Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS
NEW GENERATION
ment failed. Ian balanced their zeal with wisdom and by August
the Preston group, which included three families, was in
good fettle and recognised as a new church household.
Mick ‘Temperate’ shared lan’s vision. His Birminghambased
team had established a group in Manchester and was
now working on a small church in Stockport. At Tyneside too,
in the north-east, Pete ‘Just’s’ ‘baby’ was showing some promise.
These groups were all led by northern ‘natives’.
Each new work would develop its own flavour. Central Office
could give strong input with resources, directives and
leadership days, but the pressing need was for holy sowers;
brothers with apostolic vision. Given that, new fires of community
would spring up elsewhere. The UK might yet see a
multiplied repeat of the ‘Bugbrooke Miracle’.
Church plants had their own special genius. Whilst the
brothers up north were seeking to plant small churches in
many towns, the Shepton team in the rural west was drawing
Christians into community. On the south coast our huge new
house in Seaford, near Brighton, was led by a young couple
who’d never been to Ashburnham or lived through our ‘golden
days’. But with the help of three Farm ‘missionaries’ the Abundant
Grace enthusiasts were gathering a very Farm-looking
bunch.
In London Steve had his head down building up his Acton
base which was becoming very multiracial. In cosmopolitan
London, at least, we saw the rainbow church take shape with
many nationalities represented in the congregation. Jesus
Army, London, with its kingdom aggression and Holy Spirit
intoxication, was also a hit with many black churches.
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