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The first meeting of what was to become L’Arche Blue Ridge Mountains was in December 1995. Mark Russell, Beth Mahler and Cecily Heuslein met after visiting with the Washington DC community and also being guided by Jean Forrest, who had been visioning a L’Arche community in Roanoke. Both Mark and Beth were members of Church of the Covenant and under the leadership of their pastor, the late Bev Cosby; we met as a mission group. This concept of mission groups is how Church of the Covenant and Bev Cosby started all the many missions they have accomplished in and around Lynchburg and follows the pattern of Church of the Savior in Washington DC, which helped found the L’Arche DC community.
Almost immediately these three realized the need to meet at least twice a month, and due to our various schedules, decided to meet on Sunday mornings at 8:00 AM for breakfast and worship and prayer and dreaming. To this day, the mission group, which has grown, continues to meet twice a month on Sunday mornings.
 We three never doubted that we would become L’Arche. There was never a question of failure. We immediately were in touch with Patty Wudel, the then regional coordinator, who sent us guidelines and procedures, which we slowly began to follow. We started having our Celebrations of Life, our dinner dances, which grew to sometimes over 300 people in attendance. We outgrew 3 different locations as these grew in popularity. These Celebrations are held 5 or 6 times a year with different providers sponsoring one Celebration each year.
We also visited the Washington community quite often and had them come for visits, especially to our dances (they like to boogie!).
A number of years went by and we were told that we were going ‘wonderfully slow’, a phrase that has stuck with us. From the very start, we have seen God lead. Once we formed our board, comments could be heard – ‘Boy! They sure pray a lot.’ Or ‘No wonder it takes them so long, they pray all the time.’ Well – we did and still do. Each board meeting is opened with a devotional, and sometimes a community building exercise. We have board retreats once a year.
We listen to God calling us. After Bev Cosby died, a wonderful monetary gift came our way in his memory and we believed God was telling us to call a community leader and get started. After a discernment process, we called Mark and he accepted this position. After that God lead us to a wonderful relationship with the Virginia Housing Development Association and that was the beginning of our building our first home.
Throughout our history, and visits and consultations with L’Arche folks from all over this country, many questioned the mission group. We felt and feel that it is the under girding of our community. It is what strengthens us and keeps us focused. Many also questioned the make up of our board – we have no
attorneys, doctors, or big financiers - just a lot of dedicated persons who caught the vision and dream. We also have a conflict resolution policy in effect which every board member must endorse. Whatever we have, it works for us. Our board meets once a month and usually have 100% attendance.
We have formed relationships with most agencies and organizations in the area that work in the field of persons with disabilities and enjoy a healthy  relationship with them.
In 2004 we welcomed a L’Arche-experienced Head of House, Vince DiBattista, and opened our community by welcoming two core members and two live in assistants in a rented home, during the time our first home was under construction. Once the house was completed we welcomed three additional core members, another live in assistant, and numerous other assistants both full and part time.
In early 2006 we experienced the tragedy of losing Vince to a sudden, massive heart attack. During this past year we have made a number of changes to our community, with the addition of new head of house, program manager, and are developing a pastoral minister role, but our core has remained constant.
2007-2008 saw a lot of change as several assistants chose to move on in life and so did two of our core members. As the community struggled with change it celebrated the lives of our two new core folk. We saw new life come into the community, new struggles and new joys. L'Arche Blue Ridge also saw the birth of the spiritual life committee and with it a new aspect of celebration. In 2008 many of the assistants and core members chose to share their sacred story with the community.
In August of 2008 we broke ground and have started construction of our second home...
Last Updated August 2008
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