NORTHAMPTON, UK (ANS) -- As Britain basked in glorious sunshine for what was one of the hottest weekends of the year, more than 2000 people were celebrating recently something other than the weather as they gathered at the Jesus Centre in Northampton to see the thanksgiving funeral for Jesus Army leader and founder Noel Stanton.

Noel Stanton

Noel Stanton died on May 21, 2009 at the age of 82 and had been suffering from an undisclosed illness for some months.

He had handed the leadership of the organisation over to successor Mick Haines earlier this year because of his declining health.

Screens were set up around the centre displaying the celebrations, tributes and readings as the number of people attending was too large for the 2000-strong auditorium to hold.

As those gathered sang the nine songs chosen by their leader before his passing, they clapped their hands, worshipped, prayed and sang loudly in a thanksgiving celebration quite like no other. Mick Haines, full of passion for the movement and an obvious choice to lead the Army forward, led the ceremony and spoke with conviction, inspiring and encouraging us to look forward. He said, "Noel would want this to be a joyful occasion of celebration, so it's a praising atmosphere.

"This is a very significant day for the history of Northampton and the history of the Jesus Army."

He said Mr. Stanton was very keen to hold the thanksgiving service at the Jesus Centre so that anyone who wanted to come to the funeral could do so.

John Campbell, director of communications for the Jesus Army, said: "Noel's energy and devotion have been an inspiration to many over the years. He will be sadly missed, but he has left a legacy of faith and commitment that will carry on.

"What he would most want to be remembered for are the many who have been helped to find hope and stability through faith in Jesus and the activities of the Jesus Army - not least through the Jesus centres around the UK that were one of his final initiatives."

He also spoke about the book of remembrance, reading out some touching testimonies from members who had met Noel, to those who had never met him and yet whose lives had been touched by his work and dedication.

He said: "One of the things about it is the whole range of people, old people, young people, educated people, people who are not so well educated. Noel would want his legacy to be people, and all the things they have said."

Friends attend Noel's thanksgiving funeral serrvice

In 1986, there had been some negative reports from disillusioned members, the Army was branded a cult by those who feared what they did not know, and the Baptist Union expressed its concern regarding some already baptised members being re-baptised, even though this wasn't a requirement but a choice that some individuals freely made.

As a result of the negative publicity, the Fellowship left the Evangelical Alliance and the Baptist Union. But in 1999, after a decade of what many close to Noel felt was misinformation, and after strenuous and concerted efforts by Noel to dismiss the negative publicity, the Fellowship rejoined the Evangelical Alliance under their new name - the Modern Jesus Army (mJa).

Noel built bridges with fellow Christian leaders and the Fellowship went on to gain widespread acceptance and commendation for its work through its Jesus Centres of which there are now three, including a new centre in the heart of London and another due to open shortly in Sheffield. The Jesus Centres, provided through funding from the Jesus Army's charitable trust, Heartcry, support former prisoners by giving them work and stability, re-house the homeless, help new arrivals to speak and read English, support those involved in drug or alcohol abuse, as well as holding events and providing food and support to the needy.

There were many moving testimonies from people who had known Noel or lived with him on the farm. One such testimony was from a young man who grew up without a father figure in his life. He spoke eloquently and with passion about how Noel's love and support in difficult times had transformed his life. Another man spoke of the way in which Noel had always been faithful to him by picking him up and taking him to meetings (so many times that he had begun to recognise the headlights of his car), and accepting his many reverse charge calls. He hadn't known at the time, but Noel had made a promise to God that he would see him through.

A video showing footage of Noel baptising people and giving speeches throughout his career, including his final speech at the Jesus Centre before he stepped down earlier this year, was projected onto the screens, after which there was a lengthy standing ovation.

The ceremony was followed by a cavalcade of multicoloured Jesus Army buses, led with the hearse carrying the coffin, which travelled around Northampton town centre before heading to Bugbrooke, where they laid their leader's body to rest at the Jesus Army graveyard.

As crowds gathered around the final resting place, the final two songs were sung - the well known 'When I Survey The Wonderous Cross' and a New Creation Christian Community song entitled 'Closer Now' which resulted in much hand holding and many tears. It was an incredibly moving moment, to see so many grown men reduced to tears, not to mention the children and women kneeling at the graveside, throwing in their symbolic red crosses and supporting each other throughout.

As the funeral had been taking place, a young lad with brightly dyed hair had climbed up onto a nearby wall and had been balancing and beckoning people to watch him throughout the service, as he teetered along the wall. It would have been easy to dismiss him as a disrespectful lout, but one couldn't help thinking how Noel would have reacted. He would no doubt have seen this young lad as someone with potential and a great future. For one of the most endearing things to come out of the day was hearing the testimonies from people that prove Noel didn't give up on anyone.

Most poignantly, he was buried in exactly the same way as other members, taking his place beside those now departed. There was no special plot and no overly impressive monument. He departed this life in the same way as he lived it - humbly and with no more privileges than anyone else.  

Dee Pfeiffer is a Christian freelance writer and editor based in the Midlands. She specialises in supplying quality features to women's magazines as well as the national and provincial press. Armed with an honours degree in journalism and psychology, she is able to connect with people on a deeper level and write about people and their experiences with empathy and insight. Dee has been commissioned by numerous titles including Joy, Direction, Lifebite, and the Christian Herald, as well as many secular titles. She is also the Director of Celibrate.org, a not for profit organisation supporting and upholding lifelong celibates and those practicing chastity until marriage. Her e-mail address is: reachafeature@yahoo.co.uk