Canadian Winds of the Spirit: Holiness, Pentecostal and Charismatic Currents

"The leitmotif running throughout this book is the interaction of two specific religious movements--between the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada and the Charismatic Renewal, but many other facets grip attention. Looking at formative influences, Butler discusses Methodism and the Holiness movements in Canada with reference to Ralph C. Horner and Phoebe Palmer among others. Focus is given to both movements in French-speaking Quebec. To help understand the interaction, the innovative ministry of David Mainse on national television is recounted and assessed thoroughly, and Merve and Merla Watson’s “The Catacombs” is highlighted. This was a ministry in the 1970s primarily to young people, “hippies” as well as church kids, with up to 2500 attending Thursday night after Thursday night and meeting in the largest Anglican church in Toronto. How did these Pentecostals and “Charismatics” get along? The relationship oscillated between encouragement and suspicion. As Butler proceeds it becomes obvious that influence flowed both ways, but the current seems to have been
stronger from the charismatics to the PAOC than the other way around. How positive this has been is open to interpretation. Butler’s treatment is engaging, accurate, and bold."