When William left Paris, he returned to his family and his home in the mountains. Perhaps you are thinking that his family would be glad to see him again. Not so! They thought of his arrival with a feeling of terror because they had heard of the “strange” things he had been doing in Paris. No more idols? No more prayers to angels? How strange!
The mountains, the villages and the green valleys that William knew as a boy were all the same when he arrived home. But for William, everything had changed. He saw, not the hills and valleys, but the people. He saw the precious souls that were perishing without the knowledge of his Saviour, the Lord Jesus.
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William began to preach at once. It was not in the churches that he preached, but in the streets, in the fields, on rocks by the river — wherever anyone would listen. The book he used was the Bible and his voice rang out like thunder. It was not long before his brothers, Daniel, John-James, Walter and Claude, believed and were saved. How happy William must have been!
But the priests were furious. How dare a young man preach when he was not even trained! And to preach anywhere and everywhere from the Bible! It was not long before the priests were doing everything they could to stop Farel. But William continued to preach wherever he could, and he knew, as you remember, the rocks and caves of the mountains so well from his youth that it was easy for him to find safe places to hide. The Lord helped him many times, but the priests were always on the watch.
William now felt that the Lord Himself had called him to be a preacher. He tried to be gentle but he also spoke faithfully against idols and preached Christ boldly. Soon his strong voice and his red hair were well-known by those who wished to stop him. Enemies chased Farel again and again, but the Lord delivered him from their hands while he traveled on, hiding in the woods and hills.