Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS THE LORD TOOK HOLD OF BUGBROOKEIt was hardly the day of Pentecost! Yet that Sunday morningwas different. The deacons had already agreed to introduce‘free ministry’ during the communion service, but noone had dared break the ice. Then John Thom, the charismaticgraduate, spoke out in tongues — loudly. Traditionalhearts froze. The tongue was interpreted and another brotherprophesied. For some, that was it. ‘If we’d wanted apentecostal church,’ said one man, ‘we would have gone toone.’ But the Holy Spirit could not be stopped. Now was thetime to lose the ‘wood, hay or straw’ (1 Cor 3:12) of traditionalismand build according to the New Testament. The chapeldoors must be flung open to allow the wind of the Spirit toblow right through!The spring of 1971 saw an influx of young people. Lunch andtea were provided on Sundays, and Kelly and Dave led anafternoon gathering called TTMTT. In this Teens and TwentiesMusic and Testimony Time there were real breakthroughsin sharing, testifying and experimenting with gifts and ministries.Many more were around on Easter Monday when fivepeople were baptised amid loud rejoicing and tears. On Sundayevenings the sound of tambourines carried into the nightair. Sometimes there would be singing in the Spirit, the melodiesweaving together in harmony. ‘When they sing in thesetongues, it’s so beautiful,’ one lady told her friends, ‘you thinkyou’re in heaven.’Some of the older members of the chapel were now catchingup and entering into blessing. One elderly lady saw a visionof Jesus, with a beautiful glow around his face. She founda deep peace and entered into the worship. But not all the52