Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS THE LORD TOOK HOLD OF BUGBROOKEing Baptist minister, invited the evangelist Don Summers toconduct a tent crusade to the surrounding villages. Fifty peoplecame forward and a handful were baptised. Monthly rallieswere started and Roger Forster led a Bible week thatwinter. The evangelicals were happy at last, and as that busyyear came to an end, Noel was thanking God for their loyaltyand for the many new friends.However, after nearly four years of intense activity only ahandful had actually joined the eighty or so members. Noelexpressed his growing concern to the deacons: ‘The cryingneed is for God to do his reviving work amongst us. Someshow interest, but who is really won for Christ?’ Other crusadesfollowed, but the results were equally disappointing.In the spring of 1963, the Pilgrims came for a weekend.This young music group talked about a Jesus you could knowpersonally. That came as a thunderclap to Dave Lantsbery,the headmaster’s son and an Anglican choirboy. Seventeen,fresh-faced and athletic, Dave would have been an ‘all Americanboy’ had he not been so English! Often he turned up atthe chapel youth club, played table-tennis and chatted to thegirls. As far as Dave was concerned, he was a Christian, achurchgoer, and all right, thank you very much!At the next meeting with the Pilgrims, Dave sat at the backof the chapel, on the defensive, and trying to justify himself.On Sunday evening there was a call to make a commitmentto Christ, and Dave stood up. Somebody came to counsel him,but still he held back.‘What about the Muslims?’ he argued on — and on.‘The problem with you,’ said the counsellor, ‘is you won’tadmit you’re a sinner. It’s between you and God!’29