Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTSAWAKE O ZION!‘Simon said he felt like thumping Kelly!’ was Ian’s rendering!Kelly was quick on the draw and our pride got riddledwith holes.In the summer, a pentecostal brother joined us from upnorth. Kelly thought he was wonderful — he was actually humble!Wilf fell in love with the place immediately.‘When I got here,’ he said, ‘it was like our ’ouse. It waswhere I belonged — despite the fact there were umpteen sistersI was terrified of. They all seemed like Mother Teresa —junior corps — and I felt like the little boy in short trousers!But it was so homely and inspiring. It was all the cliches youcan imagine. It was like that to me — heaven on earth!’‘Wilf’s just moved in,’ wrote Ian. ‘We spent the eveninggooseberry picking, which was fun. By the way, we’ve boughtanother house. It’s called Vineyard and Mike Farrant is movingthere from the Hall. It’s got six acres and some fallendown outbuildings...! beat my discipler up this morning! Helost again. I’m glad our relationship is not all wishy-washy. Ireckon, on the whole, all things considered — he’s all right.’Gradually the tensions mellowed and friendships grew.Wilf’s positive happiness was infectious. He would come homefrom work with a big grin and gleaming gold-rimmed spectacles.‘Eh, it’s good to be back in Zion!’ he would exclaim inhis Chesterfield accent, as we sat against the window seat,playing guitars and chatting. Kelly put his ‘smoking guns’ backinto their holsters, and filled up our ‘appreciation buckets’.Ian perked up, too: ‘We went for a walk in the wind, then satround singing songs with the sisters. It was a good scene andKelly called me an amiable twit!’173