Christian author Edith Schaeffer, co-founder of L’Abri Fellowship, has died at the age of 98. The author of 17 books, and widow of pastor and author Francis Schaeffer, she was born in 1914 to missionary parents in Wenzhou, China.
She met her husband-to-be at the First Presbyterian Church in Germantown, Philadelphia, in 1932. In 1947, the Schaeffers, then with three daughters, Priscilla, Deborah and Susan, moved to Switzerland as missionaries. There their son Frank was born.
Mrs Schaeffer welcomed many people into the family home, providing hospitality and friendship to all. Her books include L’Abri (which means ‘shelter’), Christianity is Jewish and What is a family?
The first L’Abri community was founded in Switzerland in 1955, and served as a place where people could meet and freely discuss matters of Christianity. There are now other L’Abri establishments worldwide, in Germany, UK, Canada, Brazil, US and Australia.
