Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTSPeople are more open now, Roger, than we’ve ever seenthem. There’s a whole movement of people seeking God. Wewant to flow in with this, to be their friends — like Jesus.Roger: So, you’re forward-looking?Noel: Yes. Definitely!Roger: What steps are you taking to ensure the continuationof the vision when you are no longer here?Noel: Our governing body these days is a Senior Leadershipof around seventeen men of whom I’m the eldest. Mostof them are in their forties, so I don’t think there’s much difficultyin the vision continuing. We’ve grown together, livedtogether and worked out many things together over manyyears and the vision is well established in our hearts. At thesame time, we are continually training new leaders. We haveover 200 men in pastoral leadership and as many again insome stage of leadership training.Of course in the end one realises that God has got it all inhand anyway. I’m not a General Booth! I’ve not written downmy successor’s name. It will all be dealt with in the Spirit.Roger: What in particular do you think God is now sayingto the wider church through the Jesus Fellowship?Noel: I would suggest that God is pointing to the need for achurch that is welcoming to today’s ‘modern believers’ andseekers that includes people of all sorts of levels of commitment.It must have a clear identifiable core of truly regenerateddisciples of Christ Jesus, demonstrating the kingdom ofGod in a ‘new creation’ culture. We’ve found that Christiancommunity, in spite of its pressures and problems, is a foundationfor this.425