ICF International Newsletter No. 6/2010

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Heartbeat from Leo & Susanna Bigger

Dear ICF:

We are sure most of you have experienced moments when your minds are filled with questions. Questions you want to ask God; questions about life. In our June series, we will look at some of these prominent questions. The messages and small group meetings should give us ideas on how and show us ways to find our personal answers. “Q&A with God” – it is our prayer that you are encouraged with this series. Now you can also watch it as a “live-stream” on our website.

Even after fourteen years of ICF, there is nothing greater than weekly hearing from people who have experienced God and got to know Jesus as their Saviour; because of the ministry we do together as a church. In this newsletter you will read a true story similar to hundreds which have taken place in ICF before, because of you and me. And do you know what? Our dedication is worth it for each one of these people!

A warm thank you for taking part, your faithfulness and all you invest! From the bottom of hearts we wish you and your loved ones wonderful summer days!

Be blessed!
Yours Susanna and Leo

New Series: Q & A with God

In June, we will be looking at the hot topics which are burning issues. We will ask questions and receive answers about God, His nature and His character, and by this be changed and come closer to God’s heart.

Sunday, 20^th June 2010: Q & A with God – Three or one – What is the Trinity?

Sunday, 27^th June 2010: Q & A with God – How should I imagine hell?

Sunday, 4^th July 2010: Q & A with God –Why do I have so many battles?(devil)

Sunday, 11^th July 2010: Q & A with God – Why do I always have so many doubts?

CHANGES IN STAFF

Andrea Vara – Thank you for everything! Sadly Andrea Vara has resigned from ICF as of 1 July, 2010. She will give up her job in the small group leader’s team and is seeking a new professional challenge. Dear Andy, We wish you all the best in your new job! You are a wonderful woman of God. May He bless you richly on your future path. We will miss your warm heart, your love for people and the fun we have had with you! Luckily you will continue coming to ICF and also being a small group leader.

Florian Merkli – Welcome to the team! Since 2 June Florian Merkli has been working for us in ICF as a Typo3 web supporter for the ICF Movement and also for ICF Zurich. Florian is going to build up a web community for the ICF Movement, which will bring a lot of surprises with it in the future. Welcome, Flo!

SEEKING AS OF 1 OCTOBER:

LEADER FOR THE OFFICE / INFORMATION DESK

Your most important tasks are: setting up and leading the office and information team, leading the switchboard, e-mail, post, information desk, buying office material, assisting the corporate management, administering the intranet and Facebook of ICF and a variety of administrative jobs.

You have finished your education as an office employee and have had experience in leading an office. You are an enthusiastic team player with qualifications of a leader, who can enforce things and is able to work under pressure. You are very flexible and ready to work on Sundays and public holidays. Language knowledge: business fluent in German and English. French and Italian are an advantage.

If you are interested, we look forward to your application via email to zuerich@icf.ch or your complete dossier through the post to Daniel Linder, who is responsible for the staff. Address: ICF Zürich, Daniel Linder, Hardstr. 219, 8005 Zürich. If you have questions tel. 043 366 76 76 (central office).

Numbers for May - ICF Zürich

The numbers for April were not changed in the May newsletter. We are sorry about this mistake. You can find the current numbers under www.icf.ch/media/newsletter.html. Thank you for your understanding!

Income

Budget May 10: 290,000.00 SFR

Actual May 10: 347,255.05 SFR

Outgoings

Budget May 10: 298,875.00 SFR

Actual May 10: 302,571.60 SFR

SIGN UP NOW FOR THE FALL CAMPS

Even though the summer is still only expected to arrive, we are sure it will be tempting for you to be able to add some extra warm days by taking part in a Fall camp. Information and registration on: camps.icf.ch.

GenX Beach Camp 2010:
Saturday, 9 – Saturday, 16 October, 2010 on Elba, Italy

ICF Family Camp 2010:
Saturday, 9 – Saturday, 16 October 2010 on Elba, Italy

NEWCOMER TO ICF

On the 18^th of April, Heral Jansen was able to baptize his wife Sherly and his daughter Savannah, at ICF Zurich. For two years, the family have been coming to ICF and they are very excited about it. Heral and his wife live in Liechtenstein. Their daughter moved to Küsnacht two years again and is going to the international school there. The baptism was the answer to many years of prayer!

“I have been happily married with my wonderful wife Sherly for 26 years. At the beginning of our marriage we really wanted kids. Because it didn’t seem to work we went for examinations and it seemed that “my fish were rotten and swam like snails”. We decided against any medical intervention and asked God for help in prayer. The first answer of prayer: On 29 April, our daughter Savannah turned 17 years old!

My wife came from a Catholic family and got to know and love Jesus during our marriage. Together we always prayed for our daughter and were an example of faith. Savannah should be free to decide for a life with Jesus without pressure. In my heart I didn’t wish for anything more than that my wife and daughter take the decision to make a visible sign through baptism!

On April 18^th, the day finally came: I was able to baptize Sherly and Savannah on Sunday evening! I am overjoyed. God has fulfilled my hearts desire!”

