Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS
AWAKE O ZION!
Tears of laughter were streaming down Paddy’s face.
Victor smiled at Sheila. He remembered his longing for community
after he’d first been baptised in the Spirit. Now God
was restoring that vision. All sense of isolation melted away
as he moved on into worship.
A lad in the next seat started to groan. ‘I think he needs
healing for his stomach,’ thought Victor, as the groans increased.
Suddenly there was a blood-curdling scream. Two
brothers pounced in and nearly knocked Victor off his chair.
The demon vacated the scene and the worship continued.
Sheila gripped Victor’s hand. This was different from Sunday
School in Taunton.
At Malhamdale we considered how to work the vision out.
Many who lived outside Bugbrooke considered moving in to
be where the action was. There were schemes for bulk buying,
for a second-hand clothes store, and for sharing lists of
needs and gifts. A ‘Love Community Fund’ was also to be set
up. As we lived more cheaply, so money would be released to
meet needs and buy houses. Already there was a target of
£50,000 for the Housing Association.
Three types of community homes were envisaged. Jesus
Family Homes would be simple extended families. Jesus Welcome
Homes were to be larger frontline houses for evangelism.
Jesus Central Homes in the Bugbrooke area would be at
the heart of things to train Christians within community.
Underlying the practical plans was the grand theme of the
restoration of God’s house. We had a song based on the New
Testament: ‘We are being built into a temple’. But it wouldn’t
be easy, as I’d already found. God was not constructing a theo-
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