13.03.2014 Views

Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS<br />

COMMUNICATE!<br />

Another story came from <strong>our</strong> Sheffield evangelism; a brother<br />

was try<strong>in</strong>g to rescue someone from be<strong>in</strong>g beaten up by a gang<br />

when one of them flew at him with both fists. Suddenly a<br />

smart young man leapt <strong>in</strong> and shielded him from the blows.<br />

‘Thanks!’ said the brother afterwards.<br />

Notic<strong>in</strong>g he was carry<strong>in</strong>g <strong>our</strong> Streetpaper, he added: ‘I’m<br />

from the <strong>Jesus</strong> <strong>Army</strong>.’<br />

The stranger smiled warmly. ‘Oh, I know all about you!’<br />

And he wandered off.<br />

The evangelist turned to the sisters opposite. ‘Did you see<br />

that?’<br />

‘Yes. Amaz<strong>in</strong>g. His fists kept stopp<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> mid-air.’<br />

‘I mean the guy <strong>in</strong> the suit.’<br />

‘What guy?’ they asked.<br />

Angels, ano<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>gs, adventures! The summer began to crackle<br />

as the disappo<strong>in</strong>tments of 1990 turned <strong>in</strong>to to a fresh exhilaration.<br />

The first edition of <strong>Fire</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>our</strong> Hearts was well received<br />

and many, on hear<strong>in</strong>g the story ‘from the horse’s<br />

mouth’, became firm friends and supporters. Not all were<br />

conv<strong>in</strong>ced, but new church leaders like Gerald Coates were<br />

very appreciative, and Bryn Jones described God’s work<br />

among us as ‘a miracle <strong>in</strong> <strong>our</strong> time’. 115<br />

New members glimpsed the treasures of <strong>our</strong> heritage and<br />

veterans sniffled and laughed their way through a story they<br />

knew so well. It was all part of a rediscovery — of <strong>our</strong> call to<br />

be a people for God and of <strong>our</strong> mission to the ‘poor’.<br />

After the book was launched I locked horns with Mike and<br />

Huw over my <strong>in</strong>tention to marry. Sometimes authors disagree<br />

and Mike lived up to his name — ‘Rockfast’! I decided to<br />

338

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!