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Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

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FIRE IN OUR HEARTS<br />

ON THE MARCH<br />

He could see the <strong>Army</strong> <strong>in</strong> action — banners wav<strong>in</strong>g, col<strong>our</strong>s<br />

fly<strong>in</strong>g, guitars strumm<strong>in</strong>g, shouts r<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g, and the name of<br />

<strong>Jesus</strong> echo<strong>in</strong>g through the streets. The <strong>Jesus</strong> <strong>Army</strong>! It would<br />

be a beacon to the masses and a cause for the radical. It meant<br />

commitment, compassion, loyalty and self-sacrifice.<br />

We quoted C. T. Studd <strong>in</strong> <strong>our</strong> magaz<strong>in</strong>e:<br />

I would sooner have a few dare-devil, care-for-noth<strong>in</strong>g-and-nobody<br />

soldiers aflame with love for Christ than a million workers<br />

just ten per cent below the standard... Christ’s call is to raise<br />

liv<strong>in</strong>g churches of souls amongst the destitute, to capture men<br />

from the very jaws of hell, to enlist and tra<strong>in</strong> them for <strong>Jesus</strong> and<br />

to make them <strong>in</strong>to an almighty <strong>Army</strong> for God. This can only be<br />

accomplished by a red-hot unconventional, unfettered Holy<br />

Ghost religion. Soldiers of <strong>Jesus</strong>! Nail the col<strong>our</strong>s to the mast! 94<br />

Jackets would be purchased. Col<strong>our</strong>s would be displayed —<br />

army green, red for the blood of <strong>Jesus</strong>, white for purity, black<br />

for the darkness and gold for God’s glory. We would buy a<br />

double decker and pa<strong>in</strong>t it up <strong>in</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong> <strong>Army</strong> col<strong>our</strong>s — and<br />

the coaches, Crusader 1 and 2. Patches would be ordered —<br />

and badges, arm bands, khaki shirts, flags and banners! We<br />

would march <strong>in</strong> London! There <strong>in</strong> Trafalgar Square we would<br />

read the <strong>Jesus</strong> <strong>Army</strong> Manifesto. But first there would be a<br />

commission<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Northampton Town Hall, and this time we<br />

would <strong>in</strong>vite the press!<br />

On April 18th, 1987, the <strong>Jesus</strong> <strong>Army</strong> was born.<br />

A long column, someth<strong>in</strong>g under a thousand strong, moved<br />

through the busy shoppers. Combat jackets, banners and ex-<br />

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