Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS
NEW GENERATION
whether zealous Christian couples or streetwise Jasons who
came, like Jesus Live, ‘raw, deep and from the heart’. Here
was our future.
Since 1989 the focus had been on communication with fellow
Christians and with the youth culture. Whilst retaining this,
God’s spotlight now turned on the heart of the church. We
realised that it was only apostolic character that could produce
apostolic fruit. Mellowness was good but the future lay
in courageous mission, passion and self-denial.
The Jesus Army had become a national movement. Noel’s
ministry maintained a strong, united vision. But now we’d
spread throughout the UK the need was for key men to bring
that kind of apostolic spirit to their own regions. Noel was
nearly 70 and his mantle must eventually fall on a new generation.
The Jesus Fellowship was now undergoing a major transformation.
Only apostolic power would ensure that the new
version would be belter than the old. The torch must be passed
on. Inspired leaders and their spiritual ‘sons’ must reinforce
the simplicity, sharing and sacrifice that was the heart of our
‘Zion’ vision.
This was what searchers were crying out for; something
solid and undiluted. ‘Looking for a cause to fight for’ was a
popular song in Jesus Live. Youth were drawn to the bold, the
wild and the strong; definitely not middle-class boredom, but
risky adventure, challenge and exploring the limits. Red-hot
Christian brotherhood fitted the bill. We had become culturally
relevant. That was a good step. But it was our holy vision
that really brought in the radicals.
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