Welcome to

South African L'Abri

L’Abri does not focus on intellectual pursuits only; the life-affirming reality of the Biblical storyline speaks to all of human life. This means our lives are not divided between “sacred” and “secular” activities. We believe that the Bible’s description of reality is true, in a meaningful sense of the word “true”. This also means that a commitment to God makes sense and that faith is never divorced from reason. Moreover, because Christianity is true, not only can it be discussed intellectually, it can also be passionately imagined and practically lived. Christian faith integrates all of human life, including our minds, our hearts, our work, our play, and our relationships. Art, history, philosophy, economics, psychology, education, politics, science, contemporary society and all other realms of thought and life can be engaged from a Biblical perspective.

Rhythms & Dates

Here is a summary of the things we currently do at South African L’Abri, together with some specific dates. Most of these are free, but please RSVP to us before the time. Only for Theme Weekends and Conferences do we ask you to help cover costs. The venue is usually the L’Abri house in Pretoria, unless stated otherwise. You can also arrange to visit us outside of the occasions listed below.

OPEN DAYS / STUDY SPACE: L’Abri is open almost every Friday 10:00 – 17:00. We invite you into a study or work space with others. The idea is to have an environment in which to use your time productively, as well as having the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation during a lunch together from 12:30 – 13:30. There will also be a coffee break 15:00 – 15:30. You can also come simply to experience a time of “shelter”, study a topic, read a book, listen to recordings of L’Abri talks, or have a meaningful conversation with us. There is also an opportunity to sit outside. Please let us know before you visit.

POETRY TEA: Every month or so, usually on a Saturday, we come together to share and discuss poetry. Usually this gathering also offers a hybrid online option. Bring a poem for discussion – either one you have written yourself or any poem that you have found meaningful/interesting/enjoyable. DATES: Saturday 3 October 11:30 – 13:30, Saturday 14 November 14:30 – 16:30.

SOUL SPACE: About one Saturday per month, we spend the afternoon exploring different spiritual disciplines together in a time of refreshing and reflection. Take some time-out from the busy-ness of pressured routines to give yourself an opportunity for deeper connection with God. DATES: Sat 10 October 15:00 -17:00

DISCUSSION SUPPERS: About once a month, you can join us for a meal and discussion on one of life’s many important questions. Sometimes we choose the topic beforehand, at other times we simply invite you bring your question. DATES: Saturday 10 October 18:00, on the role and power of the imagination. Saturday 7 November 18:00, topic TBD.

MOVIE DISCUSSIONS: We regularly watch and then discuss a movie together over a finger-food supper. DATES: Thursday 24 September 18:00, Saturday 14 November 18:00.

THEME WEEKENDS: A few times a year, we explore a particular topic for an entire weekend. You can join as a residential guest, or as a day visitor on any or all of the days. DATES: From 12:00 noon on Thur 24 Sept to 11:30 on Sun 27 Sept, on the topic of “Home”.

BOOK CLUB: We regularly run a book club, where over the space of 3-6 weeks we read and discuss a book together. Our meetings for this are usually online, for an hour on a Thursday evening (19:45-20:45).

CONFERENCES & LECTURES: We host occasional conferences, lectures or the like. In October 2026, Andrew Fellows, a previous director of English L’Abri, will be visiting South Africa. There will be the following opportunities to engage with him:

LECTURE: “The Sacrament of the Present Moment” – Tue 20 Oct, 19:00 at L’Abri.
LECTURE: “Exploring the Screwtape letters” – Wed 21 Oct, 19:00 at L’Abri.
MINI-CONFERENCE: “Humanity Matters” – Fri 23 Oct, 06:30 – 14:30 at L’Abri.
MINI-CONFERENCE: “Smuggling Jesus back into the Church” – Sat 24 Oct, 09:00 – 13:00 at the Johannesburg Bible College in Auckland Park.

Please refer to our Facebook page for further details.

Email us for queries or reservations, or to be added to our mailing list.

We are also on Instagram.

Our schedule for Sept-Nov 2026 is available here.

Theme weekends and mini-terms

L’Abri is a place for rest and renewing, but not a typical ‘retreat’. Our theme weekends and mini-terms include a daily rhythm of meals, tea-times, work time, study time, lectures and discussions. During lunches we usually sit together and you have the opportunity to bring your own questions for discussion. During the daily work time you will be invited to help in some way with making the community experience possible for all – usually cleaning or food preparation. Study time is for you to investigate the questions you have brought with you, in which you can make use of the books and recordings available in our library. Sometimes there is a “high tea” in which guests are invited to contribute creatively in any shape or form (e.g. play an instrument, recite a poem, present an artwork).

In order to benefit most from your stay, we recommend that you engage in all the activities, and keep your use of phones and laptops to an absolute minimum. We aim to create a space in which we can be fully present to each other, and integrate our faith into all areas of life. This can be very freeing, though perhaps not terribly glamorous. A “mountain top experience” is not our goal, and we are not offering a neatly ‘polished’ experience. There is a realness to this that many have found helpful.

Donations and Payments

L’Abri does not engage in fundraising. Throughout its history, L’Abri has prayed and looked to God for the provision of its needs. Our aim in providing L’Abri South Africa’s banking details is to facilitate the giving of gifts by donors, and the payment of booking fees for theme weekends and the like. Please contact us by email to confirm your booking and payment.

South African banking details:
Bank: First National Bank
Branch Code: 251445
Acc. Name: L’Abri SA
Acc. Number: 62192802835
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ

Profiles

Vera Marbach is a wife, mother, teacher, facilitator and coach. She trained as an Occupational Therapist and worked in psychiatry and paediatrics; she also has a certificate in Theology. During the last few years she has become involved in inter-racial meetings to address the racial tensions evident in South African society. She is passionate about making faith practical, conscious and thought-through living, active citizenship and social justice. She is interested in history and how it influences our present. She writes poetry to process her thoughts and challenges, and published a collection of her poems, “Dwelling in Dissonance”, in 2017.

Thorsten Marbach is a husband, father, engineer and theologian. He holds degrees in the latter two, while his learning in the first two is ongoing. Born in Germany but raised in SA, Thorsten started his working life in the corporate world in I.T. and Telecommunications. He then changed track, and besides his work at L’Abri he also teaches at a local Bible College and co-ordinates TGIF, a weekly thought leadership forum. A common theme in these endeavours is exploring what truth & goodness look like, how we understand and engage reality, and how our faith connects with all areas of life.

Segomotso Semosa is a sleep deprived mother of two young girls and a wife to but one husband who happens to be a soccer coach. She is interested in ideas, beauty, truth, justice, food and movies. She is a teacher and has tried her hand at entrepreneurship in the hospitality sector. She was a student and a helper at the English L’Abri for over a year, and is currently a companion of the South African L’Abri.