Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS
CITY ON A HILL
dling two worlds. Here, in Zion, we’ve so much to be grateful
for, so much to offer.’
It echoed the feeling of our hearts. ‘Jerusalem is our delight,’
sang Mike ‘Rockfast’ Farrant in his new hymn, ‘And we
who mourned in Babylon, now cry aloud for joy!’
What we had was rare. Together we had discovered rich
truths. Together we had honoured New Testament revelation
and together forged a new culture. Insularity had been inevitable,
but now we wanted to open our hearts.
Some Christians in other churches were enthusiastic but
many were increasingly suspicious. Tensions at Warwick University
highlighted this. Someone told the President of the
Student Union that we were like the Moonies. When Graham
tried to hire a room for a small student meeting, he got a
grilling. The Christian Union were also nervous of us and felt
we were too elitist. We seemed to insist that lifestyle was
inseparable from the gospel. Indeed we did. Lifestyle was
the issue.
As we moved around with our ‘Jesus is Lord’ assemblies,
some ministers were annoyed because we hadn’t consulted
them first. Others renewed their criticisms of us. It seemed
that the quiet days were coming to an end.
In The Daily Star an article appeared: ‘CULT CRAZY — The
Facts Behind The Mindbenders’. After mentioning the Jonestown
massacre, it lumped us with Scientologists and the Children
of God. Our mysterious sect shunned the outside world
and lived the spartan life; Noel fancied himself as a latterday
Wesley; the men were bossy; the kids beaten; and the
women (including doctors and teachers!) were chained to the
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