Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS THE LORD TOOK HOLD OF BUGBROOKESunday evenings now began to change and baptismal services,especially, brought new freedom. Handclapping andraised arms began to appear. Up in the organ, Verna’s fingersmoved nimbly over the keyboard as the songs livenedup.In the summer vacation Peter ‘Matt’ came round again withhis tambourine and found the chapel a strange mixture. Charismaticchoruses were accompanied by a huge pipe organand sung from old wooden pews with doors on the end, whilethe mixed bag of believers was led from the pulpit by an increasinglyliberated Baptist minister. At one Sunday eveningbaptismal service they didn’t wait for the preacher or theorganist! The singing started spontaneously; someone spokein tongues and it was followed by an interpretation of exuberantpraise. As if that wasn’t enough, the service was followedby a discreet exorcism! And that was the end of traditionalformality on a Sunday evening.Minister and deacons now began to review the Constitution,which had its limitations when looked at in the light of arenewed understanding of Scripture. One deficiency concerned‘body ministry’. In the early Church everyone was adisciple, all had spiritual gifts, and all were involved in worshipand ministry. They saw this, and were keen to encourageministry from within the church. Moreover Noel wanted torecognise fellow elders and the Constitution didn’t allow forthat. The matter was taken to a Special Church Meeting andthey agreed to ‘revoke the rules temporarily — to allow theLord to guide us in the formulating of new ones’.47