My name is Michael Champagne, Grand Junction, Colorado. At age 8 I started becoming fascinated with the supernatural power behind witchcraft and wizardry. Later, still as a boy, I found I seemed to have powers others did not possess. I became an effective palm reader and used the Ouija board to communicate with the unseen world. I was kind of an outcast growing up and I found that these powers gave me recognition and degrees of popularity. At the age of 16, I was chosen to be head wizard or (high priest) of a congregation of 30 "want to be" witches, warlocks or wizards. The group was part of a much larger church called "The Church of Diane Wiccian." At this point in my life, I felt I had achieved my dreams, as I possessed many powers. I could read peoples' minds and would astonish them by telling them what they were thinking. More importantly, I could control people in order to get what I wanted - money, power, fame, anything. I did this by projecting certain thoughts into their mind. I could also cause people to have certain dreams. As I continually grew in the power as a wizard, I found through chants and incantations, I could summon "occult spirits" from the underworld and send them to control and even "enter into" certain people. The taking of drugs, even marijuana, played an important role in our ceremonies. Drugs always created an "altered state of consciousness" and helped open a window in our minds. This allowed demon spirits to pass freely into us. As I received more and more wizard powers, I found something astonishing beginning to happen to me. With every new power I received, something was taken from me. My own nature and personality began to greatly change. I wasn't in control of my own thoughts anymore. Someone was "in control of me." The demon powers I was led to believe I controlled, I now found more and more begin to control me.

My life took a drastic change when something happened that I'll never forget. My followers and I were at a place that was well known by the occultists as the "Witches Graveyard." This site was located deep in a hidden wooded area outside of Atlanta, GA and the time was about midnight. As usual, we created what is called the circle of protection. This is made up of lit candles. I told my followers not to dare step outside this circle after we had started our ritual. We started our chant to call up demon spirits from the underworld. After about 30 minutes, I became very aware that many spirits were beginning to manifest in our presence. For some reason I can't explain, a young girl and a guy (ages 17 and 19) stepped out of the circle of protection. To our horror, we saw black flames consume both of them. I'll never forget the horrifying screams for help as they were tortured by demonic powers. They were both left horribly and critically injured. At this point, I realized my life was a real mess. I became more and more suicidal as the spirits began to attack my mind. I once thought wizardry, wiccian, and white magic was harmless, that would help people. Now I realize that it was all rooted in satan and demonic powers that wanted to own, control and kill me & others.

My life took another radical turn. It was one night at the Santa Monica Promenade in LA when a team from Hope For Homeless Youth (HFHY) began to share God's love with me. I went home with them and spent a few nights with them in their homeless shelter. After a few days at the center, I felt deeply moved to read God's word, the Bible. AS I READ GOD'S HOLY WORD, I EXPERIENCED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, AN UNDESCRIBABLE PEACE. I felt a deep conviction of what I now know to be the Holy Spirit to burn my Tarot cards; and I did so. As we burned them we were all astonished to hear an eerie hissing sound resonate from them. I renounced the devil right there and we all felt the presence of God's angels surrounding us.

Another time, I overheard some guys talking about being filled and empowered by God's Holy Spirit. I wanted this experience! A short time later some we were in a prayer circle. I felt the Holy Spirit come upon me mightily. It was the greatest feeling of love, peace and empowerment that I had ever experienced in my entire life. I felt the person of the Holy Spirit consume my being, and I began to speak in a language that I did not know. I know now that that language is called the "tongues of angels" as in I Cor. 13 & 14, and Acts 2 in the Bible.

I am now a graduate of Hope For Homeless Youth discipleship program. I've truly found that there is no greater experience in life than a love relationship with Jesus Christ and learning to hear His voice. He is my Lord & Savior. In conclusion, the power that is portrayed in the movie Harry Potter is both real and dangerous. I strongly advise all youth to stay away from all seances, Ouija boards, palm readers and any occult practices (Deut. 18:9-14). More importantly, I would encourage you to open your heart to a love relationship that the true God of the Bible has for you, Jesus Christ.

Michael Champagne