L'Abri,

interesting encouraged me to find out about Liabri in England but was disappointed when I did as they seem to have gone away from the original idea these people set up, also seems very much geared towards interlectual people

Beautiful written book regarding faith in God how to trust God for direction.This book represents a fine example of been led by the holyspirit and putting God first rather than ourselves. Easy to read book many lovely stories within this testimony. Highly recommended book that is not dictational.would make a lovely present for friends or family.

Excellent read

Anne JordanGreat to read this story again. An amazing book.

Reading Christian apologetics books, it is not long before a person hears about Francis Schaeffer and the work of L’Abri in Switzerland. I had read a number of Schaeffer books (e.g. The God who is There, Escape from Reason, The Mark of a Christian etc.) and I wanted to learn a little more about the man and his work.My first stop was an excellent biography by Colin Duriez: ‘Francis Schaeffer: An Authentic Life’. This was a wonderful introduction to the man. However, I wanted to know more about the whole concept of L’Abri, how it worked in practical terms. This book, written by Edith Schaeffer (Francis Schaeffer’s wife) was a most enjoyable read.Edith’s writing is homely and, after the first few pages, I found the book quite enthralling. In another review, an unsympathetic reviewer has mentioned the lack of detail concerning the Schaeffer’s pre-L’Abri life, and the fact that little is said of Schaeffer’s visits to other countries. This can be found elsewhere. This book (as the title surely suggests!) is particularly focused on the commencement and expansion of L’Abri in Switzerland, and the author states early in the book that she had to be selective with material.The theme of the book is the same as Francis Schaeffer’s writings — to show the reality of the God who is there. Rather than relying on philosophical arguments however, this book focuses on personal experience: answers to prayer, provision of needs, divine guidance etc.It is a most enjoyable and, at times, moving read. People from many different backgrounds came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through the work of L’Abri. There is no doubt of this, as many prominent Christian authors, scholars, and evangelists today trace their salvation back to Schaeffer’s influence. One or two personal stories of conversions had me weeping with gratitude to God and praying for Him to make me more fruitful in His service — surely a good result from a Christian book!Recommended.

This was first published in 1969, the year I found English L'Abri and became part of the church founded there that year. Deirdre the illustrator was also a founding member of the congregation and her drawing of the gate to the L'Abri house withe two Schaeffer grandchildren brings back memories. Her is related how the Schaeffer's work started in Switzerland.

I read this book because I have known people associated with L'Abri and been left puzzled - is it a sort of Christian kibbutz or a study centre? Is it welcoming and open to people regardless of belief or is it a sect that believes that anybody who doesn't buy into a particular fundamentalist Protestant theology is damned? Is it only for ivory tower intellectuals? What is this obsession with Francis Schaeffer? I kept getting conflicting answers to these questions and hoped this book would provide me with some answers.I knew that the Schaeffer's son Frank has become very critical of the religious system he grew up in and that some of his father's supporters have been very critical back of him. I felt that it was only fair to listen to the case for L'Abri before reading his case against.So did Edith Schaeffer answer my questions? Absolutely not! Most of the book consists of two repeated themes: "We were desperate for funds but God provided the exact sum just in time" and "People came to the chalet from (cue list of countries) - who were (cue list of belief systems). I gave them a meal and Fran preached to them for hours. (Cue list of forenames) came to Christ that evening and said (Cue something holy but phrased in suspiciously Jacobean language)". Both are good themes but other themes are ignored.We have, for instance, little explanation of the Schaeffers' background or how they were initially supported. They resign from a mission fund and this is portrayed as a brave stepping out in faith but there is no explanation of where this mission fund came from or how the people who had been funding them felt about the resignation.None of the people mentioned comes to life. Even her children seem inter-changeable. A cute/precocious/holy thing was said by their 4 year old but which of them was the 4 year old at the time again? A daughter marries a L'Abri worker - remind me, which ones were they? One of the obvious reasons for reading this book is to find out what the famous preacher Francis Schaeffer was like but, even about him, his wife's account is completely lacking in characterisation. There are occasional details that suggest the tales of his petulance and temper may be right - there is no point in trying to get him to go house-hunting, he slams his fist on a table as he orders a disciple to continue as a scientist - but that is it. We do not get an insight into him as a theologian, a father or a husband.The Schaeffers do not seem to have made any effort to work with local churches. Again and again Edith makes slighting remarks about other Christians - liberals (ie anybody who isn't a fundamentalist), Barthians, the neo-orthodox, Roman Catholics and Lutherans. When her family is asked to leave Switzerland, she blames this on the Catholics being worried that a formerly sociable man had, through their influence, become a recluse whose only interest was Bible-reading. Surely that is indeed cause for concern? There is no effort at rapprochement - at trying to persuade local Christians that they are not some dodgy American sect. Leaving Switzerland is seen as a terrible thing although, apart from having two sick children, we never really learn what the difference is when they do indeed return to the US. This return, like all their visits to countries other than Switzerland, is mentioned only in passing. The visits include a trip to Spain. I would have expected that somebody visiting a state under Fascist dictatorship might have said a bit more about it!If you want a history of L'Abri or an insight into the people behind it this is not a good book. However, when Edith Schaeffer is not being sectarian she does write beautifully and inspiringly about God and trusting in Him.

L'Abri is a French word that means shelter. The first L'Abri community was founded in Switzerland in 1955 by Dr. Francis Schaeffer and his wife, Edith. Dr. Schaeffer was a Christian theologian and philosopher who also authored a number of books on theology, philosophy, general culture and the arts. The L'Abri communities are study centres in Europe, Asia and America where individuals have the opportunity to seek answers to honest questions about God and the significance of human life. L'Abri believes that Christianity speaks to all aspects of life.