ICF International Newsletter No. 3/2010

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Heartbeat from Leo & Susanna Bigger

Dear ICF

In December we received donations of 181,397.- CHF for the Download Project including special collections. In the end a total of 205'724.- was donated. The following new features were implemented from this:

1. Download page with resources on resources.icf.ch from 3 January, 2010
2. Video messages
3. The I- Phone Application became available on 15 January, 2010
4. Leo und Susanna‘s blog appeared online on 25 January, 2010.
5. ICF messages can be seen live on the Internet as of 11 April on: www.live.icf.ch
6. The aim is to broadcast the celebrations on TV by summer 2010.

We want to thank you very much for your generous donations. With your financial support you have made it possible so that many people can be blessed; also we, as ICF Zurich can also benefit from the new and improved quality! At Easter we will see the “Job” musical and experience that as a church we benefit enormously and are blessed! Thanks to all of you!

Be blessed.
Your Susanna and Leo

40 day series till Easter

The power of your thoughts: From Sunday, 28 February till Easter we, as a church, will look at this theme for 40 days and allow our thoughts to be changed by God.

Sunday, 21 March 10: 40 days: positive thoughts

Sunday, 28 March 10: 40 days: godly thoughts

Sunday, 04 April 10: 40 days: Easter message and musical “Job“

New: During the series you can download the Daily Podcasts! from Monday to Friday 

New: For all small groups, as of Monday, 1 March you can watch Video teachings on the topic of “The Power of Your Thoughts“ live in your living room! Let yourself be surprised and try out something new with your small group! 

Chez Hiob – The series

In connection with the Easter “Job” Musical, we want to address the topic of "Dealing with Suffering." as a Church. A challenging and helpful series awaits us!

Sunday, 11 April 10: Why me?

Sunday, 18 April 10: What do I do now?

Sunday, 25 April 10: Who can help me?

Sunday, 02 May 10: Where are you God?

NEW: GenX Unplugged in the evening – Easy-going atmosphere!

For all those people who like things a bit quieter, but lighter and more carefree; we now have the new Unplugged Celebration in the arena (on the 2nd floor of the Celebration Hall) every Sunday at 7pm. This began on the 28^th of February.

You hear the same sermon as in the Celebration Hall, but can wallow in a light-hearted atmosphere with unplugged worship, a sizable public and warm lighting with a southern touch.

Do you like to experience something new again and again? Come by and experience ICF in its latest form at the moment!

New “Inside” courses

We offer new basis courses twice a year (May/June; Oct./Nov.) on Wednesday evenings:

• ICF Inside (the former “Welcome Apéro”): Get to know the vision and values of ICF
• Jesus Inside: Deepen your relationship with God
• Ministry Inside: Discover your gifts and passions
• Leadership Inside: Form your character and develop your leadership skills further

Information and registration on can be found at kurse.icf.ch.

ICF College Zürich

Registration for the new school year 2010/2011 (Semester start: 27 August 2010) is already underway.

Time for Passion: A year that will fill you with new passion and love for God and His Kingdom!

Information brochure and registration information at college.icf.ch.

College Info Events: Sunday, 11 April, 2010 after the morning (12:30 pm) and evening celebration (20:30 pm). Registration at college.icf.ch.
College “try-out“ days: Friday, 16 and 23 April, 2010. Information and registration at college@icf.ch

News from the Media Store

“Hallo Zukunft” (Hello Future)
The new book by Leo Bigger based on the message series “All in Moses” from last year is now available at the ICF Media Store.

“All the World”
The new ICF Zürich worship album with 13 brand new English worship songs is now available at the ICF Media Store.

Newcomer

Rahel Gooljar grew up as a missionary kid in Angola (South Western Africa). The Christian faith was very important to her in her childhood and she experienced God practically. “Angola was a country at war and whenever military planes flew over us dropping bombs, we were under our beds praying ...!” When she was 11, she decided to have a personal relationship with Jesus and she has held on to it till today.

“I have always had the firm conviction, that I am God’s favourite child!” This didn’t change when she was pregnant with her second child and the doctor saw that the child had a cleft lip and palate in the 23^rd week. “There must be a reason for God to send us this child and that is why I will accept it, the way it is.

“Our daughter, Nina, is a huge gift from God! She has the greatest laugh and is really a little sunshine.” Through Nina, Rahel has come in contact with people she wouldn’t have gotten to know otherwise. Today she knows that God meant well for her.

About a year ago, Rahel came to ICF because her former church had no children in the same age group as hers. “We feel at home here because ICF is a positive church, the preaching is uplifting and exciting. I am motivated to tell my friends in my surroundings about God.”

“I am not a big dreamer,” says Rahel but she has the deep desire in her heart to be a good mother for her daughters, and also that both of them can develop into self-confident and caring women. “They will hopefully decide to follow Jesus because they have heard about a loving God and have specifically experienced Him.

Winterthur

From Dominik and Gloria Laim

Sunday, 28 February, 2010 was a day that went down into history. After two challenging years full of learning at Hillsong International Leadership College, we are now back in Switzerland fully encouraged. We are very excited about taking over the location in Winterthur and together building this location and bringing it further.

The new series “Think” is in full blossom and has encouraged and changed many hearts. After the celebration we enjoyed an apero in the new Lounge in Winti. We were warmly welcomed and had the possibility to get to know people better. We would like to say thank you for that. We feel at home, well received and looking forward to what lies before us! Together we want to build church in Winterthur. Be Welcome!

Figures for February - ICF Winterthur

Income

Budget: 13,600.-

Actual: 12,383.-

Outgoings

Budget: 13,200.-

Actual: 11,464.-

Rapperswil

New Rooms for the Chinderexpress!

40 Days – this is not only a time of fasting where we individually chose to give up something in our everyday life to give God more room, but for us in Rappi, it is a time of anticipating Easter!

This year the dramatic and heart moving Easter musical “Hiob” will be presented in Rapperswil on Easter Monday (5/4/2010, doors open at 6pm, start 7pm).

We are also excited about the second stage of construction of the Event House. Not only will there be a second hall giving space for Food and Fellowship or Youthplanet, etc., but four completely furnished children’s room will be available. This brings our Chinderexpress to a new level. In addition to the nursery which will open a Child Care Concept during the week, various other events and discussions about different topics take place. Through this the Event House will become an important and central cultural building in Rapperswil-Jona!

We are happy that we as ICF are welcomed in the Event House and that as a church we can contribute an important part to the cultural events. As ICF we are at the heartbeat of our time – It is our wish to be at the heartbeat of our city!

Figures for February - ICF Rapperswil

Income

Budget: 17,800.-

Actual: 16,660.-

Outgoings

Budget: 16,000.-

Actual: 18,088.-

ACTS

News from ACTS: Personal Money Management

hanks to many hard-working consultants, about 100 people have received a budget consultation in the last three years. The consultants assisted in setting up a budget up to creating debt restructuring plan.

More and more other ICFs and organizations are asking for assistance in establishing a budget counselling service for themselves. We are happy to share our experiences and our ideas and help others who support people on their way to their personal financial freedom.

For PMM in Zurich, this means that our information kit, budget forms, and consultancy tools in cooperation with ICF International have to be translated into multiple languages in order to train other consultants, so we can reach more people. All those interested in this training should contact Acts directly at acts@icf.ch

Figures for February - ICF Zürich

Income

Budget: 290,000.-

Actual: 368,655.-

Outgoings

Budget: 290,000.-

Actual: 290,137.-

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!