Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

13My Friend, My Brother1978Steve ‘Faithful’ sat in chapel one Sunday evening in Februaryand grinned at his mum and dad from a distance. Thoughonly nineteen, he was a strong man. His ruddy face and thickauburn hair gave him a youthful glow. Steve was quite a naturelover and enjoyed being out on his tractor. Blunt, honestand unpretentious, his sober face would break out in a warmgrin that betrayed the softness of his heart. He and John ‘Gentle’were close and their boisterous friendship was a focusfor the farm brotherhood. Steve had won a place in Noel’sheart, too, and was unafraid to turn his cheekiness in thatdirection! ‘Noel gets in the flesh just like us!’ he used to say— usually after Noel had corrected him!That February evening Noel spoke from James: ‘What isyour life? You are a mist that appears for a little while andthen vanishes.’ Steve knew it. He was no yokel. After a day of167