget: 16,000.-

actual: 22,924.-

expenses

budget: 14,000.-

actual: 12,326.-

ACTS

Presents campaign Step up – serve zurich An amazingly colourful picture of a mountain of small parcels could be seen in the Celebration Hall last December. Many ICFers packed and brought gifts for children. Altogether they brought about 300 gifts to be given away! 60 gifts were presented to children of ACTS Kinderoase work, 60 children received gifts from the Netz4 work with children and young people and the other gifts made a trip to Spain to be given to the ICF Movement there. Bright children's eyes and smiling faces are the reward for your great participation! Thank you for your help and your generosity in giving these gifts!

Movement

ICF in Belarus

Stefan Hänsch (ICF Berlin), Jiri Zdrahal (ICF Prague) and ND Strupler travelled to Minsk (Belarus) early Saturday morning to carry out a Church-Planting Workshop there. Stefan grew up in East Berlin with the Russian language and Eastern Europe has been on his heart for many years. Jiri has established an ICF in a post-communist country, and can therefore assess and understand the situation of people in Belarus well.

The thermometer dropped far below zero, as the three were welcomed in snowy Minsk. It started straight away. 40 people were already eagerly awaiting their arrival in a big private house. After two people had told their stories about their trip to Zurich Jiri went on to describe the founding of the ICF in Prague. Then the people sang, danced and celebrated into the night.

ND, Stefan and Jiri were overwhelmed by the vitality and energy of the Belarusians. On Sunday morning around 60 people gathered and listened to the three boys as they talked about the dreams and visions of ICF. The fact is that many new churches which appeal to the youth of today are needed in Belarus. At the moment there is an ICF team in Gomel. The interest for new paths is large. We are confident that doors will be opening in the coming years. Pray with us that we will find young charismatic leaders that we can promote.

Numbers in December - ICF Zürich

income

budget: 350,000.-

actual: 560,840.- (including income from Santa Reloaded and the Download 2010 project)

expense

budget: 380,000.-

actual: 505,325.- (incl. expenses for Santa Reloaded and the Download 2010 project)

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

IBAN CH91 8148 7000 0096 4754 1

SWIFT-BIC: RAIFCH22

In favour of:

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!