L'Abri Fellowship Southborough

L'Abri, French for "the shelter," does not fit neatly into any categories of description. It is something like a residential study-center in the context of a small community of homes. L'Abri was born fifity years ago in Switzerland when Francis and Edith Schaeffer opened their home to those who came seeking answers to life's many questions, or at least a place where they would get a serious hearing. Since then it has grown to include eight branches in seven countries.

It has sometimes been supposed that L'Abri is a place for intellectuals or intellectual pursuits only. This has never been the case. A wide variety of people come to stay with us, for many different reasons, from a variety of backgrounds, world views, ages and occupations. Some do not see themselves as Christians, and come looking for a place where their questions will be taken seriously. Many people come to address living as Christians in the modern world. Every student brings to L'Abri their own unique life, thoughts, interests and questions.

L'Abri is a place where we try to take all genuine questions seriously. Our foundation belief is that Christianity as found in the Bible is true, and that belief is based on more than a "leap of faith." We believe that questions and problems about God and life can be discussed rationally and answers sought without having to conclude "blindly" to "take it all on faith."

Furthermore, we believe the life-affirming truth of Christianity speaks to all of human life and thought. This means our lives are not divided between "sacred" and "secular" activities, and that Christian faith integrates all of human life, including our minds, our hearts, our work, our play, and our relationships.