As a teen in senior high school, I began to associate with other teen-agers who had a faith that I
didn’t have. I was attending large scale, city wide, “Youth For Christ” rallies. As the films and
the talks began to make more sense to me, so I came to see that many of the other teens had
something about them that I wanted in my own life. This was part of my decision to make Christ
a central part of my life.

About ten years later, I had a couple of brief encounters with one of the earliest Charismatic
priests in Anglican Church in Canada. His teaching on the Holy Spirit and his mission weekend
in Northern Quebec made me more conscious of the work and place of the Holy Spirit in the
Christian Church and in my own spiritual life.

A couple of years later, one of the central figures of Charismatic movement in the Diocese of
Toronto came to Huron College to speak to us about the work and person of the Holy Spirit and
Charismatic movement in the Anglican Church. The Charismatic movement is a revival of an
emphasis on the work, power, and person of the Holy Spirit that was an important influence in
many denominations through the 1960’s to the 1990’s and still has influence today in
empowering Christians and encouraging Bible study and prayer. In the late 1970’s, when
Norma and I were in the Yukon, we received tremendous support for a Charismatic parish in this
Diocese. We learnt so much about Christian community and about the deep living in the power
and presence of the Holy Spirit.

Last week we celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles in a dramatic and
powerful way. This week we celebrate the Trinity, an understanding of God in three persons,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in the unity of one God. This is a concept that is difficult to
describe or define; but it is a concept that comes out of our experiences, both individual and
corporate, both present and historical, both internal, in our inner beings, our consciousness, our
hearts, mind, and souls, and in the external world.

God is active, at work, touching, inspiring, and empowering our world, our leaders, and each of
us as Christians.

I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe in a God who is still at work in the world. I believe that
God makes a difference in our society and community. And I value being part of a community
that focuses on Jesus Christ … and that has that something extra. I want that something extra!