Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTSON THE MARCHA time of loud praise followed, then Noel asked us to lookup. High on the wall, encircling the hall in huge golden letters,was engraved a verse from Psalm 115. We read it outtogether: Not Unto Us, O Lord, But Unto Thy Name Give Glory!I found myself loving God. His faithfulness was superb! WhatGod had begun with some humbled failures in a tiny chapelwith a funny name was now a challenge to the nation. Buzzmagazine had called us ‘one of the most controversial Christiangroups in the country’. 95 As we joined under those banners,I felt the thrill of God’s call.The commissioning finished and we filed out. I glanced upat a friendly portrait. William Carey, Missionary Pioneer. Careyonce spoke of the power of ‘loving brotherhood’, and out inIndia had set up a multiracial household with ‘all things incommon’. The school where I worked was yards from wherehe once laboured as a shoemaker, and every day, for years, Ihad read on Carey’s plaque:Expect great things from God!Attempt great things for God!That was our heart, too.‘The Jesus Army will go where others will not go.’ As I ponderedthe words from the Manifesto, my spirit rose to thechallenge. I smiled at my combat jacket with its colourfulbadges — We Fight For You!‘Lord,’ I thought, ‘how did you get me into this?’I looked up. ‘Power Coach leaving in three minutes!’ someoneshouted.286