Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS THE LORD TOOK HOLD OF BUGBROOKE
‘Oh no!’ she thought. The Lord was urging her to speak.
She got up, made her way to the front and began nervously.
‘I was hearing things I hadn’t even thought about — God
working miracles today! People having a relationship with
Jesus! I came the next night, and — wow! I felt warm inside.
Then laughter started to flood from my mouth. I was so happy
with Jesus — I felt my inside was bursting out!’
The congregation fell about laughing. Paddy waved a tambourine
and shouted ‘Glory!’
Yvonne blushed and giggled. ‘My mum thought I’d gone off
my rocker! But now she’s really keen. She’s here tonight and
she’s coming to my baptism tomorrow!’ The hall burst into
applause and her mum hid her face in her hands.
Yvonne was baptised with seven others the next evening.
What a mix it was, too. It included a large housewife, a nurse,
a black lady, Malcolm’s physics teacher, and an eccentric old
chap plastered in Jesus badges. It was beautiful to see them
at the same level in Christ.
Kelly’s and Verna’s cottages were filling up and it was getting
difficult to accommodate our many visitors. We began to
think in terms of a large community house, and John Thom
was keen to pioneer.
The seeds of community living had already been well sown.
The last three holidays proved the worth of being together.
What’s more, Noel was impressed by Rufus. Something in
Noel, the smart minister and business man, responded to his
hippy lifestyle that scorned the world’s values, lived simply,
and sought some kind of spiritual brotherhood. It was out of
this culture that the Jesus People had arisen, and Noel, al-
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