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About Us
Learn more about our church
Our vision
Belonging. Growing. Going.
BELONGING – As Christians we are a church family and belong together because we have the same God. IBCZ wants to be a place where people can experience that they belong. We welcome people of all nationalities living in Zurich and its surroundings to become part of our congregation. We strive to offer Christians and those having questions about Christianity a warm welcome, and a place they feel safe and cared for. Every Sunday we worship our Lord together in our morning service, and throughout the week various small groups and ministries provide a space for you to feel at home.
GROWING – Our church is a place where we want you to grow – in your understanding of the Word of God and your relationship with Christ across all ages. Spiritual growth happens in all the different ministries of our church and we desire to equip people with practical wisdom to live meaningful lives. We do so through the teaching of God’s word, bible studies, and serving God and each other in various ways. We also hold each other accountable based on biblical principles, so that we all can deepen our understanding about God our Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit.
GOING – Being a Christian doesn’t stop when you leave the church building. We aim to be Christians all through the week in whatever places and situations God’s puts us in. That’s why we encourage and support each other as we are guided by God’s spirit toward our unique mission or field of ministry. This might be the workplace or home, here in Switzerland or further afield all over the world. We want to help and support you to reach out to those whom God guides you to, to share the gospel and disciple them for however long needed, thereby impacting our generation for Christ. IBCZ also has formal links with Churches and ministries in other parts of the world to further this effort.
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Our History and Roots
In September1987 an English language worship service was being held regularly on Sunday evenings in the chapel of the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Rüschlikon. This service was led by two American missionary families who were associated with the seminary: Charles and Bobie Cottle and Wes and Jean Miller.
At the same time, the German-speaking Rüschlikon Baptist Church was holding bilingual Sunday morning services in the seminary chapel. Noting the growing attendance at the Sunday evening services, the team believed the time had come to establish an English-speaking church. A place to meet was found in Wädenswil, at the Hotel Engel, and a small group began worshiping there on Sunday mornings.
Today IBCZ has primary use of the former Seminary Chapel in Rüschlikon. As has been true throughout the history of IBCZ, it is an ever-changing group of people. The congregation encompasses people from all walks of life, many countries, and from various denominational backgrounds.
IBCZ History Timeline
- September 1987
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An English language worship service was being held regularly on Sunday evenings in the chapel of the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Rüschlikon, which had been founded in 1949 by the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. This service was led by two American missionary families who were associated with the seminary: Charles and Bobie Cottle and Wes and Jean Miller. At the same time, the German-speaking Rüschlikon Baptist Church was holding bilingual Sunday morning services in the seminary chapel. Noting the growing attendance at the Sunday evening services, the team believed the time had come to establish an English-speaking church. A place to meet was found in Wädenswil, at the Hotel Engel, and a small group began worshiping there on Sunday mornings.
- 13 December 1987
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The Lake Zürich Baptist Church was established with 18 members. Ben Leslie, a student at the Rüschlikon seminary, served as pastor.
- January 1988
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In January the church moved into the Evangelical Methodist Church building in Wädenswil, and for the next few years, the International Baptist Church became known for its special music program since they were fortunate to have many opera singers in the congregation.
- April 1989
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The church name was changed to the International Baptist Church of Wädenswil. (This was done to accommodate the other Swiss lakeside Baptist churches in Thalwil, Horgen and Rüschlikon,) Also in that same year, the church joined both the Swiss Baptist Union and the European Baptist Convention.
- 1995
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The Baptist Theological Seminary in Rüschlikon relocated to Prague, Czech Republic, the European Baptist Federation elected not to sell the chapel along with the other property. Instead, it was given to the Swiss Baptist Union for their use. They, in turn, offered it to the local Baptist churches for their use as a worship center. The International Baptist Church of Wädenswil had been experiencing space problems for quite some time, and gladly accepted the offer, seeing it as an answer to prayer. Significant renovations were completed in February of 1996, and a Dedication Service with participants from both the Rüschlikon and Wadenwil congregations was held on March 3, 1996. In anticipation of the move and given the close proximity to Zürich, the church changed its name to the International Baptist Church of Zürich (IBCZ) in 1996.
- Today
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IBCZ has primary use of the former Seminary Chapel in Rüschlikon and consists of an ever-changing group of people, some of which are members of the church for decades, others for some years, while others again only stay for a few months before moving on. A key characteristic of the church is that it is a ‘landing pad’ for many who come into Zurich and are looking for a spiritual home away from home – for a short while, or a long time. The congregation encompasses people from all walks of life, many countries, and from various denominational backgrounds.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."