ICF SINGLE NIGHT

Good food, fun and flirting

This second official ICF single night was once again a big success. Over 120 men and women enjoyed a relaxing and exciting evening. That’s the way it is with speed-dating – exciting to get to know so many people in such a short time, yet relaxing because the surrounding is so easy-going and clear. An engaged couple who met at the last single night in October 09 shared how they met during the speed-dating and how a relationship can grow out of those three minutes. Yes, it is exciting to see how couples find each other at the single nights and then start a path together. The first wedding bells will ring this Fall!

For others it was just a cool evening with good food, good conversations and interesting meetings.... :-). Next single night: Saturday, 2^nd October 10

ACTS: BLOOD DONATION 5th JULY

We will have another blood donation on Monday 5^th July! It will take place in the rooms of ICF Zurich from 5pm to 9:30pm.

Last December, we managed to beat the Zurich record with the most first time donors – can we once again top that?

Take your friends, neighbours or small group friends along with you to donate blood before you go on holidays. Donate blood, save lives, and enjoy the fellowship with a tasty snack.

ICF Winterthur

Building up the leadership team – second celebration not until 2011

Lately we have been able to win a few people to help out at ICF located in Winterthur. Dave Chappuis took on the organizational part in the leadership team and will build his team. Additionally, he will work with us as a volunteer on Monday afternoons. This will take effect immediately.

We would like to thank everyone who invested their heart and time in any kind of way into ICF Winterthur. Thank you for your huge input and your serving heart. We would especially like to mention our theater team as their drive is increasing and they provide the celebrations with valuable diversity.

We will delay the start of the planned morning celebrations by six months and are now planning to start with it in spring 2011. For the time being, we are focusing fully on building a team. We are excited that our location is moving forward and would also like to welcome you any time at the cinema.

Gloria & Dominik Laim

Numbers for May - ICF Winterthur

Income

Budget: 13,500.00 SFR

Actual: 11,523.00 SFR

Outgoings

Budget: 13,100.00 SFR

Actual: 13,042.00 SFR

ICF Rapperswil

Inspirational/inspiring vision night for the second Celebration

The morning Celebration in Rapperswil has been firmly established and the interest and weekly attendance is growing. A majority of families with small children are the true core of the Church; thanks to the well-functioning Chinderexpress. In order to appeal to the younger generation and give them a home, we are launching a second Celebration in the evening in September. For this purpose, a vision evening took place on 28 May, totally dedicated to the youth. Nearly thirty interested participated enthusiastically and left infected by the fire, to build a church here in Rapperswil! Our goal is to reach the city, the lakeshore and the Linth area right up to Glarus. We hope and expect that many young people will discover new life through the evening Celebration near them. We want to raise our voices and roll into a momentum. You are welcome to contact us if you want to move forward together with us as a passionate and courageous pioneer!

Gisi and Maese Hager

Numbers for May - ICF Rapperswil

Income

Budget: 16,505.00 SFR

Actual: 17,303.00 SFR

Outgoings

Budget: 16,000.00 SFR

Actual: 12,335.00 SFR

ICF Zürich Oberland

Camps and new Celebration location

In May, we were with 54 people from the Zurich Oberland at the Whitsun camp in Austria. In addition to brilliant fellowship, a lot of fun trips and a visit to the ICF Vorarlberg were on the programme. During the summer break the camp fever is now finally breaking out: Planet Youth Adventure Camp Weekend and the children’s camp on the farm in July, the Adventure Camp for men, fathers and sons in September and autumn as the highlight, the camp on Lake Garda in October. Register now! Detailed information about all camps can be found under www.icf-zo.ch.

On the 6^th of June we celebrated for the last time Celebration in the badminton hall. From now, every Sunday two Celebrations will take place (10:15 and 19:15) next door in our Eventroom.

Jani & Ursula Schmitter

Numbers for May - ICF Zürich Oberland

Income

Budget: 33,000.00 SFR

Actual: 48,000.00 SFR

Outgoings

Budget: 30,000.00 SFR

Actual: 27,000.00 SFR

Movement

Report from the ICF Leaders Day 2010

Once again, the ICF Leaders Day was a brilliant source of inspiration for hundreds of leaders from across the ICF Movement. The rainy weather had the 680 visitors mostly staying in the Celebration Hall. So the good hands of all 120 workers were full. Susanna and Leo started the first session with the subject of the prayer life of a leader. Afterwards, Rolf Hiltl, manager of the traditional Hiltl restaurants in Zurich, spoke as our guest speaker. With great wit and humor Rolf Hiltl talked about his life as an entrepreneur.

One of the many creative highlights was the show with 4 iPhones, which served as an instrument with four living "Moving Heads" (see Youtube clip).

After lunch, Lea Laemmle interviewed Leo & Susanna Bigger with much charm. They told openly about their lives and also answered some delicate questions, which have been burning questions with one person or the other. The afternoon sessions motivated us in the area of team leadership and by the impressive story of the family Schmid (ICF ICF Schaffhausen and Basel) in the the area of clinging to God, even in very dark moments in our lives. The day was a very personal encouragement for all probably because of its diversity.

BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS FOR DONATIONS

ICF Zürich:

Raiffeisenbank Zürich, 8001 Zürich
Clearing number 81487
Account number 89622.47

IBAN CH85 8148 7000 0089 6224 7
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