5. Come Holy Spirit (j) (8:51)
After “The Lord Is My Tower” album was recorded in 1994 (but months before it’s release, before any post-production work had been done on it), I felt the time was soon coming when God would release me from Pastoral ministry. I had been a full-time pastor for almost seven years, and I knew it was time to begin fulfilling my calling as an itinerant worship leader, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. I had placed this calling upon the shelf (so to speak) in 1988, in order to gain training as a Pastor. In the Lord’s sovereign wisdom he kept me in “Pastors’ School” for seven years. Now, however, the winds of change were beginning to blow upon me.
I asked my church for a one-year sabbatical from office duties, so that I could finish post-production on “The Lord is My Tower” album, and to personally reflect upon my life and ministry, and determine how to move from “the pastoral” chapter of my life, on to the next (big unknown!) chapter that was yet to come.
During this period of personal reflection in my life, in the summer of 1995 I attended the International Worship Institute in Dallas Texas (led by LaMar Boschman). There I first heard the song "Come Holy Spirit" (written by Mal Fletcher), and it immediately caught my heart and spirit. I introduced it to our congregation in Toronto, and it became a theme of our church that year.
God was really moving by His Holy Spirit in our services, and we began to experience waves of His presence in service after service. Sensing that God was about to do something powerful, I rented a 16-track reel-to-reel tape recorder and recorded one of our Sunday night summer services (in the Woodbridge High School Gymnasium) on August 27, 1995—and the touch of God was really upon that evening service! The joy was contagious, the progression and flow of worship was extraordinary, the presence of God was experienced very powerfully. Halfway through the service, almost the entire congregation came to the front to worship and wait upon the Lord, at one point singing in tongues for over 7 minutes, and He literally flooded us with waves of His presence and glory!
After six months of overdubs, post-production and final mastering, it was pre-released as Come Holy Spirit—Live Worship with Crossroads Cathedral at the PAOC Western District Convention in Niagara Falls (where I had released The Lord is My Tower one year earlier). A few months later I added another song "Lord I'm Hungry For Your Presence" to solidify the album's theme of being cleansed and filled with the Holy Spirit, watching and waiting for our Lord's return, and then released the official version of Come Holy Spirit — Live Worship Volume II distributed through Christian bookstores across Canada and later into the USA.
God had big plans for both of these albums! They became gold records in the Philippines, distributed and loved throughout India, Singapore, Trinidad, and many other countries, with cassettes and CD's taken into the Middle East, Europe, and around the world. (Note added in 2022: In the internet age, they continue to get millions of streams on the internet, with some Youtube videos receiving over 7 million views. God has written these albums and songs into the hearts and spirits of people everywhere. It's truly amazing that God caused these two little worship services to ultimately bring His presence to the nations, and touch millions of people around the world!
I dedicate this album "Come Holy Spirit" with much love, thanks, and appreciation to the Pastors and congregation of Crossroads Cathedral in Woodbridge, Toronto, Canada: To Pastors Doug Lynn, Gary Bennett, and Clark Canning, who poured themselves out relentlessly as servants, and who I will always love and respect; and to the incredible loving and faithful congregation of Crossroads Cathedral, who to this day I still consider to be my "true" church family. The memories of our times together in God’s presence are forever imprinted in all our hearts, minds, and spirits. We continue to believe that the glory of the coming days, will be even greater than the glory we all experienced in the former! I love you all dearly!
I dedicate this album also to my eight-year-old son Stephen, who is 8 years old as I write this dedication. He is cuddled up beside me in a van as we travel the back roads of the Philippines together late at night. For some time now he’s been quietly watching me type the text for the inside of this album insert on my notebook computer. Just a moment ago he suddenly broke the silence and said, “Dad, my favorite song of all is Come Holy Spirit." — Wow! My father’s heart leaps with joy and pride! And I’m thrilled to write this dedication to him now:
Stephen, you’re only eight years old, but you’re a prophet of the Lord (and I think you know it, don’t you!) You are such a mature little man, and so extremely bright, and I am so, so proud of you! Do you remember, from the time you were very little, how every night your mom and I would put on the tape “Come Holy Spirit” and you’d fall asleep to the soothing music? Remember how I used to quietly sing to you, “Come Holy Spirit, fall afresh on Steve”? Well, my dear son, God really has answered our prayers! Every day now we see how His Holy Spirit is upon you! We can’t ever describe in words how wonderful it has been to have you in our lives! And we can’t wait to see what more great things you are going to do for the Lord!!
Come Holy Spirit, fall afresh on me/Fill me with Your power, satisfy my needs/Only You can make me whole/Give me strength to make me grow/Come Holy Spirit, fall afresh on me.
By Mal Fletcher, ©1986, 1994 Maranatha! Music.