to be upset that our new neighbours have turned out to belong to the Jesus People cult?

[newyearnightmare]

Does anybody know anything about the Jesus people (think they are also known as the Jesus Army)?

Having been happily settled for the last couple of years in a nice home that is perfect for our needs, we discovered to our horror the other day that our new neighbours are mini-bus driving members of the Jesus People. Aforementioned minibus is often parked across our drive (albeit part of the communal access area, making access difficult not just for us but others too) and very visible. Plus they always seem to have lots of other visitors/cars blocking up the drive and parking dangerously on the road.

We're not planning on moving in the near future, but this is making us reconsider - I don't like the thought of bringing up dc next door to a cult. But then, I know that we probably wouldn't have moved here if they were here before we were - and that it will have knocked a chunk off the value of the property and make a sale more difficult. And even I can recognise that it is going to be pretty difficult to ask them to compensate us for loss of value to the property should we move.

Sorry this is more of a rant than a real question - I guess AIBU to be worried about these new neighbours? One of the things they seem to believe in is taking 'social undesirables' (convicts, drug addicts etc) in to their homes to 'rehabilitate' (convert...) them - very NIMBY of me I know, but not really the people that I want as neighbours, especially with young dc and one of the reasons we moved here.

I don't really know much about the JP other than growning up near the village where it started - where it was definitely seen as a cult that had a bad effect on the village and was very strange and had a very twisted take on christianity. Looking on the internet now, it seems to have turned into a fairly big organisation so they have maybe gone a little more mainstream but AIBU to be so wary of them?

Whilst we haven't had much to do with these new neighbours, we did get a christmas present from them - one of those very dodgy conversion type booklets that skews things. Which both of us found fairly insulting - and made dh pretty angry - he has been pondering what to get for them in return - current favourites are the Richard Dawkins book 'The God Delusion' or a booklet on escaping from cults (if we can find one!) .

Sorry if these seems like a bit of a rant. Just not really sure what to do or feel as our dream house seems to be turning into a nightmare with nothing we can do about it. But if anyone has any suggestions - they would be very gratefully received!

And just to clarify - it's specifically the Jesus Army/Jesus People cult that I am worried about - not Christians/Christianity in general!

Shine Jesus Shine is Graham Kendrick. Somewhat cheesy songwriter who wrote most of his famous stuff in the eighties, when Christian music started to morph alarmingly into insipid imitations of pop songs.

Jesus, Lover of my Soul is the title of a number of hymns and songs, one by Wesley, and the others much more suitable to the overhead projector.

Althoug, Kaishay, overhead projectors are so last century. Powerpoint projectors are where it's at now, apparently.

Says me with my hymnbook, ta very much.

Off topic, but my Catholic friend who is originally from the Philippines told me a story recently about when she went to Oklahoma on an 'American Tour'. She found a church and went to the Sunday service - it was quite Happy Clappy by the sound of it. When they all shook hands and wished each other peace at the end of the service, one lady turned to my friend and said "Hi honey, and which tribe do you come from" [

For once my friend was godsmacked!

hymnbook? Would that be Songs of Fellowship, SueBaroo?

Yes, its the Hendricks tune, but they sing it a lot more upbeat, his version isn't quite so bad, i could listen to it.. but the way the churches perform it here is just.. well.. its bad.

pmsl @ Songs of fellowship, geekymummy. That's for those progressive types who sing choruses.

Actually, no, it's a nice solid green hardback 'Grace Hymns'. And sometimes we sing acapella because there's no-one about who can play the piano. I'm right old-fashioned, me.

Could have said 'Hymns Ancient and Even more Ancient', but I'm not an Anglican.

The Jesus Love of my soul i'm talking about it one that goes

Jesus, Lover of my soul
Jesus, i will never let you go
You've taken me
From the mirey clay
Set my feet upon the rock
and now i know

I love you
I need you
Though my world may fall
I'll never let you go
My Saviour
My friend
I will be with you until the very end.

Thats all i can remember of it, but the tune.. ack.. its just.. sickly, gluey and yucky. Yet it is burned on my brain for ever!

I'll stick to my English Hymnal with Bread of Heaven, Jerusalem and Abide with me in it tyvm... Eesh.. i might not be a christian anymore, but i'll take the fuddy-duddy old fashioned music over the americanised happy-clappy any day!

I feel i should point out, i'm not anti-modern christian music, lol. I'm actually a big fan of the Christian rock band Delirious? and LURVE their King of Fools album.. some gorgeous, thought provoking music on that.

I'm just a stickler for tradition where hymns are concerned.. i blame my choir master who raised me on cathedral music.

