Message from the president
As we stand on the brink of a new year, I want to encourage us as a church community to look back with gratitude, and to see with fresh eyes how God has been at work in us, through us and around us.
What strikes me is how so many different communities, groups and individuals have been seeking to equip themselves to know, love and serve God in this season. I see this through the Discipleship College, Community Weekends, Camps and Workshops, as well as through bible teaching on Sundays and in Connect Groups. I see people seeking Godly perspective on topics ranging from discipleship to evangelism, and from parenting to healing and deliverance.
As we look forward, I cannot help but wonder what God will do with all of this potential! How will He bring us together as a body to become more than the sum of our parts? How will He change us and how will He challenge us? And what will be our response when He does? Are we willing to be the answer to our own prayers and those of our neighbours even when it’s costly?
“Our dream as a church is to become more like Jesus Christ, live fearlessly and have a positive influence on our city and our world.”
But as St Augustine said “Without God we cannot. Without us God will not.” So let us surrender to Him in all our ways and be ready to follow His lead.
1 Prayer is our weapon
It all begins on our knees, in prayer. Yes, it is in the presence of our God that we find everything we need. And the heart of our church, throughout this year, has been the importance of our intimacy with Jesus. There was notably this period of Lent and this series of messages on the 7 words of Jesus on the cross.
2 Hospitality and relationships
I am so thrilled to see the opportunities for connections that we have established this year. These meetings will now be anchored in our way of living out church and community life! We’ve set up our ‘little corner’: a place of hospitality during our gatherings where we have a little coffee while sharing with friends, where we welcome and meet new people by offering them a delicious violet syrup (definitely a flavor that will mark our 2023, right?). Another type of meeting that will mark this year are the ‘welcome home’ events, these three evenings that we were able to experience with the pastoral team, a few leaders and members of the church, and the new people discovering ICF Geneva.
It is undoubtedly one of my highlights of this year. These evenings, aimed at introducing the church, were evenings that deeply touched me with the authenticity and simplicity of the sharing, and by the testimonies that colored these moments. We also had the opportunity to set up workshops that were relevant to our daily lives and to approach a biblical and divine perspective on certain key subjects: Together, we were able to be encouraged in areas such as education, relationships, and even (I am very proud of this) the menstrual cycle. I can only look forward with even more excitement to the year 2024, with new ideas and opportunities to experience community together and the testimonies of transformed lives that will result from it.
3 A passion that spreads
This year, we’ve had the privilege to witness men and women finding their place within the family of God. There’s nothing more beautiful! We celebrated baptisms and shared inspiring testimonies of individuals whose lives have been deeply transformed by God. During a Sunday Night service, I met a young man who is beginning to show interest in the message of the Christian faith. He was amazed to discover the church. There, he encountered people who welcomed him as he is, without judgment and with a lot of warmth. ‘It’s something unique that I’ve never seen in any other social context!’
I’m proud of our church, which makes room for everyone to participate and feel at home. It’s true, we can and should continue to grow in our capacity to going out to meet those who are in desperate need of experiencing God’s love and restoration. This year has been a step in that direction. Through our warm and caring welcome, we have succeeded in opening the doors of our church even wider so that our friends, our families, and even strangers can experience the life that Jesus has to offer them.
4 A community to grow together
Our Mosaic community brings together individuals at different stages of their lives (students, young professionals, singles, young marrieds, etc.). Over the past year, we have strengthened our bonds and grown as disciples. To get to know each other and deepen our friendships, we have developed the habit of gathering after the 11:45 AM service and even before (with memorable brunches). Throughout the year, members have proposed activities to develop these bonds (like the Ciné Transat event this summer). To grow together in faith, we have restarted connect nights where we gather around the Bible and enjoy a good meal. In September, we had an unforgettable experience with our Beach Camp at Hossegor.
We shared moments of joy surfing the waves of the ocean and the waves of the Holy Spirit. This vacation week brought us closer to each other and closer to God. The big new thing this fall is the launch of Sunday Night gatherings. During these evenings, we immerse ourselves in passionate moments of praise, where time seems to stand still. It’s a unique experience to see a room filled with people deeply touched by God’s love. These evenings offer longtime believers as well as those who have never set foot in a church the opportunity to have a surprising encounter with God.
5 Testimony from Discipleship College
The Discipleship College was a real revelation for me! I emerged from it strengthened in my faith, rooted in my worth and identity in Christ. I learned what it truly means to love like Jesus and, above all, I came out of it even more thirsty to get to know this living God with a tender Father’s heart.
It was during one of the college courses that I realized how much time I had wasted trying to find out what God’s call for my life was, His purpose, as if it were something I had to discover externally. It was as if I had to reach a certain spiritual level, wait for years, or even become someone else in order to finally be ready to discover and “step into” that call when in reality, I never had to search so far because God had already placed within me, and indeed within each of us, everything needed to achieve it, and this from now on. First and foremost, God calls us to nothing more than to follow Him, and the rest will follow. And then, we have all been created with unique gifts and qualities, and we can serve Him with what we already possess and with what makes our hearts beat.
