ICF International Newsletter No. 1/2011

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Heartbeat from Leo & Susanna Bigger

Dear ICF

We have started the year taking a close look at the stories of a few radical Swiss ancestors. It is always very impressive to see how God used people to build His kingdom. We are very inspired and motivated to give God our lives and our ICF church so He can use them! Everything is possible for Him with our community as a church!

We look forward to the ConneXXion on Monday, 31^st January. We would like to give you an insight into our current plans for the future by giving you some information – but we especially want to turn our eyes to Jesus as a whole church with all the small groups.

The new series in February will help us renew the world of our thoughts. We are going to continue where we left off in the series from last year.

It is a privilege for us to have the same vision as all of you in ICF, to help people come into a personal relationship with Jesus.

Be warmly greeted!
Yours Susanna and Leo

New series: “THINK! Reloaded”

“A person is the way he thinks.” This sentence brings it straight to the point: the quality of our thoughts influence the quality of our lives. In the “THINK! Reloaded” series we want to have a closer look at habits and the quality of the world of our thoughts.

Sunday, 30^th January, 2011: Swiss Radicals – Christian Friedrich Spittler

Sunday, 06^th February, 2011: THINK! Reloaded - my thoughts
Sunday, 13^th February, 2011: THINK! Reloaded - my life’s journey
Sunday, 20^th February, 2011: THINK! Reloaded - my feelings

ICF Club 100 – Who is that?

The “ICF Club 100” is for people who believe that part of their calling is to support ICF financially – in addition to the tithes. They realize that God has set them as financial leaders of His kingdom with the goal to help His kingdom grow in Switzerland and in Europe though their special gift of dealing with finances or through their financial possibilities. The donations of the “ICF Club 100” are mainly used for evangelistic projects (eg. tours, musicals, bible projects, ICF TV, ICF video platform, ect.). If you are interested in joining, get in touch with Nicolas Legler (nicolas.legler@icf.ch).

Numbers ICF Zurich and locations

We would like to inform you that from now on the numbers will not be printed in the monthly newsletter anymore. The numbers mentioned in the previous newsletters informed you of the budgeted and actual income and expenses. They were always the current numbers but they didn’t give any explanation about what the money was used for. In the future we will make the numbers public in a bulletin after the annual accounts have been finished (mid-year). And people who are interested can make an appointment with our accountant at any time to see a detailed list of how the finances are being used.

We thank you very much for the trust you give us and for all the generous donations which help strengthen our church and keep it healthy.

ICF CONNEXXION on Monday, 31th January 11

On Monday, 13st January, 2011 we are once again meeting with all ICF-ers for a ConneXXion. All small group members, volunteers and donors are warmly invited to join. We are going to look back on 2010 but we are mainly going to have a visionary outlook on 2011. Some keywords: building, finances, events, BIG 15, small group and especially your personal relationship to Jesus!

Door open: 6 pm
Begin: 7:30 pm in the ICF Celebration hall

ICF Winterthur

Welcome to the team David & Ladina Hofer

This month we are going to start with two new ministries in Winterthur. The “FacetoFace” team is going to pray for people after the celebrations from now on and the new flyer ministry is taking up their job.

David and Ladina Hofer have joined the team. David is employed to 60% in Winti and will be working in the area of Community. We are now going to start planning the introduction of the morning celebrations which should start in April. We are ready to make space for more people with all we have on offer!

ICF Rapperswil

Highlights till the end of the year

We finished the old year in Rapperswil with a cosy New Year’s Eve party with fondue and worship in the Eventhouse. The Musical Flight 24/12 hit Rappi like a bomb; the room was full to the last seat and the enthusiasm of the audience was visible in their faces. We were able to hand out thirty Bibles to people who decided to follow God for their first time, or who rededicated their lives. Many people accepted our invitation to come to the Sunday celebrations. We are excited and full of hope to see these seeds fall on good ground and grow and blossom in this new year. The change of the year is a good time to look at how things are going with the newly started evening celebrations and to turn our eyes to what is to come. In September we opened our doors for the 7pm celebration. We are excited to see that not only the number of people coming but also the atmosphere and fellowship is getting greater and a strong core is developing. Our verse for this year in ICF Rapperswil is: but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. (Isaiah 40:31) This verse confirms the slogan for this year for ICF Zurich and the locations: “Me and my Jesus!” We want to build a foundation where roots can grow deep into the ground so that the tree will be strong and good fruit will follow.