So you guys won't be able to offer me any sympathy then? DS2 is 4 and I can't take him to church with me at the moment, as one good old blast on the church organ sends him completely hyper! I'd love them to bring in guitars and tambourines. But as it is, his eyes light up, he breathes in deeply, seems to grow a couple of inches, and then just launches into a wild, arm waving type dance, singing organy type sounds, v. loudly . He quivers throughout the prayers waiting for his next fix, and doesn't calm down until the second we walk out into the fresh air, when he relaxes and becomes his normal bouncy happy 4 yo little person.

Golly, King of Fools, that takes me back. I can start humming 'Deeper' now, which isn't annoying at all.

That version of Jesus, lover of my soul is a Hillsongs one, I think. And yes, it's a grim 'Jesus is my boyfriend' type song, which I am not a fan of.

erm, apologies for hijacking your thread newyearnightmare, with what appears to be a fundie and a pagan discussing Christian music. Surreal.

Well (and I say this as a hardline atheist) they're entitled to hold their numbnuts beliefs and to practice them in their house AS LONG AS their practising doesn't involve disturbing or inconveniencing the neighbours. Same as with any other hobby, really. So you can ask them nicely to move their van and be considerate about where their visitors park, and you can ask them nicely to keep the happy clapping and singing down if it is disturbing you. WOuldn't take any notice of gack through the door, just recycle. If you feel mischevious you could perhaps display the odd symbol or token of very non-christian faiths in your windows, just to see how prepared they are to be nice neighbours as opposed to pushy nuisance ones. Best of luck with them though.

they are probably ideal neighbours actually - unlikely/unwilling to complain about petty things, probably not too many raucous parties involving teenagers jumping out of top floor windows onto motorbikes below, they won't be sweary or obnoxious but will wear beatific smiles at all times, they won't expect to convert you because 'a prophet is without honour in his own town', they might do amusing baptisms of grown ups in their swimming pool which you can spy on from next door

would not mind in the least

Am confused Kaishay. Are you newyearnightmare - and pagan.
I checked out Witch's voice, but don't know the hymn "The fluffy bunny must go" I feel I'm missing out here. Can you hum it, or best chanted?

anyway, yes, YABU

and from sounds of it, is extremely likely you will always have nicer cars than them too

No marchbirthday. I'm not Newyearnightmare.

I am however a pagan, a Hedge Witch to be specific. I'm ex anglican and a "Royal School of Church Music" affiliate who was Head Choristor of her choir for 7 years. (i actually got a Chorister award from the Bishop of Lichfield.. go me, lol)

I also have a Methodist BFF who is a self confessed 'jesus freak'

SueBaroo.. i actually went to a concert at Wembly Stadium ooh... 8-10 years ago now when that album had just been released and saw them on Stage.

"This is another Graham Kendrick song
Graham Kendrick songs go on and on and on
.....'
v2
" First you sing it slow and then you spe-ed it up..."

(to the hideous chorus that is "Jesus turned our sorrow into da-an-cing")

Sue - dh's fellowship has a green book with all the Wesley hymns in full - some of them have about 20 verses!

And back to the OP - JP/JA - a bit freaky to be sure, but I think it could be a lot worse.

Keep a parking log of the worst dangerous parking and be aware of your access rights from the council.

Delirious....shudder - they really thoguht they were U2 didn't they? They're not still around are they???

Delirious are around still, yes - ginormously popular in the US.

Kaishay, I saw 'em at Wembley - Martin Smith jumping onstage with an England shirt with 'smiff' written on the back.

Whenachildisbob - that Kendrick chorus has me crying, will show to Dh later.

They are, but i don't think they'll ever get the popularity King of Fools got them.

They released a new album last year i think.. i went looking for them as a friend asked me to recommend some christian bands for their kids.

They're not really going for the mainstream market anymore, though, like they were with King of Fools. Very much more Christian market aimed.

I worked with a white witch - who often behaved in a more Christian manner than some of the Church folk, but also have a very good friend who is the most amazing person and big Jesus lover. She has supported so many people though so many problems and has the most positive outlook on life. Only her family stop her from turning her home into a God zone, just as well, as burn out would be the result. oh and I've sung most of the happy clappy songs whilst helping with Sunday creche/toddlers. The most moving rendition of Happy Birthday Jesus I ever heard was a group of under 8s, many out of tune. IMO beats Necrocraft by Dead can't Dance anyday... but Alice Cooper still rocks... at least we're not mediocre or bothered with trivialities... how is the beetroot turned my pee red - label the veg debate going?

I would be very upset - our new neighbours belong to the same cult as us - vino cult!

isn't Alice Cooper a Christian?

suebaroo - I miss the A&M!!

I've kind of come full circle - found old school hymns so boring... became an agnostic, then a pentecostal, now am a birrova Reformed fundy too . Am tired of the spiritually low fat choruses and now love the old hymns - with or without instruments, lol! And throw in some Christian hip hop for some good measure...

Alice Cooper is indeed a Christian - became one in the 1980s.