It has been another exciting year in Zermatt. The seventeen chaplains and those who have travelled with them have had the joy of helping people find Jesus through public worship in the beautiful St Peter’s Church, private prayer wherever it is sought, and through the everyday conversations with people in cafés, shops and on the mountain slopes. With your support, several services of prayer and dedication after marriages elsewhere were held. Sometimes this is the first time the couple have made vows before God or it might be a celebration of His faithfulness over many years, but on each occasion, our chaplains have shared God’s love.  

We heard an amazing story that was uplifting and encouraging. A couple who have an old Dutch friend who originally lived in Italy, as a nomad peddling contraband into Switzerland, came across St Peter’s church one day and had a life changing conversation. He gave up his old life became a travelling evangelist and has seen many people come to faith over the years. This was one of the reasons the couple visited the church as they wanted to see where their friend met with Jesus. What a great story! 

There have been repairs and ongoing maintenance to the church and chaplain’s flat. The Gemeinde graciously repaired the dangerous paving outside the church and steps leading up to it making this a pleasant place to sit and watch the world go by.  

Another chaplain wrote, ‘The sheer international aspect of the Christian family struck me yet again, with many, mostly committed Christians, coming into the church from all over Europe as well as Australia, USA and the Far East’. This reflects the reach of our ministry.  

Around the walls of St Peter’s are words from the Benedicite ‘O ye Winter and Summer, bless the Lord, praise him and magnify him forever’. Your support has enabled ICS to provide mission and ministry in English for everyone since before the first successful ascent of the Matterhorn, and with your support this can continue. Each individual chaplain raises significant funds to support this ministry either from their home churches, prayer partners or themselves. ICS also subsidises the ministry; it cost around £9000 per year which means on average it costs ICS £260 for each Sunday that the church is open for worship. Please will you consider a gift to support this valuable and fruitful ministry? 

Thank you for journeying with ICS. Thank you for helping us make Jesus known. 

With deep gratitude and every blessing, yours in Christ 

 Tim Wright (The Revd Canon) 
Recruitment and Short-term Mission Manager