A CAUSE TO FIGHT FOR - The Jesus Army

Ian Callard
HUMAN
AGAIN
MY EVANGELICAL credentials are
near-perfect. Bible class as a child;
Billy Graham as a teenager (soundly
converted); Christian Union as a student;
baptised by immersion. I struggled
with receiving the fullness of the
Holy Spirit, but when it progressively
came, I was won over. Joining the
Jesus Fellowship ticked the last box,
the one marked “commitment”.
Early in my forties, now with leadership
ministry, something strange
happened. I was sitting in the back
row of a celebration event, with
our children strung on either side.
A warm glow came over me. I felt
forgiven. Not just everyday forgiven
– deeply forgiven. For all my past;
for all my future. Profusely forgiven;
comprehensively forgiven; compellingly
forgiven; irrevocably forgiven. I
felt… converted.
I found myself on a brand new track.
I began to address my self-condemnation
– like any addict, by cutting down
first. I could ask the children’s forgiveness
for the times I’d been harsh.
When leadership splits shattered our
church household, the loyal remnant
seemed paralysed. We talked openly
about perfectionisms, abuse, abandonment,
rejection, depressions. It was no
narcissistic therapy-gospel stuff; we’d
joined up for a life of active service. But
unlikely new friends from criminal and
hectic backgrounds began to love being
with us! We were becoming friends
of sinners.
For many, baptism in the Holy
Spirit simply supercharged our selfrighteousness.
For others, previous
non-believers, it was much sizzle and
little sausage. We’ve needed a second
conversion – from being “spiritual”
into being human. How is it with you?
Why does the wider church recruit
record-holding celebrities to promote
its courses and conferences? Because
there’s a deep unease that being simply
human, like you, or me – or Jesus
– isn’t good enough?
Come on: let’s get a life.
NOEL STANTON
PASSES TO GLORY
ON 20 MAY 2009, Noel Stanton, Apostolic
Team Leader and founder of the
Jesus Fellowship passed into glory.
He spoke earlier this year of “completing”
40 years of ministry since his
baptism in the Holy Spirit in January
1969. A few days before he died Huw
Lewis and I took bread and wine to
him. We anointed him with oil and
commended him to the Lord. Like
the apostle Paul, he was able to say,
“I have fought the good fight, I have
finished the race, I have kept the faith”
(2 Timothy 4:7).
We had an awesome thanksgiving
service at Northampton Jesus Centre with
some 1,700 attending, thankful for all
that the Lord achieved among us through
Noel’s dynamic, anointed leadership. It
was encouraging to have Roger Forster
give a short tribute to Noel and pray for
the future of the Jesus Fellowship.
Our apostolic team are now in the
driving seat. The future is exciting. Please
pray for us. We value your support.
Mick Haines
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