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"The youth were expecting sunshine, sand, and relaxation on this two-week trip to southern Italy. As is often the case, God had other ideas in mind. Arriving at their destination after a nearly 30-hour bus ride, the group leaders went into the hostel chosen through an internet ad. Their hearts dropped as they realized that the condition of the rooms in no way reflected the picture that had been portrayed via the internet. Run down, dirty, covered with profane graffiti, broken beds and wardrobes...this was not what they were expecting. A bad mood set in from the start.
 Added to this was the fact that Michael, a young man who was heavily into the death metal music scene, brought an extremely negative influence that seemed to poison the whole atmosphere. We later found out that Michael had deliberately made a pact with Satan to sow spiritual confusion in the group. Fortunately, God spoke to Mark, the youth leader, during his times of prayer and revealed the source of the conflict. Thus began a spiritual battle that lasted for three days during which Michael became more and more open to the influence of the gospel. He allowed Mark and the leaders to pray with him for deliverance and was genuinely set free from demonic power during the course of the retreat. His demeanor, indeed his very appearance, changed dramatically. And after the retreat, Michael decided to attend a discipleship training school in Bavaria where he is getting some intensive mentoring from competent people. The work in his life is just beginning, but he is well under way to becoming a follower of Jesus Christ.
 While God was doing a work in Michael's life, he was also speaking to the rest of the youth about the realities of the spiritual world and about setting priorities for their own lives. Many of them gave testimony to the fact that they experienced a very deep work of God in their lives, even though the outward circumstances were not particularly ideal. The retreat was not 'easy' by any means, but it was good. In fact, it was very good!"
From Steve Pecota
AGWM Personnel in Germany
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