L'Abri facts for kids
L'Abri (pronounced "Lah-bree") is a French word meaning "the shelter." It's a special Christian organization started on June 5, 1955, by Francis Schaeffer and his wife Edith Schaeffer in a small village called Huémoz-sur-Ollon in Switzerland. They opened their home in the Alps mountains to welcome curious travelers. It was a place where people could stay and talk about big ideas, like philosophy and religious beliefs. Today, L'Abri homes around the world still offer a welcoming place for people to visit and learn.
Contents
How L'Abri Began
In 1947, Francis and Edith Schaeffer moved to Switzerland. They were missionaries, which means they traveled to share their Christian faith. After some personal challenges and disagreements in 1951, the Schaeffers decided to leave their missionary group in 1955. They wanted to work directly with young people.
So, they moved to Huémoz and started L'Abri. Soon, many visitors heard about it through word of mouth. In the summer of 1956, they had about 31 visitors each week! People also learned about L'Abri from recordings of Francis Schaeffer's talks that were shared around the world.
L'Abri's Growth and People
Over time, L'Abri grew to include several buildings in Huémoz. Different kinds of people came to L'Abri:
- Short-term guests: People who visited for a short time.
- Students: Those who stayed longer, dividing their time between studying and helping with daily tasks.
- Workers: People who helped with discussions and hospitality.
- Members: Individuals involved in making important decisions for L'Abri.
After Francis Schaeffer passed away in 1984, L'Abri continued to expand. Today, L'Abri has centers in many countries. As of 2011, there are residential "Study Centres" where people can stay and learn. These are located in the United States (Minnesota and Massachusetts), Canada, South Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland. There are also "Resource Centres" in Brazil and Germany. These are run by friends of the organization, offering resources but not places to stay.
How L'Abri Centers Work
Visitors to L'Abri are often called "students." Personal study is a very important part of what L'Abri does. However, there are no regular "classes" or fixed courses like in a school. Instead, students meet regularly with a staff member. They talk about the topics they want to explore. The staff then suggests books, recorded talks, and other resources from L'Abri's library.
Daily Life at L'Abri
A student's day at L'Abri is split into two main parts: "study time" and "work time."
- During study time, students focus on their chosen topics.
- During work time, students help with the community's daily needs. This might include cooking meals, cleaning, or helping with maintenance.
This way of dividing the day shows Francis Schaeffer's belief that Christianity is not just about thinking. It's about living out your beliefs in all parts of life. Showing how a "Christian Community" works was as important as discussing ideas.
The day at L'Abri often centers around communal meals. These meals are a chance for everyone to have open discussions. Students are also encouraged to explore their interests in art, music, and literature.
Influence and Conferences
Many well-known Christian authors have been influenced by working with L'Abri. Some former staff members include Os Guinness, Hans Rookmaaker, Greg Laughery, and Wade Bradshaw.
The L'Abri study center in Rochester, Minnesota also hosts "L'Abri Conferences" twice a year in the USA and Canada. At these events, L'Abri staff from around the world and other speakers give talks and lead discussions on many different subjects. In 2005, a conference was held in St. Louis, Missouri to celebrate L'Abri's 50th anniversary. Over 1,000 people attended to hear speakers like Os Guinness and Chuck Colson.
