"We have activities in all three of these areas: ultimately our vision is to have a fully- fledged Jesus Army household in each area. At the moment we have an active cell group in each area; we get together on Sundays at our Jesus Army Centre which is slap-bang in the middle of Manchester."

The Manchester Jesus Army Centre is actually the old Ragged School Mission, a characterful (and slightly ragged!) venue, just round the corner from the city’s main drag. The building is owned by a trust of which Chris is a member. The Jesus Army rent parts of it, sharing with various other organisations – including a little Christian school – though the lion’s share of the building’s use is Jesus Army. The main hall and an office are available to the Jesus Army all week, the secondary hall and kitchen, all weekend. ‘Curby’ and his wife and baby daughter live in the adjoining house and an mJa brother (another Chris as it happens) lives in the flat at the front of the building.

“Sundays, in particular, are packed with action,” says Chris. “We have our morning meeting – which usually has visitors – and then we all have lunch together: sometimes up to 90 people. Our clothing store is open in the afternoon and evangelists go out into town. In the evening, we have a fellowship meal with testimonies and the gospel.

“Last Sunday morning, we prayed for a brother’s mother who was very ill in hospital in Pakistan. When the family rang him in the evening, they were praising God: the mother had received complete healing.”