Do you have a favorite place for a holiday? Some like to go to the beach, some like to camp in the woods and others like to see mountains. Even today thousands go to see the beautiful mountains and lakes of Switzerland.
It was in this land of Switzerland that William Farel spent the rest of his life. He did not go for a vacation. It was not because the land was great and beautiful that he wanted to be there, but because the hearts of the people were dark and sad. It was not for a holiday, but to work for his Saviour.
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The darkness of those pretty villages, you remember, was because there were no Bibles. The priests told wicked stories to the poor people and everyone believed them. “The church bells walk to Rome on their own accord during Passion Week,” the priests told them. “They go to ask pardon of the pope for all their sins.” If any looked at the church bells, the priest would say, “Those are only the appearance of bells. If you were to ring them, they would give no sound.” These tales were so completely believed that not even the most mischievous of boys dared to try to see whether the bells would ring or not!
Such was the darkness of that lovely land, and as yet not a voice had been heard there to tell the people of God’s true way to receive the forgiveness of sins. William had a message that would bring joy to the hearts of those who received it, and his name is remembered even today in some of those places.