Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS THE LORD TOOK HOLD OF BUGBROOKE
ple to the meetings in two minibuses. It seemed the village
was being invaded by these colourful, hairy drop-outs and
unwashed bikers. (Pete Matt and Carol had some interesting
guests at their wedding!) Some hung around outside or even
nipped over the wall into the neighbour’s back garden to enjoy
a quiet ‘joint’. She wasn’t very amused!
The police became aware of the chapel link with the drug
scene and the amazing changes in some of their clients. Paddy
appeared in court for supplying methadone. He would normally
have been sent down, but in view of his conversion, the
magistrate took a lenient course. ‘The Jesus Movement’, said
the defence, ‘has done something for this young man when
he was heading in one direction only — borstal.’ 11
There was a danger that the chapel would become a place
of drug dealing. It wasn’t easy to keep order. Noel spoke of
‘upholding the holy name of God’, and maintaining discipline
in the camp. The chapel was to be treated with respect and
smoking and drugs were strictly banned. However, a fight
broke out in the manse car park between the bikers. The front
door was kicked in and the police were called out.
Village teenagers would swarm around, too, fascinated by
the goings on. They would sit on the wall of the Baker’s Arms
and cheer the Jesus freaks as they went in and out of chapel.
Chapel members were losing their aura of respectability as
they learned to share ‘not only the gospel of God but [their]
lives as well’ (1 Thess. 2:8). Time, money, prayer and patience,
burdens, disappointments and tears were all thrown into this
work. John Thom was always on duty. He seemed never to
sleep!
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