ICF Zürcher Oberland

enjoying fellowship

Because celebrating is so nice, we started the new year with a party. About 60 people came to our cozy New Year’s Eve dinner with fondue Chinoise. Together we started the new year in a great atmosphere. We look forward to being able to tackle the coming months with a motivated crew.

On Tuesday, 18^th January the fist Ladies’ Celebration is taking place in Zurcher Oberland. A motivated team of women from Oberland and Zurich are making this event possible and have prepared some surprises for the ladies. Do not miss this premiere!

On Saturday, 29^th January, 2011, we are having our next Welcome Party. If you are new to ICF Zurcher Oberland or would like to know more about it, then you are warmly invited. During dinner in Schmitters’ dining room we have the opportunity to get to know each other better. Register at the information desk or: info@icf-zo.ch

We hope that you feel at home in our church and that you will continue coming. We also have small groups to support you. If you haven’t found a group yet, then keep the 30^th of January free. During the celebration all leaders will present their small group. Get the needed information on this Sunday and become a part of a group.

Jani and Ursula Schmitter

ACTS

Christmas Eve on the Hofwiesengrund

On Christmas Eve we celebrated the Christmas festival in a special way on the Farm Wisengrund with family Maag. A hundred people of all ages and from over ten countries celebrated Jesus’ birth together. The evening was an experience for the eyes, mouth, ears and last but not least the heart. After enjoying an apero in the fresh air of Tenn, a group of children presented a modern dance. This was followed by a diverse buffet which all the guests enjoyed. The Christmas story was presented with pictures and a theatre by children. They showed us very clearly why Christmas is celebrated. After eating a choice of desserts and giving the presents to around 40 children, they all went home thankful and full of many wonderful impressions.

Family Maag did not accept a payment for the costs of the evening from the guests, but they mentioned a box near the exit where money could be donated for a project in Uganda. In the name of all the richly blessed guests we would like to say thank you so much, dear Maags, for a great evening and for your generosity.

Andreas Gassmann, Leader Stiftung ACTS - ICF Zurich

BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS FOR DONATIONS

ICF Zürich:

Raiffeisenbank Zürich, 8001 Zürich
Clearing number 81487
Account number 89622.43

IBAN CH85 8148 7000 0089 6224 3
SWIFT-BIC: RAIFCH22

Paid to: ICF Zürich,Hardstrasse 219,8005 Zürich

Rapperswil:

Raiffeisenbank Zürich, 8001 Zürich
Clearing number 81487
Account number 89622.50

IBAN CH04 8148 7000 0089 6225 0
SWIFT-BIC: RAIFCH22

Paid to: ICF Zürich, Hardstrasse 219, 8005 Zürich

Winterthur:

Raiffeisenbank Zürich, 8001 Zürich
Clearing number 81487
Account number 89622.24

IBAN CH27 8148 7000 0089 6222 4
SWIFT-BIC: RAIFCH22

Paid to: ICF Zürich, Hardstrasse 219, 8005 Zürich

ICF Zürcher Oberland:

Zürcher Kantonalbank ZKB
8010 Zürich
Clearing number 755
PC-Konto Bank: 80-151-4
IBAN: CH89 0070 0115 5001 6197 6

Paid to: ICF Züri Oberland, Zürcherstrasse 71, 8260 Wetzikon

ACTS:

Raiffeisenbank Zürich,8001 Zürich
Clearing number81487
Account number 96475.41

IBAN CH91 8148 7000 0096 4754 1
SWIFT-BIC: RAIFCH22

Paid to: ACTS Stiftung, c/o ICF Zürich, Hardstrasse 219, 8005 Zürich