Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS THE LORD TOOK HOLD OF BUGBROOKE
out a low whistle. He wasn’t your average Christian. But he
didn’t need to be — not for what was coming.
Back in the freshly-painted chapel, Kelly’s eyes scanned the
balcony. ‘Perhaps violet was going a bit far,’ he thought, and
smiled as he watched Noel waiting for the choruses to end.
Noel still looked the smart Baptist minister, but under the
dark suit a charismatic rebel was burning.
Thirty youngsters had turned up in two minibuses that summer
evening, and the chapel was packed and buzzing.
‘Man!’ whispered one lad, tugging at his friend. ‘The love
kinda hits you!’
‘Yeh! They’re all tripped out on something,’ said the other.
They sniggered and hid behind their song books.
Verna beamed behind the new electronic organ. A couple
of guitars joined in as she played ‘Sweep over my soul’ for
the umpteenth time. A murmur of praise then rose up and
flowed into a new chorus: ‘He has given me the wine to make
my heart rejoice, and the oil to make my face to shine!’
Miss Campion sat towards the back with a twinkle in her
eyes. Her Baptist severity had given way to a glow of glory.
Some of the leather-jacketed youths didn’t know what to make
of it. They eyed each other and Miss Campion, and nervously
edged towards the door. A few of their mates had already lit
up outside. Soon Noel was throwing out the challenge of a
radical following of Christ. His theme was the ‘Jesus Revolution’.
News of a movement among the American hippies was leaking
into Britain. Flower power had been invaded by the gospel
and there were amazing stories of deliverance from drugs
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