Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTSON THE MARCHat Ashburnham when we learned to meditate on God, openup our hearts and disciple one another.There the vision of Zion had exploded on us. We were neverto be the same.God’s word had inspired us and revealed the narrowness ofChrist’s path. As we sought to reach out to others with thegospel of the kingdom, we found humiliation in the press andsuspicion from churches. At times the battle had been intense,but we had pressed on regardless. When friends deserted,more came to join us. Slowly we had forged a culture thatwas godly, deep and precious. How could veterans forget?Now years of campaigning had gone by and the church hadexpanded. A new generation of Jesus People had arisen whodidn’t fully understand a beauty born of tears.We had put everything into launching the Jesus Army. Onone hand there was an aggressive evangelistic endeavour, onthe other, an almost mystical heritage of community. Campaigninghad stirred Zion to pour out her life, but many of uslonged after purer brotherhood and the deeps of God.As the sun filtered through the marquee, Noel stood up inhis Jesus Army jacket and began to speak of the ‘treasures ofZion’. Once more the preciousness of brotherhood passed beforeus — its loyalty, simplicity and sacrificial love. We sang anew hymn that expressed this longing for Zion:Treasures of Zion here we seek;Wisdom of all these God-filled years,In which were formed the wise, the meek,Mature in warmth and love and tears.291