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quarterly newsletter by e-mail. It helps us to save money on postage. www.labri.org/swiss December 2007 Newsletter Here in the alpine village of Huémoz we are constantly amazed at the beauty of God’s creation as we look out from our chalets at the mountains. We are continually reminded that creation is a gift from God intended to express the glory of its Maker. As many of you know, L’Abri is a place where students from all walks of life come to ask questions about the Christian faith and to experience the God who is there. It is a community that seeks to embody Christ’s call to radical hospitality by offering shelter to the spiritually destitute and welcoming the stranger. L’Abri also offers a unique balance of theoretical and practical life. Students from all over the world participate in formal lunch discussions, lectures, tutorials, and work crews, all of which are designed to foster a safe environment in which questions can be asked and honest answers given. During our most recent term we housed an average of 28 students in chalet Bellevue, in addition to visitors and unexpected guests. Most of the students were in their early twenties and came to us with important questions about the meaning of their lives. Some came from strict religious backgrounds where faith was reduced to following lists of rules; others had been devastated by false teaching and spiritual abuse; while still others expressed confusion about the core tenets of the Christian faith. Working with these students was a challenge because each of them had a unique personal history, with needs that required more than a pre-packaged response. Yet, it was a pleasure to observe God’s work in their lives as we trusted Him to provide the necessary strength and wisdom. For example, many students learned about the importance of reading the bible within its proper historical and literary context. Other students who had undergone negative church experiences were encouraged to filter through their experiences by affirming what was true and discarding what was false. This strategy gave them renewed confidence to seek out churches that offer solid biblical teaching and authentic community. One fellow, whom I will call Jeff, came to us with doubts about the very possibility of community. He lived in a metropolitan area and attended a large church, but its members lived in relative isolation from each other. They would gather together on Sundays but live separate lives during the rest of the week. While Jeff’s situation was complicated, he found hope in the idea of opening up his home, showing hospitality to his friends, and making contacts with others who, like him, were interested in the art of photography. L’Abri helped Jeff to move in a more positive life direction. The lecture circuit this term was especially impressive. Talks were given in the areas of science and theology, religious feminism, the doctrine of the atonement, racism, and much more. We are so privileged to have a team of workers at the Swiss Branch who are trained in such a diversity of backgrounds and academic disciplines, as this enables us to respond to students’ questions on multiple levels and provide them with the resources they need. In an effort to make resources more readily available to students, we have decided to convert the taped lectures in Farel House into a digital format. The conversion process is slow and tedious, but we feel this is the best way to preserve the older lectures which would otherwise deteriorate if left on tape. Please pray for us as we continue in this task. Things are very quiet around L’Abri, now that the fall term is over. Kay Stiefvater and Jasie Peltier have returned to the United States to celebrate Christmas with family and friends. Richard Bradford is still on sabbatical doing research for his PhD and is making considerable progress on his dissertation project (we are excited to have the Bradford family back in January). George and Eileen Diepstra are looking forward to spending Christmas in Huémoz with their daughter and friends in the area. The Laughery family will be celebrating the holiday season in Huémoz and are anticipating the arrival of Greg’s mother from the United States. And last but not least, Karryn Goldsworthy and Thomas Rauchenstein will be visiting friends in Britain over the break. We kindly ask for your thoughts and prayers at this time. The ministry of L’Abri would not exist without the spiritual and financial generosity of others who truly believe in this work. The practical costs of running L’Abri can appear daunting at times and we are frequently pressed to our knees to petition God for His provision. Thank you for continuing to lift us up in prayer. Finally, we pray that you would be blessed during the holidays and know the true meaning of Christmas. May you come to experience “Immanuel” – God with us. Yours in Christ,
***All address changes and requests for the Swiss Newsletter and Prayer letter should be sent to our Swiss address or by email to swissmailings@labri.org. ***Tax-free receipts for gifts meant specifically for the work of the Swiss branch are available from Switzerland when the gifts are sent either to Huémoz or to the Rochester address with a note specifying its designation for Swiss L’Abri. *** Swiss Address: L’Abri Fellowship, Chalet Bellevue, 1884 Huémoz, Canton de Vaud, Switzerland . *** U.S. Address: L’Abri Fellowship, 1465 12th Avenue N.E. , Rochester , MN . 55906, USA .
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