Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS
NEW GENERATION
When Channel 4 was doing a series on alternative youth
services, one of the team, who was not a Christian, told Roger,
‘We’ve been to 70 of these and the most interesting message
is this one on the Christian Celts. This is the first thing we’ve
heard that really engages and gives a Christian alternative
as relevant culturally as the New Age movement.’
Primitive, spiritual, colourful; something in these days was
coming through about pre-institutional Christianity. This was
as much for the hungry believer as for ‘pagan’ seekers. At
one level the appeal was to the mystical, the symbolic. A postmodern
culture was responding to images, music and drama.
They were looking for humble bards not preachers. At another
level they were seeking an alternative.
The example of the Celtic Christians helped to clarify the
future role of our community houses. The key to Celtic evangelism
was the network of communities which were both mission
centres and spiritual oases. The numbers who embraced
their rigorous lifestyle were small in comparison with the
multitudes caught up in the wider movement. But the communities
stood like priests, blessing and serving people.
The Celtic spirit resonated with so much we held dear. It
crystallised our whole apostolic call; combining radical discipleship
with a passionate sense of mission. Like them we were
to move with sensitivity amongst the people, showing Jesus
as the answer to their search. Maybe we too, together with
other Christian streams, would see the ‘post-modern’ culture
of our day powerfully influenced by the gospel.
In the late sixties God moved in a remarkable way upon the
churches of this land. We were one of many little groups at
413