ICF International Newsletter Nr. 08/2009

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Heartbeat from Leo & Susanna Bigger

We are sure you have had a great summer and are full of new energy to start normal life again! We as a family have also experienced a lot of exciting things, made new friends and are looking forward to preparing all the new cool inputs. As of August, 17^th 2009 there will be a novelty in the history of ICF: 1 church 3 locations and the same sermon topic in all three locations! This has never happened before! The sermons of the current Moses series in Zurich will be broadcast via video to Rapperswil and Winterthur. Because of time constraints the celebration in Rapperswil will be moved to 11am as of the 17^th of August. We are excited about this new idea and are convinced that this will bring us closer as 1 church in 3 locations. In the next few weeks we will be following Moses on his path to the court of Pharaoh, through the Red Sea and into the desert! Put your best shoes on for this trip!

Best wishes

Yours Susanna and Leo

Moses series in August 2009

Same topic via video broadcast in all three locations: Zurich, Rapperswil (at 11am) and Winthertur.

Sunday, 17^th Aug. 09 - All in Moses: your purpose

Sunday, 23^rd Aug. 09 - All in Moses: your passion

Sunday, 30^th Aug. 09 - All in Moses: your objections

Sunday, 07^th Sept. 09 - All in Moses: the test of your heart

Sunday, 13^th Sept. 09 - All in Moses: your faith

Sunday, 20^th Sept. 09 - All in Moses: your image of God

Sunday, 27^th Sept. 09 - All in Moses: your disappointments

Sunday, 04^th Oct. 09 - All in Moses: the path of your life

ICF Zürich

Ladies House, ICF Women’s Celebration

We warmly invite you to our next Ladies’ House event on the 2^nd of September at 7:30pm with the topic “Female Friendships”!

Ladies Lounge 09

The Ladies’ Lounge Conference takes place on the 6^th/7^th of November 2009. We want to look at the topic generations, among other things we will talk about the mother-daughter and father-daughter relationships, enjoy community together and be pampered with a wonderful range of things to do, for which the Ladies’ Lounge in ICF is famous for!

We look forward to you coming!

Registration

ICF Worship Band on Tour!

From the 26^th of August till the 7^th of September the ICF Worship Band is going on tour with Leo Bigger. The worship night will be promoting the new ICF CD “All In”. During these two weeks 12 cities in Germany and Switzerland will experience ICF Zurich worship live!

The tour will also stop in Zurich (30^th August) and in Rapperswil/Winterthur (6^th September).

Newcomer

Sandro is 30 years old and has been working for the post office for 14 years. He grew up in a Christian family and so he was confronted with the belief in Jesus at a very early age. But it often takes time for faith to drop from the head to the heart!

Sandro, since you have known Jesus a lot has changed in your life! How did this happen?

Faith in Jesus has been a part of my life since my childhood. I knew everything in my head, but nothing came through to my heart. I was yearning for true joy in life and freedom and prayed to God. Suddenly I thought about ICF, a place somebody had told me about a while before. From the moment I set foot in this church my whole life has changed! Jesus gave me a new heart and now He is the boss of my life.

What excites you about your life with Jesus?

I am free from depression. Everyday I am amazed by the love He has for me and I feel His presence. He is my best friend, I can tell Him everything and He answers me. Life with Him is never boring. I am excited to see how He will continue surprising me!

Why do you come to ICF regularly?

I like the liveliness in ICF. From the start I felt at home and accepted. The celebrations and especially the times of worship always give me new power for my everyday life.

News from the ICF staff

Mirjam Marcia Allgaier Marcia is leaving us after a three year business apprenticeship (KV) to search a new challenge in the business area (KV). Marcia worked in different areas of ICF especially very intensely in the accounting. She supported us extremely well with her serving attitude. We thank her for her dedication and wish her all the best and God’s blessings in her future.

Miguel Lauper We are very pleased that Miguel Lauper succcessfully finished his appreticeship in ICF this June. Miguel’s cheerful nature influenced the atmosphere in the office and brought many of us to laughter over and over again. – In autumn Miguel will do his civil service is the “Christehüsli” doing streetwork. We love you, Miguel!

Frederik Bugglin

In September Frederik Bugglin will start the training for his dream job as a photographer at the F&F Schule für Gestaltung & Mediendesign. Thanks to Frederick we have the cool new ICF website. Through his unique photos Frederik has revolutionized the ICF picture style. – Frederik, we wish you all the best and thank you very much for your great commitment in ICF.

International Celebration

Did you know that through our international celebration (at 5pm), we are able to be understood by 50% of the world population in their mother tongue or official language? We currently have our international celebration available in 4 languages and have over 10 other languages available "on request" every Sunday. For detailed information, you can visit www.international.icf.ch or ask the info desk.

Our "ICF International" vision is "Reaching all nations" and we really mean it! We would like every nation present in Zurich to be at home in our church, the same way you are. This means, translating the service for them, welcoming them in their language and creating smallgroups in the different languages.

We now have an amazing possibility to be able to bring our "international" friends and colleagues to the international celebration (on Sunday at 5pm) and let them hear about Jesus and connect with people who speak their own language.
If you would like to support us in strengthening our team or opening new languages or simply would like to have more information, don't hesitate to contact us at international@icf.ch.
Let's reach "All Nations" together!
The icf international team

ICF Winterthur

Kino Opening Celebration ICF Winterthur

On Sunday, 6^th of September 2009 at 7pm the time will finally be here! The doors of the newly renovated Cinema Palace in Winterthur will be opened for the first celebration! Leo Bigger and the worship tour “All in” will see to it that this event will be an unforgettable evening. Everyone is invited to come!

ACTS

ACTS live: Blood donation in ICF!

On average Switzerland needs 1300 blood donations every single day. Many donos are needed to ensure this high amount of blood reserves. In summer there is a drop in donations – and this even though there usually is a low number of donors. For this reason the second blood donation in ICF Zurich took place. The contribution of our church is of great importance.

On the evening of the 13^th of July a team from the Red Cross came for a “mobile blood donation campaign”. Questionnaires, tables, bunks and various medical clarification instruments were quickly set up and a crew was ready to receive the donors.

Strengthened by a glass of orange juice people started filling out the obligatory questionnaire. An exact knowledge about ones health and deep concentration was needed to answer the many questions of the medical questionnaire.

Others could go directly to the medical tests as they already owned a blood donor card. After measuring the blood pressure, the quick test was done to determine the blood group and to measure the haemoglobin level. The results were then written into the questionnaire. After these assessments each donor had a conversation with an expert to evaluate the questionnaire. If all requirements were met, the donor was prepared to donate the blodd. This took about half an hour – afterwards a good dinner and a drink was sponsored by the ACTS Foundation.

We are very happy that about 50 people were admitted to donate!

Thank you to all who came and donated!

Preview: In December – before Christmas – another blood donation will take place – we look forward to every blood donation!!

Finances

Donations received for ICF Geneva

WOW! We have a generous God and a generous church! Thank you to all the donators!

I want to thank all of you who donated from the bottom of my heart! Without your generousity in ICF-Zurich, which will add up to about CHF 300,000, the project in Geneva would not have been possible.

This money will change Geneva, the French speaking world and the rest of the world! I know that this money is also a seed for the donor and the ICF-Zurich church. Sooner or later it will grow to be a huge plant whose fruit will be miracles and blessings!

Marrhias Bölsterli

Numbers in July 09

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!