Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTSAWAKE O ZION!Kelly walked slowly back to the tea break. Alan, Rufus andthe others were larking around but the look on Kelly’s facebrought instant silence.‘Bro’s,’ he said, ‘“Faithful’s” been killed.’ The words hungin the air. No! It couldn’t be true. Not Steve. Then the truthsliced into their hearts and they all burst into tears, grownmen just weeping helplessly together. By the end of that daythe whole church had heard and a hush crept over all thehomes. ‘Faithful’ was in heaven — it was almost unbelievable.Four hundred people were in mourning.Investigations were made. Evidently he had been struckdown around eleven at night by a goods train travelling fromLondon. As a railwayman explained to us, Steve couldn’t havebeen lying down because his body had been knocked betweenthe rails. We discovered that two trains passed each otheraround 11.00 pm at the point where Steve was killed. Possiblyhe was returning from a walk by the canal and as he waitedin the dark for one train to pass, he was struck by the other.The funeral could never be forgotten. Any grief that hadbeen bottled up now flowed out as tribute was paid to thislovable young man. The hearts of the Farm family werecracked wide open. It was an amazing and awesome time tolive through. Heaven came close. Pride was shattered, and anew love blossomed, as tough young men sobbed their heartsout together. The brother who took over Steve’s job mountedhis tractor and wept. How could he ever live up to Steve’sexample of diligence?Some of the brothers and sisters struggled with their firstexperience of grief. Noel was heart-broken, but clung to grace,stood like a rock, and led them through it. A ring of brotherly169