WHAT IS A STUDY CENTER NOT?

1) A Study Center Is Not The Church
In developing our vision for a study center we believe that it is very important to make it clear that the center is not, nor will it ever seek to be the church. We believe as the PCA’s Book of Church Order says: The Church, with its ordinances, officers and courts, is the agency which Christ has ordained for the edification and government of His people, for the propagation of the faith, and for the evangelization of the world. Therefore, it is in no way our desire, nor is it our intent to compete with or provide some kind of alternative to the church. Every staff member and helper at the center will be required to join and be involved in a local church. Moreover, one of the major goals of the center will be to educate our guests about the great importance of the church and equip them to be better servants to, and members of, their own local churches. We believe that it the duty of any ministry to support the church by seeking to meet and provide for specific needs within our culture.

2) A Study Center Is Not A Retreat Center
Although part of the goal of a study center is to create a safe and relaxed environment in which people can step out of their busy lives to pursue study and answers to important questions and objections…the truth is that a study center is often very busy and rather intense living environment. Guests will not have a lot of free time to roam around and do as they please. Instead, they will spend their days following very structured programs of study and work (i.e. work 1/3 day, study 1/3 day, eat – fellowship - dialogue 1/3 day). Also, the context of the center is really a family environment. Thus, guests are treated as part of our family, which means that they are expected to help out with the everyday chores that need to be done.

3) A Study Center Is Not The Only Way
It is important to understand that we in no way intend to suggest that a study center is the only way to go about meeting the needs of our times. Nor, do we intend to suggest that such a center is in any way a better or more spiritual way to pursue doing so. We are well aware that the Lord in His great wisdom delights in working through a diversity of means to meet the needs of a diversity of people. Therefore, the purpose of this study center is not to build or promote itself. Instead the purpose of the center is to serve the church by responding in a specific way to some of the specific needs of our culture.

4) This Study Center Is Not a L’Abri
While we have enormous respect for the Philosophy and ministry of Francis & Edith Schaeffer and the entire L’abri organization, this study center is not, nor will it be a L’Abri. Moreover, we are well aware that, as Dr. Schaeffer himself has said, “many have tried to take the L’Abri model and use it as a formula for success only to have it be a total failure.” Therefore, instead of using Dr. Schaeffer’s model as a type of “formula for success”, it is our goal to use the basic structure and operational philosophy of L’Abri as a starting place to pursue what we hope will become a very organic and unique ministry in its own right.

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