Here’s a sentence that particularly spoke to me during the classes:
“Your interests, your talents, your resources, they are all opportunities to love.”
And here is what it all boils down to: love. For it is out of love that He came, and it is His love for us that kept Him on the cross.
This College also allowed me to meet and forge bonds with incredible individuals who are on fire for Jesus and to become more involved in the life of my church, which has become like a large family to me!
6 VOULUNTEERS IN ACTION
I have been a volunteer in the kids’ ministry at ICF-Geneva for 9 years. My interest in youth began in my adolescence, with the arrival of my little brother who is 13 years younger than me. The birth of my two children only confirmed the role we have but also the impact we can have, on our own scale, on future generations.
For some time, I had been questioning my role and involvement with young people. I simply handed this questioning over to God. When I was informed that a day with the presence of a certain Guy Zeller was being organized, I naturally signed up. It should also be said that Monica Girardet spoke to us about it with a lot of enthusiasm and positivity.
Guy Zeller is both a teacher, speaker, missionary, and writer. He is married and father of five children and has been working for many years at Youth With A Mission (YWAM). A few days before this famous day, I received a message informing me that we would ultimately not be many. To be completely honest, when the D-day arrived, I went there dragging my feet a little. But that was without counting on the plan that God had for me that day precisely.
Guy Zeller shared his experience and journey with us, with simplicity and depth. I admit I could have spent hours listening to him. His heart and vision for the children’s church deeply moved me: Every child is a precious member of today’s church. They have immense potential to experience a deep relationship with God from a young age. We are encouraged to play a key role in shaping a generation that knows their God personally, loves Him passionately, and serves Him devotedly!
I even bought one of his works titled “Passion for the Bible.” This book encourages us to prioritize the Bible in our own lives and to consider it as daily nourishment and a solid foundation. It emphasizes how we transmit it to our children, whether in our homes or at church. God’s presence was powerful, and Jesus deeply touched me. He reminded me that:
“Each child is unique and is the fruit of their creation.”
The phrase that has remained on my heart and still accompanies me regularly is: How would Jesus have acted in this situation? Through this testimony, I truly encourage people to let themselves be surprised by God even if it requires letting go, because God is simply incredible. This experience came at a time when I needed to be reinvigorated in my personal times with God.
7 A youth surprised by the presence of God
As a youth group, we have two main missions: to allow our young people to experience encounters with God and to be powerfully transformed, and to foster a family atmosphere through our welcoming culture for everyone. This summer, one of our young people was able to experience these two elements and be deeply touched by our God.
Here is his testimony:
“I am 15 years old and have been at ICF for a year and a half… During this time, a lot has happened. From 2020 to the summer of 2021, I experienced harassment which plunged me into a dark period of depression. Rather introverted, I had no friends, but at ICF, I found a new family. I have always been Christian, but I met God for the first time at the inter-youth weekend in the fall of 2021. After that, I was still in depression with emotional problems, etc…
I realized something in my long journey: I would not be the same person today if I had not done it with God… I would probably even be dead. God made me understand that I need Him and that I am not alone. Only the truth will set you free, and the truth is JESUS and the price He paid on the Cross.
Then I participated in numerous youth camps, and in each of them, God manifested himself: I witnessed deliverance when an evil spirit was cast out, which proved to me that the spiritual world exists. God spoke to me through my pastor Cédric. I was able to forgive and pray for those who harassed me. In the room, there were physical and spiritual healings. I was delivered from the spirit that caused me depression or anger and gave me suicidal thoughts, etc…
I realized something in my long journey: I would not be the same person today if I had not done it with God… I would probably even be dead. God made me understand that I need Him and that I am not alone. Only the truth will set you free, and the truth is JESUS and the price He paid on the Cross.
I heard something recently that touched me deeply. It has become my daily prayer:
I heard something recently that touched me deeply. It has become my daily prayer:
“The joy of the Lord is my strength.”
I encourage you to meditate on this verse every day. Be blessed.”
8 A living God who desires to manifest His presence
2023 was an exciting year for the worship ministry. During our celebrations, we sought to explore new musical genres, viewing worship as a heart attitude that can be expressed through a variety of styles. We also invested in our team members, helping them develop the gifts that God has entrusted to them.
Sunday Nights were special moments to simply be led by the Holy Spirit, discovering what He desired to do in the room. These were unforgettable experiences of letting go and freedom, demonstrating that we have a living God who desires to manifest His presence.
And finally, within the ICF College, we witnessed the tender heart of God as we worshipped Him with authenticity.
Looking back on this year, I can see that we have grown in our role as worshippers. I am looking forward to next year with anticipation.
