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March 2003 Huemoz, Switzerland
“…Then those who revered the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD took note and listened, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the LORD and thought on his name…” - Malachi 3:16 (NRSV)
It is interesting to think of what God takes notice of and what we take notice of. At L’Abri we spend a lot of time thinking and discussing about the God who is there and sometimes people ask, “Isn’t all this thinking and discussing about God a waste of time? Does it really get us anywhere?” It’s safe to say that Western culture generally doesn’t place much importance on this type of thinking and discussing. If we were to turn on the evening news we would probably be quite surprised to hear, “Next up, our top story. Another group of people who revere the LORD are gathering to think and speak with each other about the God who is there.” Unless it was some crazy cult on the v erge of suicide this probably wouldn’t make our top news. But the revelation of God from Malachi is that this is exactly the kind of thing that makes the ‘heavenly news.’
“…They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as parents spare their children who serve them. Then once more you shall see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him…” – Malachi 3:17-18 (NRSV)
It’s been a few months since our last letter and much has happened in our community as we gather to think and speak with each other about the Triune God of grace and attempt to live reverent lives for Him. Last term started off with losing Josh Vargo as he headed off for more schooling at Regent College in Vancouver. He was one of our single workers who helped Claudia Reich run Bellevue, the chalet where all the students live. This didn’t make for an easy term, especially for Claudia as he wasn’t replaced until this term. And then this term started off with losing Matt and Sally Campora. It was sad to see them go but fortunately God provided two new workers who began this term. Karryn Goldsworthy, th e resident artist who ha s given a couple presentations of her work, is now living and working in Chalet Chesalet where Matt and Sally used to live; and David Friedrich, a recent graduate from Regent College in Vancouver, is now living and working in Chalet Bellevue.
We’ve seen quite a variety of students come through: Americans, Canadians, Germans, Koreans, Ausies and Kiwis (i.e. Australians and New Zealanders), Swiss, Austrians, Dutch, a Norwegian and even an Italian who made us some incredible homemade pasta. Most have been Christians but many have not and last term a couple of the ‘nots’ came to trust in God through Christ. And so we’ve been working to meet the needs of Christians, who range from those just trying to get a better understanding and deeper reality of their faith to those who have serious doubts and questions coming to give their faith one last chance. And we’ve also been working to meet the needs of those who are not Christians, giving honest answers to honest questions in the Father’s love.
This term students are struggling with such things as the trustworthiness and authority of the Bible, with the uniqueness of Christ in a pluralistic society, with responsible political involvement, with a version of Christianity that may have been damaging to them and not even that Christian to begin with, and something as basic as simple trust in God. And many times if not most of the time the intellectual questions are wrapped up in difficult personal and emotional issues.
And with trying to help students through these struggles we have had our own struggles to deal with. Usually our limit is 28 students but with so many students wanting and needing to stay we have stretched ourselves to accommodate up to 36 students at times. And then last month our finances fell significantly short where we were only able to pay just less than half our salaries. This last month we would have fallen even shorter but when Boston L’Abri found out they used the surplus they had to fully cover our shortfall. It was extremely kind and generous of them and touched us deeply.
While faced with these shortfalls we all came to the conclusion that the work we are engaged in is still worthwhile and meaningful and as long as the Lord wants the work to go on we will trust Him to provide what we need. This also brought us to think of how God has already provided. He has always given what we needed and maybe not always what we wanted. We then looked over the list of generous people who have become part of the work through their giving. We were humbled and so thankful.
We also had a generous couple provide us with a fridge just after our main one died. We’ve had Michael Shivers return and put his filmmaking abilities to work. He put up pictures and profiles for us on the L’Abri web site. He is also making a short documentary for the web that people will be able to download and a longer one available in the bookstore.
There have also been a number of guest speakers. Last term we had Henk and Rianna Reitsema and their adorable children Babet and Ariela from Dutch L’Abri visit for about a week and Henk spoke on “Fundamentalism” and “Professionalism.” That term we also had Andrew Fellows from English L’Abri during arts week to speak on “U2 & The Search for Spiritual Reality,” and “Symbols, Imagination & Spiritual Reality.” Also Craig Bartholomew, editor of the Scripture and Hermeneutics Series and research fellow in the School of Theology and Religious Studies, Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education, spoke on “Ecclesiastes,” (his doctoral thesis) and a “Christian World View.” This term we had Kurt Schaefer, an economics professor from Calvin College who learned everyone’s name in about one or two days, speak on “Welfare Reform in the 1990’s,” and “Social Policy after Modernism.” Dick Goodwin, executive editor of The Christian Counsellor: Pastoral Care & Counselling From a Biblical Perspective, came to speak on “Getting to the Heart of Christian Counseling.” And just recently we had an encouraging visit from Wim and Greata Reitkerk from Dutch L’Abri, and Wim gave a great talk on “The Future of Our Planet” and a great sermon on different types of doubt.
We’ve also had some hospital visits. Stephen, one of the students, had a truck door slam and close on his fingers, by worker Dave! Of course it was unintentional and thankfully the ex-rays showed no broken bones. Then there was Amy who was skiing with her husband Brad and broke the bottom of her fibula. She had to have surgery and will hopefully be walking without crutches and without her brace within six weeks.
With a month left of this term we are already booked for next term, so we have no shortage of students and no shortage of needs. Thank you again for helping us to meet those needs and love those students with the love of Christ.
“…Then those who revered the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD took note and listened, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the LORD and thought on his name…” - Malachi 3:16 (NRSV) PS! From time to time we send out a more frequent prayer letter by e-mail only to those who commit themselves to pray with us on a monthly basis. If you are interested please send an e-mail to swissmailings@labri.org. PS!!
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