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December, 2007

Dear Friends of Canadian L’Abri,

One of the unexpected joys of this past week occurred as my four year old daughter and I read our nightly portion of L. Frank Baum’s, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Although we took up the story in a forest through which Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and the (no longer) Cowardly Lion were traveling, we soon found ourselves thinking about Advent, the season of expectation and preparation.

I suspect that Baum had no such linking in mind, but even so, his depiction of the animals in the forest living troubled, threatened lives because of a great spider which oppressed them, and his portrayal of the Lion who not only vanquished this enemy but who ‘promised to come back and rule over them’ as soon as Dorothy was safely on her way to Kansas, provided us with a helpful vantage point from which to consider the twin-themed season we are in. As I shared with my daughter (albeit in a simpler way), part of the spirit which characterizes Advent is a yearning for deliverance from the evils of the world. Whether we think back to the cries of the Israelite slaves as they suffered under their Egyptian oppressors, or whether we think of present injustices—children caught in slavery and the sex trade in Asia, families affected by violence and displacement in Africa, or even some in North America who remain shut out of opportunities the rest of us take for granted because of race, ethnicity or economic status—what we celebrate during Advent is not only that God has come among us, but that He has heard our cries, enacted deliverance, and is even now setting the world right.  

Even more than Baum’s beasts of the forest who “bowed down to the Lion as their King” and are left at chapter’s end waiting for his promised return, we too, having ourselves experienced deliverance by His hand, anticipate anew the reign of our champion-King, Jesus, who will bring peace and justice and righteousness. This Christmas season we celebrate Jesus’ coming into our world while also preparing for and working towards His coming again to right all wrongs, restore all things and remain with us forever.  O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Ransom captive Israel!

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As we at Canadian L’Abri look forward to celebrating Christ’s coming with our families and friends, we are also looking beyond the close of this year into 2008. Beginning in the New Year, we will open for the first of our three scheduled 2008 terms: Spring: February 4th to April 28th; Summer: June 2nd to July 24th; and Fall: September 2nd to November 10th. It was really only a matter of two-and-a-half weeks ago that we completed our autumn term, but based on how much we enjoyed working together and how much we enjoyed getting to know our students and other guests, so we are excited to move to offering back to back student terms.

I say ‘we’ because Terri and I have been joined by two excellent couples in the work. Clarke & Julia Scheibe are Regent College graduates who came to us after spending time at the Swiss and English branches of L’Abri. Their training and exposure to other L’Abri branches has been a wonderful gift to us here. Already Julia has taken on our office and Clarke has lectured for us twice as well as serving as a tutor. Andre & Michelle Harden are new to L’Abri but not to Bowen Island. After graduating from Briercrest College and from pursuing work in theatre and writing, the Hardens moved to Bowen in the summer of 2005 where Andre pursued his writing. Andre and Michelle’s artistic gifts and their connections with various Canadian churches and ministries enable L’Abri Canada to minister effectively to the many artists who reside on Bowen as well to the many students who come to us looking to integrate their faith with their art. As with Clarke and Julia, so Andre and Michelle made a significant contribution to this past term in the way of lectures, tutoring and serving numerous meals.

With regular terms and additional staff already in place, one of the high priority activities of the past six months has been finishing off the second house. Despite all our best efforts, the house is still not quite ready for occupancy. There are many reasons for this, including delays in securing the necessary trades, unexpected problems with our water supply and the need for additional funds. Even so, work continues on the house and we are hopeful that we can move staff into the second house and have it available for students by the time we open for term. Because some of you have asked for particular details, let me share with you that at this point in time we have need of finances to purchase the appliances (stove, fridge/freezer, dish-washer, washing machine, dryer, etc), to treat our well and establish suitable water filtration (potable water is an occupancy matter), and to complete the external decking and basic landscaping. By the grace of God and owing to the generosity of existing donors, we seem at this point to be able to pay for all other known items, including our monthly mortgage (although we are holding off on doing any finish work in the basement).
           
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With so many of you committed to praying for us and with a good deal to pray for at the present time, let me take a moment to direct you in how you might pray for the work of Canadian L’Abri:

      First, do join us in giving thanks to God for… 

1. the coming of His Son into our midst. With the redeemed of all ages, let us give thanks and praise to God   for Christ’s coming and for His sure coming again.
2. the autumn term which we completed just a couple of weeks ago. We remain thankful for our new team; and for a small but wonderful group of students, including Simeon Pang whom we expect to return to us as a helper this coming spring.           
3. the truly remarkable gifts that have enabled us to pay our way this year all while expanding our team and completing construction on the second house.

            Second, please join us in praying for…

1. the completion of the second home. We are asking God for the finances to allow us to quickly complete what remains and for this additional facility to be used for His glory. (At this point in time our expectation is that this second house will become the Harden family home, which they will share with six to eight students).
2. the day to day operation of L’Abri. We are asking God for sufficient income to cover utilities, food, maintenance, staff stipends, etc; and for His guidance and leading in our lives and in every aspect of the work as it continues to take shape.
3. the coming year, particularly our open times. As we look to God to establish this work, so we are already praying about those who might join us as students, and about any further opportunities that God might open up for us to teach and to relate God’s truth to the questions and issues of our day.
4. the well-being of our new staff. Specifically, do pray for Clarke & Julia Scheibe and for Andre and Michelle Harden as together they play an increasing role, take on additional responsibilities, and grow into the work of L’Abri in its local and larger manifestations. (As the Scheibes will be representing our branch at the annual L’Abri winter conference in Rochester, MN this coming February, so you can pray for them as they step out onto this larger stage).

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Finally, as I write to you this December let me thank you for your gifts, for your prayers, and for your ongoing interest in the work of L’Abri. While it is we who have the privilege of serving the Lord and those He brings to us in the manner that we do, nonetheless, we are deeply aware that we can do this only with your support. Because this is a profound reality so we expect to move toward a monthly prayer/newsletter in the coming year. The format will remain similar to this, but each member of our staff will take a turn in updating you and sharing our joys and concerns for prayer.  To help us with this (and in light of a computer crash which has effected our database), please do ensure that we have your most current email address and any other recent change of address details.

Merry Christmas! And may the coming of Christ light your corner of the world and encourage you to live out of and under the promise of His return and rule.