Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTSNEW GENERATIONment failed. Ian balanced their zeal with wisdom and by Augustthe Preston group, which included three families, was ingood fettle and recognised as a new church household.Mick ‘Temperate’ shared lan’s vision. His Birminghambasedteam had established a group in Manchester and wasnow working on a small church in Stockport. At Tyneside too,in the north-east, Pete ‘Just’s’ ‘baby’ was showing some promise.These groups were all led by northern ‘natives’.Each new work would develop its own flavour. Central Officecould give strong input with resources, directives andleadership days, but the pressing need was for holy sowers;brothers with apostolic vision. Given that, new fires of communitywould spring up elsewhere. The UK might yet see amultiplied repeat of the ‘Bugbrooke Miracle’.Church plants had their own special genius. Whilst thebrothers up north were seeking to plant small churches inmany towns, the Shepton team in the rural west was drawingChristians into community. On the south coast our huge newhouse in Seaford, near Brighton, was led by a young couplewho’d never been to Ashburnham or lived through our ‘goldendays’. But with the help of three Farm ‘missionaries’ the AbundantGrace enthusiasts were gathering a very Farm-lookingbunch.In London Steve had his head down building up his Actonbase which was becoming very multiracial. In cosmopolitanLondon, at least, we saw the rainbow church take shape withmany nationalities represented in the congregation. JesusArmy, London, with its kingdom aggression and Holy Spiritintoxication, was also a hit with many black churches.382