Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS
CITY ON A HILL
‘People join us because they like our vision,’ explained Ian,
‘and we receive them with baptism, if needed, and “the right
hand of fellowship”. Not everyone enters community and we
have many non-residential members. Families often first move
into the Bugbrooke estate and later join a large community
house.’
‘So how do the community finances work?’ asked Jim.
‘Over to you, Mike,’ Ian nodded.
‘Right,’ said Mike. ‘New friends, as we call them, pay board
and lodging, if they stay around, but members share income
through a common purse account. Any surplus goes into the
Community Trust, which also receives capital from members
over twenty-one who have completed a probationary period
of at least six months.’
‘And where does it all go?’ Jim smiled.
‘Not on holidays in the Bahamas!’ Ian chuckled.
‘Seriously, chaps,’ said Mike, ‘none of it is money in the
bank! It’s all tied up in our property and capital goods, like
cars and furniture. The accounts are open to members, audited
by outside accountants and presented at the annual
church business meeting.’
‘What if people want to leave?’
‘Well, the Trustees are empowered to return their capital.
If they’d had nothing to contribute, the Trust normally makes
a payment to cover immediate expenses.’
As we walked back to the Hall, Jim mentioned a few criticisms
he’d heard.
‘Some people say the Fellowship is legalistic,’ said Jim.
‘All holiness depends on the baptism of the Holy Spirit,’ I
explained. ‘That’s how it all started, when the life of God was
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