“The Earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those that dwell therein”
Psalm 24
Dear Friends,
Its only been a few weeks, but already the ‘new normal’ dominates, and our busy activities of just a month or so ago now seem a different time and another world. But, this is where perspective is so important - historical perspective and, of course, the eternal perspective. The Lord reigns; mankind’s essential dilemma, living under the shadow of death, is unchanged; as is our only Hope; ….and this too shall pass.
Since we last wrote, much has happened. After our usual Winter Retreat in Missouri in January, we were back up in Rochester for our annual Rochester L’Abri Conference, our 27th! How thankful we are now that we were able to pull this off ahead of the corona virus shut down. It was another wonderful gathering of some 450 people with 15 speakers – past and present L’Abri workers and friends. We were finally able to get Os Guinness and what a treat – his voice and recent publications have never been more important. But all our speakers served us well. The topic was challenging but crucial – ‘understanding our times’. Since Dr. Schaeffer’s series, How Should We Then Live, L’Abri has tried to understand the ‘flow of ideas’ that shape our world, so as to better enable us to speak into it with Truth and Love. In our deeply divided culture, Godly wisdom has never been more needed. We were so thankful that we could navigate these difficult discussions throughout the Conference with grace and care, and the overall atmosphere was wonderful. You can get these lectures from our recording agents at www.soundword.com
After a few years’ absence, the Conference was back at the Kahler Grand Hotel, which worked very well, and after some lean years, we were so glad to have better attendance and to actually balance the finances. Give thanks that we had good weather, safe travels and beautiful fellowship. Pray that the ripples from this would go out, shaping hearts and minds.
The conference was followed by our Spring Term, which was quieter than usual, though very productive in the lives of those who came. As a smaller branch, we find the Lord sending us more and more unusual situations to minister into - but His grace is sufficient, and though we often feel inadequate to the challenges and find ourselves wondering how on earth we can speak into this particular complicated situation, again and again, we see God multiplying our small and halting efforts to produce fruit. Term ended just as the Corona shutdown began and, since we always have a break at this time anyway, the timing seemed providential. Our students were able to get home safely, and even our helper Sophia, from Norway, managed to find a flight home at the right time.
Ordinarily, in April, we are overseas attending our annual meeting of L’Abri International – a wonderful and important gathering of L’Abri workers from around the world. This time, of course, we had to cancel and take care of the business virtually. That went well enough, but we sorely missed our time of fellowship, learning and mutual encouragement - it is the first time these ‘Members Meetings’ have been cancelled in L’Abri’s 65 years!
Right now, we are focused on projects – of which there are many. In addition to the usual mountain of office work, we have also been finishing the renovation projects at our old house on 11th Avenue. When Alison and I moved into our wonderful new home at the bottom of the L’Abri drive, we decided to hold onto our old house through the woods for future staff needs. It was a good opportunity for needed renovations, with Mercy doing the lion’s share of putting in new flooring and painting out a number of rooms. Our hope now is to rent it out temporarily until the Lord sends us additional workers that might use it. Please pray for a good, mutually beneficial arrangement with whoever moves in.
Next up is our Spring Retreat in Missouri, though it is likely now we will not be able to have guests. Instead, we will focus on continuing projects towards the completion of the Ebenezer Retreat Centre. Pray for those already booked in, that we might see them soon enough when things are more back to normal.
We are all safe and well and trying to keep others safe and well, as we follow the guidelines. That is certainly the responsible thing to do, though, of course, that is not where our hope lies. How grateful we are to be living ‘in community’ at this time when social distancing can so easily lead to social isolation. L’Abri has been a ‘shelter’ for so many throughout the years, but also for us too – Mercy, Alison and I are so glad for this lovely property and the shelter of our small community at this time. But, in a time of fear and anxiety, it is the ‘shelter of the Most High’ that gives the most comfort. We are not facing anything new – previous generations have faced far worse, with far less. We will surely come through this also.
And, as we look at the global nature of this pandemic, our hearts go out to those smaller, developing nations that will soon find themselves overwhelmed – and without the ‘safety nets’ we enjoy. They should be in our prayers also, even as we pray for our immediate families, friends and neighbors.
May the Lord be close to you and your loved ones in this trying time. May it be a time of sober reflection; of re-orientation rather than of disorientation; of re-connecting, even in the midst of ‘distancing’; and a time to once again ‘abide in the shadow of the Almighty’.
Yours in Christ,
Jock
P.S. We have wonderful news about Nancy Snyder. After chemotherapy and radiation, the doctors are so pleased with the shrinking of the tumor that she will not even need surgery! Pray on, as she will need regular checkups and she and Larry are exhausted, but Praise God for this miraculous progress.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.Psalm 91:1-6