In an obscure moment in history, a monumental event occurred because of a schedule change of just a single night. En route to Strasbourg, John Calvin and his companions had their trip interrupted because of a war. This meant stopping for a night—just a single night—in Geneva. That evening, word got to William Farel that the famed writer of the Institutes of the Christian Religion was staying in town. Farel was the first reformer of Geneva and a pioneer who fought to have the city become officially Protestant in May of the prior year (1536). But now, a year in, the ministry was exploding with new believers. He needed help, and to Farel, Calvin’s mix of gifts seemed just what they needed.

Farel sought out Calvin and begged him to stay in Geneva, partner with him in preaching the Gospel, and help solidify the Reformation there. Calvin resisted because he saw himself as more of an academic than a pastor. He enjoyed writing and longed — by his own description — to hide away in Strasbourg and write books that would help the Reformation across Europe.

What shocks our sensibilities is that when Farel saw he was making no headway with Calvin, Farel pronounced a curse, damning Calvin’s quiet studies in Strasbourg! How could the young thinker be absorbed with his own studies when the need was so acute in Geneva?! Can you imagine having an older brother in Christ, 20 years your senior, be so bold because you wouldn’t help him?!?

Amazingly, Calvin conceded. Whether it was fear of God or the influence of Farel’s earnestness, we don’t know. Maybe both? But Calvin remained in Geneva, and he threw himself into the ministry with Farel there, and they remained friends until Calvin died over 25 years later.

Why the history lesson? Because sometimes, when the weather is clear, the economy is good, and your friends are smiling, you can think that planning and decisions can be carefully, methodically laid out—like Calvin. But then there are times of pressure, crisis, or even desperation. And the needs of the hour can squeeze us into a more urgent sense of decision-making, like Farel.

As Jesus saw massive crowds following Him, whom He described as sheep without a shepherd, he taught His disciples to pray earnestly for the Father to raise up “workers for the harvest” because, in his imagery, the harvest was plentiful while the workers were few (Matthew 9). The Apostle Paul, in numerous instances, asked urgently for help from various congregations, groups of believers, or individuals. He urged the Corinthian church to help other destitute believers in drought-stricken Jerusalem. He pled urgently for help in ministry from the Apostles, Barnabas, Timothy, Titus, Apollos and others. So, biblically speaking, we’re not sinning when we realize that we have an urgent need.

As our elders have worked very diligently over the past two years to improve our organizational structure, and as we’re trying to manage, respond and lead into rapid growth, and prepare for the eventual retirement of founding leaders, we have sensed one very pressing need — for expertise in shepherding. Shepherding is that aspect of ministry where we care for the fellow member who is in distress, grief, trouble, or hurting. It’s one of the most challenging aspects of ministry and like Jesus’ comparison in Matthew 9, it’s a harvest where workers are few. So, our elders are working very hard to secure a shepherding pastor for us.

We’re encouraged! We are in earnest conversation with a candidate. And unlike William Farel, we are not preparing to call down a curse on his work if he can’t work with us. But like Farel, we do sense an urgent need here precisely because of the same reasons. God is at work! The church is growing with new believers (praise the LORD)! And we can sense palpably that the harvest is plentiful, yet workers are few. Please keep praying for us in this process — all parties involved — that our Lord will send the right worker into His harvest.