Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTSON THE MARCHat the Hall masquerading as a Christian from another church.She was welcomed, and Ken, an amiable five-footer, lookedafter her. Within weeks we were splashed over the SundayMirror.The man with the manic eyes moved closer. Lips pursed in fury,he prodded me with his finger and demanded, ‘Where have youbeen?’ I froze and he raged on. I had slipped away from a marathonall-day prayer session. Now I faced the wrath of Noel Stanton’shenchmen. It was brother Ken, previously a kind, friendly,father figure. ‘We had you watched. You sneaked out of themeeting to go to the pub.’ His piercing stare unnerved me... 91It was gripping stuff! But it bore only the faintest resemblanceto reality.They wail and go into a trance-like state. Their chants reach acrescendo as ‘Svengali’ Stanton murmurs Bible passages andwhips them up to a frenzy. He brings them down again, saying,‘Beloved, can ya hear me?’... and quotes more of the Bible witha slow drawl. 92Noel was a ‘power crazed lunatic’! It was the usual stuff. C. T.Studd once remarked that ‘a lost reputation is the best degreefor Christ’s service.’ We were well qualified!In September we issued our first Jesus Army magazine. ALLOUT WAR! was the front-page headline, and Noel had this tosay:Britain is sinking into moral chaos! Only a moral and spiritualrevolution in the power of the living Lord Jesus Christ will change275