Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTSAWAKE O ZION!Tears of laughter were streaming down Paddy’s face.Victor smiled at Sheila. He remembered his longing for communityafter he’d first been baptised in the Spirit. Now Godwas restoring that vision. All sense of isolation melted awayas he moved on into worship.A lad in the next seat started to groan. ‘I think he needshealing for his stomach,’ thought Victor, as the groans increased.Suddenly there was a blood-curdling scream. Twobrothers pounced in and nearly knocked Victor off his chair.The demon vacated the scene and the worship continued.Sheila gripped Victor’s hand. This was different from SundaySchool in Taunton.At Malhamdale we considered how to work the vision out.Many who lived outside Bugbrooke considered moving in tobe where the action was. There were schemes for bulk buying,for a second-hand clothes store, and for sharing lists ofneeds and gifts. A ‘Love Community Fund’ was also to be setup. As we lived more cheaply, so money would be released tomeet needs and buy houses. Already there was a target of£50,000 for the Housing Association.Three types of community homes were envisaged. JesusFamily Homes would be simple extended families. Jesus WelcomeHomes were to be larger frontline houses for evangelism.Jesus Central Homes in the Bugbrooke area would be atthe heart of things to train Christians within community.Underlying the practical plans was the grand theme of therestoration of God’s house. We had a song based on the NewTestament: ‘We are being built into a temple’. But it wouldn’tbe easy, as I’d already found. God was not constructing a theo-97