Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS THE LORD TOOK HOLD OF BUGBROOKEthings seemed to be looking up and the Sunday after-meetingwas attracting new people.Dave was due to go to Africa on voluntary service, but beforehe left he helped form a Youth Council. The youngstersplanned their own crusade, bought an old minibus, convertedthe chapel lounge into a coffee bar, and formed a CommandoTeam to go round the villages. It seemed the best thing yet.But over in Malawi, Dave soon heard how it was all peteringout and the converts were going back to their old ways.Verna visited friends in Ireland, who reminded her of thepromise that Pastor Barnes had given them back in 1951. Apentecostal lady took her to one side. ‘Verna,’ she said, ‘you’rea lovely sister, but you need to receive the blessing.’ Vernalonged for this ‘blessing’ — whatever it was!By now, they had a great hunger for spiritual power. Therehad to be a breakthrough. So in the summer of 1968, Noelstarted a Saturday night prayer meeting in the manse. Abouta dozen sought God and studied the Acts of the Apostles tosee if they could find the secret of the early church.All through that summer and autumn they searched theScriptures. In Luke 24:49 they read how Jesus had told hisdisciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were ‘clothed withpower from on high’. They saw how transformed those discipleswere after Pentecost when they were ‘baptised with theHoly Spirit’ (Acts 1:5) and spoke ‘in other tongues’ (Acts 2:4).They saw the radiance, the impact and the power of thoseearly Christians. This was what they needed.Noel began to cry to God and search his heart:31