DAWN Fridayfax 2000 #8

Switzerland

Congregation grows by 800 in 2 months

"Event of the century"

"In November and December 1999 alone, the congregation of Zurich's International Christian Fellowship grew by 800. With an attendance of 2,500 every Sunday, the ICF has become Switzerland's largest Protestant church," writes the Dawn European Network's Reinhold Scharnowski. The movement, established in 1996, targets Zurich's yuppies. The mix of "radical spiritual convictions, high-tech Sunday services and house-church-type cell groups (called 'Workshops')" is causing furore. "They have conservative values and progressive methods," says Scharnowski. One Swiss pastor describes them as "the Swiss event of the century". The ideas don't all come from ICF itself; leaders Leo Bigger (31) and Matthias Boelsterli (38) are happy to learn from anyone: Willow Creek, Ralph Neighbour, Rick Warren and others. "ICF has simply realised how to effectively copy from others," says Scharnowski. The focus is on not-yet-Christians, who are considered VIPs. Every ICF member prays for three VIPs, and has regular contact with them, with the aim that at least one of the three chooses to follow Jesus every year. In addition to praying for them, they are invited to parties and Workshops. "The Workshops are the real church," says Leo Bigger. Workshop leaders have a free hand, central control happens through vision-sharing alone. Although ICF strongly discourages transfer from other churches, the attendance is divided into three equal parts: Christians who have moved from other churches, new believers and Christians previously without a spiritual home.

Church-planting through weddings

In the meantime, 4 new ICF churches have started in Switzerland, with a total of 10 planned by the end of the year 2000. The church plants are not always planned: Matthias Boelsterli held the wedding for a young couple from Basle, at which "the Holy Spirit moved so powerfully that some 30 guests decided to follow Jesus." The result was new workshops in Basle for the new believers. The ICF churches are organised as a network, not subordinate to the mother church.
Source: ICF, Hoenggerstr. 117, 8037 Zurich, tel. (+41)-1-272 49 19, www.icf.ch, , and Reinhold Scharnowski, rscharnowski@csi.com

Sudan

50,000 attend evangelistic meetings in Khartoum

"An unusual conference was held in Khartoum, northern Sudan, from 14-18 January 2000," reports Victor Hashweh. The attendance of the 'Christian Family Convention' in Khartoum's 'Green Square' grew from 30,000 on the first evening to over 50,000 on the last. "Thousands decided to start a life following Christ," says Hashweh. "God is still on the throne and moving wonderfully, also in the many nations which try to oppose the spread of the gospel."
Source: Victor Hashweh, victor@go.com.jo

Vietnam

"Whole villages are turning to Christ"

"Whole villages are turning to Christ as a result of signs and wonders and the testimony of local Christians," reports mission agency 'Offene Grenzen' (Open Doors), which supports persecuted Christians. "There are now many in Vietnam who have decided to follow Jesus, and now have a fiery zeal to take the gospel to their people. At the same time, persecution of Christians is increasing in the mountainous areas."
Source: Offene Grenzen, Postfach 2010, D-38718 Seesen, fax (+49) 05384 90978

Latvia

Ex-President Guntis Ulmanis speaks about his Christian faith on TV

"The few evangelical Christians in the Baltic state Latvia were very encouraged to see their ex-President Guntis Ulmanis speaking about his new-found faith in Jesus on national television," reports Monte Erwin, International Mission Board missionary in the nation. Ulmanis was one of the 5,000 who decided to follow Jesus during the 'Hope 99' event with Luis Palau in autumn 1999. Ulmanis stood up and went forward after Palau's sermon, in order to demonstrate his decision to follow Jesus in front of the crowd of 50,000. "I've been looking forward to this event for 6 months, but I have only understood the true meaning of hope this evening. It is wonderful! To date, I am not aware of a single Christian in the government," he said.
Source: Baptist Press

This Web version of the DAWN Fridayfax is maintained by the Jesus Fellowship Church (Jesus Army) as a service to the Christian church. Please visit our web pages which feature the e-zine Streetpaper and its special Revival section.