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A quarter-century after the death of its charismatic founder, during a new era in which—largely due to Schaeffer's influence—L'Abri is far from the only or the best place for a budding Christian intellectual to go, the peculiar Alpine retreat is unsure of its role. For one thing, it is not the sole arbiter of Schaeffer's legacy. Shortly after L'Abri was founded, Schaeffer's daughter Susan and her husband, Ranald Macaulay, established a branch outside of Cambridge, England. More recently, L'Abris have popped up as far afield as Massachusetts, Sweden, and Korea. Members of the L'Abri Fellowship are far from agreement on their obligations to their heritage.

Laughery, who was cagey on the subject, implied that other branches have remained more conservative. Shortly after Schaeffer's death, the family divided over leadership of the original L'Abri: Prisca's younger sister Deborah and her husband, Udo Middelmann, left to found the Schaeffer Foundation across the valley in Gryon, Switzerland. They have told mutual acquaintances that "our theology is bad," said Prisca. "They think John [Sandri] doesn't believe in inerrancy the way they do—but I know they've liberalized on some things, too."

The staff would like to believe that L'Abri is "ahead of culture, the vanguard, a light to Christians," said Greg Laughery. But they admit that their community is a marginal place: a safety valve for the few who find their way to it. "L'Abri will continue to exist as long as the evangelical church is putting off so much of its youth," said Sandri. "Ninety percent of the students are [saying]: I believe all the right things, but there's no reality to my faith."

Molly Worthen, a New Haven, Connecticut–based writer, is working on a book about evangelical intellectual life.

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L'Abri's website hosts blogs from its Switzerland and England sites.

Previous articles on the Schaeffers and L'Abri include:

Francis Schaeffer, the Pastor-Evangelist | Bryan A. Follis on his book, Truth with Love. (May 22, 2007)

Learning to Cry for the Culture | Let's remember Francis Schaeffer's most crucial legacy — tears. (March 19, 2007)

L'Abri Turns 50 | Francis Schaeffer's ministry is bigger than ever. (May, 2005)

The Book Report: Things We Ought to Know | Charles Colson's apologetic—and call to action—is in the tradition of Francis Schaeffer. (January 10, 2000)

The Dissatisfaction of Francis Schaeffer (Parts 1 and 2) | Thirteen years after his death, Schaeffer's vision and frustrations continue to haunt evangelicalism. (March 1997)

Inside CT: Midwives of Francis Schaeffer | March 3, 1997

Books & Culture recently hosted a discussion between Os Guinness and Frank Schaeffer on Schaeffer's new book about his parents.

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March 2008, Vol. 52, No. 3