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Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

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FIRE IN OUR HEARTS<br />

CITY ON A HILL<br />

dull uniformity where great experiments of this k<strong>in</strong>d are<br />

feared...’ 59<br />

Lewis visited us and prepared an article which later appeared<br />

<strong>in</strong> the Baptist Times:<br />

When I arrived, Noel was out <strong>in</strong> the fields work<strong>in</strong>g. He came <strong>in</strong>,<br />

mud all over his gum-boots, and gave me the shy, welcom<strong>in</strong>g<br />

smile I remembered so well... He is still the same quiet, deep<br />

man, but one held by a vision that by the Spirit the church is to<br />

be a visible and powerful expression of the k<strong>in</strong>gdom of God...<br />

Most of the criticism of the community has been unfair and<br />

un<strong>in</strong>formed, and some has been malicious. Bugbrooke is not<br />

perfect. Noel Stanton is not always right. But it is a bold venture<br />

of faith...<br />

First, it is a genu<strong>in</strong>e effort to express the Gospel <strong>in</strong> practice...<br />

Second, it is a lay movement... every member plays his part...<br />

Third, it reveals the k<strong>in</strong>gdom of God as a true alternative and<br />

revolutionary society.<br />

F<strong>our</strong>th, for the <strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship, mission and community are<br />

<strong>in</strong>separable...<br />

Fifth, it is a dynamic and ongo<strong>in</strong>g movement...<br />

At last week’s Baptist Union assembly it was said that God is<br />

do<strong>in</strong>g a new th<strong>in</strong>g... If we are not too afraid of change to lift up<br />

<strong>our</strong> eyes to see, we may well be considerably enriched, whether<br />

we follow the Bugbrooke pattern or not. 60<br />

Dave ‘Resolute’, who was becom<strong>in</strong>g <strong>our</strong> PR man, went round<br />

visit<strong>in</strong>g Christian leaders like Arthur Wallis, Roger Forster<br />

and Gerald Coates. One day Dave and I sat down <strong>in</strong> Gerald’s<br />

home at Cobham. His openness impressed me and I smiled at<br />

199

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