Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS
AWAKE O ZION!
Another brother had recently joined us. We took him rather
quickly into leadership, despite his strong opinions. He enjoyed
the charismatic worship but found our radical principles
hard to stomach. When we encouraged him to be an example
to the flock and open his large home to the brethren,
he refused. He soon left and, unlike Brian, became very critical
of us for a time.
Loss of these leaders and confusion with the cults were two
aspects of the battle. The third was more poignant, and followed
the death of a brother.
David was a gentle young man who had recently transferred
his job as articled clerk and moved up to Victor and Sheila’s
house on the estate. One Saturday in December he took his
Bible and went for one of his ‘prayer walks’. It was sunny but
very cold and frosty and Dave had no coat on. When he didn’t
appear after lunch, Victor sent someone looking for him but
without success. As the day drew in, he grew uneasy and organised
a proper search. By seven in the evening we left off
to attend chapel but continued afterwards. Perhaps he’d gone
off somewhere on impulse, as he’d told us he was prone to
do.
A time of great anxiety followed, especially for David’s parents
and for Victor’s household. The next week, a villager
walking his dog found his body in a strip of scrubland. Next
to him was his Bible and, strangely, his neatly folded shirt,
socks and vest. Accidental death from hypothermia was the
verdict of the coroner. One symptom is the feeling of being
hot and confused and this probably explains why David removed
some of his clothing.
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