I grew up in an evangelical Baptist church in Toronto.  My parents encouraged me to attend but did not go themselves.  When I was in my later teens I developed a thirst for more experience of God, more fellowship with Him.  I had  several encounters with Him but wanted more.  A number of us in the youth group were longing for the same thing.

A. W. Tozer was at Avenue Road Church during this time.  We read The Root of the Righteous and The Missing Gifts and others of his writings.  Sometimes I would skip the evening service in our church and dash up to Avenue Road to hear him.   One night he spoke on the dry bones of Ezekiel.  It had such an impact on me that I felt dazed as I headed home filled with amazement and a longing for God’s presence.

Eventually the youth  group leadership team asked our pastor if we could invite Dr. Tozer to speak to the youth.  His response was “I don’t want any of those  second blessing boys in my church.”  That was my introduction to the contentious questions about the work and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

I don’t think any of us were really put off by pastor’s response.  We admired him and enjoyed his teaching.  The church was growing and people were coming to believe in the Lord Jesus.  But we continued to  be hungry for more.  As I shared this desire for more experience of God some people became quite agitated being persuaded that it is a fools errand such as I encountered around this time when I was working on construction in Edmonton.  One of the older workers told me they needed a rubber hammer and would I get one from the supply shack.  The supply manager rolled his eyes and sent me back empty handed but wiser.  However, I have never gotten past the feeling and persuasion that there is a soul-satisfying experience of God that comes through faith in Jesus and an experiential relationship with the Holy Spirit.