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Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

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FIRE IN OUR HEARTS<br />

AWAKE O ZION!<br />

Of <strong>Jesus</strong> — To The Letter’ was an article <strong>in</strong> the local press.<br />

‘This is communism that works,’ Paddy comments, ‘because<br />

it’s based on love.’<br />

In June Thames Television screened The Lord Took Hold Of<br />

Bugbrooke. In one shot Paddy washed the same dishes six<br />

times over, while Alan told his story. In chapel cameras zoomed<br />

<strong>in</strong> on tongue-speak<strong>in</strong>g worshippers, but it wasn’t unpleasantly<br />

sensational. The crew were impressed and frustrated — impressed<br />

by <strong>our</strong> love, changed lives, and liberated worship<br />

(some tapped their feet to the choruses); impressed when we<br />

m<strong>in</strong>istered heal<strong>in</strong>g to the producer; and impressed with words<br />

of knowledge concern<strong>in</strong>g them; but frustrated when a demon<br />

was cast out. They had taken the afternoon off!<br />

The film was followed by write-ups. ‘Spotlight On Bugbrooke’<br />

was an excellent article <strong>in</strong> Evangelism Today. Amongst<br />

the secular press was ‘Our Own Bible Belt’ <strong>in</strong> The Daily Mail,<br />

‘The Bugbrooke Phenomenon’ <strong>in</strong> The Northants Even<strong>in</strong>g Telegraph,<br />

and ‘Bugbrooke, Where Alleluias Come Bigger And<br />

Noisier!’ <strong>in</strong> The TV Times. Some comments were amus<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

like this <strong>in</strong> The Daily Telegraph under the head<strong>in</strong>g ‘Roll<strong>in</strong>g In<br />

The Aisles — A Proven Success’:<br />

Abandon<strong>in</strong>g orthodox practices, the m<strong>in</strong>ister presents his flock<br />

with a form of worship compounded of American-style hot<br />

gospell<strong>in</strong>g, a British-style knees up, total immersion, and a few<br />

gimmicks of his own. Among these are ‘speak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> tongues’ as<br />

related <strong>in</strong> Acts of the Apostles... It is difficult not to be impressed.<br />

Above all there is an air of total <strong>in</strong>nocence which does not always<br />

attach to the more extravagant religious sects. Bugbrooke<br />

may not be up front <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>tellectual stakes, but it seems a<br />

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