Let me tell you a story, a true story- one that will build your faith! Opening lines from the song Power of God (Deep Impact) recently released on The Force CD by the band PTB.

Some of you reading this were at the Boston Preteen camp in 1998; if you weren't, let me inspire you with how God worked powerfully to both protect and impact the hearts of all of us that were there!

Genesis teaches us that long before we were born, God made the world and the angels and some of those angels, following Satan, left the fold and became the Devil's army. Satan knew that the preteens were the next generation of God's Kingdom. His demons were lying in wait for the order from on high

Camp 1998, named "Deep Impact", later known also as the year of the microburst (technical term for small tornado), was the second year that my husband Ralph and I led the church-wide music ministry for the Preteens. The camp started with a bang when on that first rainy night Rich Fischer prayed intensely that God would show his power to deeply impact the hearts of the Preteens at Camp that summer. During his prayer thunder clapped and lightning crashed outside- as if to punctuate his plea.

The next day, as we rehearsed talent show acts in the lodge the sky grew an eery dark green color. Preteens began streaming into the lodge to find shelter before the storm hit. Some were crying already out of fear as the lodge shook and lightning crashed. As we watched out the window, Suddenly a huge tree just snapped in two and the top half sailed across a clearing to smash the entire top of MY VAN and then just bounce away!!!!!

Then Satan saw his chance! He would test these preteen's faith! He would strike God where it hurts- His beloved little children!! He captured some wind, spun it around and made a tornado in Maine on lake Winnipesauke!

The wind blew the lights went out and the demons rushed in

Trees wrenching from the ground and crashing on the cabins

Kids were crying, screams were heard. Satan was laughing

But in his pride he didn't look behind at the legion in white.

Power lines were down and with it went electricity and plumbing. Giant trees snapped like matchsticks, tossed across the paths and roads. Some children braved the wild elements and made it to the safety of the lodge, others were trapped in their cabins. One tree came smashing into the bathroom of a girls' cabin narrowly missing the Preteen who has just been there! All we could do was pray!

As roll was taken and more and more preteens were accounted for, we were astonished that there were no injuries amongst the Preteens at all! Who was protecting them?

The warriors of the heavenly host came in with glory and lightning

They grabbed the trees and tossed them aside from every preteen's way

With all the children safe inside- they turned their swords to the demons

The Angels stood triumphant spurred on by our prayers.

When the storm finally slowed down, the tornado was past; we gathered all the girls in the lodge and all the boys in the mess hall. Counselors braved the continuing wind and rain to rescue the sleeping bags from the cabins and we had two enormous pajama parties! The adults took shifts standing watch at the doors all night, escorting Preteens to the woods when needed. The brothers and sisters there to chaperone our kids worked together like a dream!

The next morning before we left, the owner of the camp took us on a small tour of the damage. WOW! Trees were EVERYWHERE! Uprooted, broken, huge trees. Some cabins were totally destroyed- most were damaged in some way.

A canoe was chucked like an unwanted toy to land in the top of a broken tree. Apparently it took 50 volunteer firemen from across the state all night to chain saw a path for our busses to get in and take us home!

And you know what's crazy? The microburst only hit our camp! It came across the lake- hit us, and then lifted back high in sky not to bother any other areas or towns! Was that just a freak of nature? I believe Satan was trying to damage our faith- but it backfired BIG TIME! Instead we saw the miraculous Power of God. We all got that Deep Impact Rich prayed for!

DEEP - Into our hearts

IMPACT- Into our souls

DEEP- Knowing the Lord

IMPACT- is in control

DEEP-  Never forget

IMPACT-  What he has done

DEEP-  Because of His Love

The battle is won through the POWER OF GOD!

To see a video of Julie peforming the song at preteen camp click play below...

Ralph Kinscheck is a songwriter/ keyboardist and audio engineer and producer.

Julie Kinscheck is a singer/songwriter/ guitarist and vocal coach. She also leads the music for the children's ministry and directs both adult and children???s church choirs.

Both are disciples in the NW Region of the Boston Church of Christ

Julie will be co-teaching a class on "Integrating Music Into Children's Ministry" at the

International Song Leaders' Conference later this month in Washington D.C.

For additional Videos from 2006 performances at Maine Preteen Camp, click links below...

http://66.116.195.110/The_Force/Bad_Day/

http://66.116.195.110/The_Force/Take_the_Wheel/