Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS THE LORD TOOK HOLD OF BUGBROOKE‘Well might they ask!’ thought Verna, the chapel organist,as she gazed at the ancient plaque Sunday after Sunday. Thegospel was in her blood, too. Verna’s grandfather had been aPrimitive Methodist preacher, and her parents were godlypeople. Her warm-hearted father was a shepherd and wouldcome home from the fields and say grace before dinner. Hermother taught her to play hymns on an old harmonium. Vernagrew up to love Jesus, and it was no surprise when she wasbaptised as a teenager and made a Sunday school teacher.Then, at twenty-three, soon after the Second World War,she went away for a fortnight to Hildenborough Hall, a newChristian Conference centre down south. There two war heroesfrom the RAF told how they’d been converted to Christ.The talk that followed was simple and direct, and Verna sawthat for all her religious upbringing she was still a sinner. Forthree days she barely ate or slept. ‘Aren’t I a Christian, then?’she thought. As God dealt with her, her pride was shattered.It was like waking from a dream. Then, as she took hold ofher Saviour, she felt a deep sense of forgiveness and cleansing.God’s love became real and peace flooded her heart.When she came home her parents were delighted. But shehad a big disappointment when she bounded up to her ministerthe next day. ‘Oh dear, Verna!’ he sighed, ‘You’ve got inwith one of those emotional groups. It will pass.’ But it didn’t,and the new life she’d found was infectious. That night, assixteen girls from her Bible class crammed into her cottage,Verna just opened her heart. Some began to weep and sooneight of them had come to the Lord.Verna was encouraged and began to pray for the gospel tomake a real impact on the village. She threw herself into evan-25