ABOUT DEREK PRINCE

Author, biblical scholar and spiritual patriarch Derek Prince died in his sleep September 24, 2003 at his home in Jerusalem of heart failure following a prolonged period of declining health. Prince wrote over 45 books, including Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting and The Spirit-filled Believer's Handbook—which have been translated and distributed worldwide in over 60 languages. He pioneered teaching on such groundbreaking themes as generational curses, the biblical significance of Israel and demonology.

Born in Bangalore, India, into a British military family, Derek was educated as a scholar of Greek and Latin at Eton College and Cambridge University, England, where he held a Fellowship in Ancient and Modern Philosophy at King’s College. As a student he was a philosopher and self-proclaimed atheist. He also studied Hebrew and Aramaic, both at Cambridge University and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In addition, he speaks a number of other modern languages. While in the British Medical Corps during World War II, Derek began to study the Bible as a philosophical work. Converted through a powerful encounter with Christ, he was baptized in the Holy Spirit a few days later. Out of this encounter he formed two conclusions: first, that Jesus Christ is alive; second, that the Bible is a true, relevant, up-to-date book. These conclusions altered the whole course of his life. Since then, he has devoted his life to studying and teaching the Bible. Discharged from the army in Jerusalem in 1945, he married Lydia Christensen, founder of a children’s home there. Upon their marriage, he immediately became father to Lydia's eight adopted daughters—six Jewish, one Palestinian Arab, one English. In the late 1950s the Princes adopted another daughter while he was serving as principal of a college in Kenya.In 1963 Derek and Lydia immigrated to the United States where he pastored a church in Seattle. Stirred by the tragedy of John F. Kennedy’s assassination, Derek began to teach Americans how to intercede for their nation. In 1973 he became one of the founders of Intercessors for America. His book Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting has awakened Christians around the world to their responsibility to pray for their government. Many consider underground translations of the book as instrumental in the fall of communist regimes in the USSR, East Germany and Czechoslovakia.In 1968 the Princes moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and in the early '70s Derek worked closely with other noted Bible teachers Don Basham, Erin Baxter, Bob Mumford and Charles Simpson. Lydia Prince died in 1975, and Derek married Ruth Baker (a single mother to three adopted children) in 1978. Ruth died in December 1998 in Jerusalem where they had lived since 1981.Derek's main gift is explaining the Bible and its teaching, in a clear and simple way. His non-denominational, non-sectarian approach has made his teaching equally relevant and helpful to people from all racial and religious backgrounds. Derek's organization, Derek Prince Ministries, distributes his work and teaches and trains missionaries, church leaders and congregations through 12 worldwide offices. His daily radio broadcast Derek Prince Legacy Radio (formerly Keys to Successful Living), reaches more than half the world and includes translations into Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Malagasy, Mongolian, Russian, Samoan, Spanish and Tongan. It is estimated that Derek Prince’s teaching of the Bible has covered more than half the globe. He is the author of over 40 books, over 450 audio and 150 video teaching cassettes, many of which have been translated and published in more than 60 languages.

Derek Prince taught and ministered on six continents over the course of seven decades. In 2002 he said, “It is my desire—and I believe the Lord’s desire—that this ministry continue the work God began through me over 60 years ago until Jesus returns.” He is survived by 11 children and an extended family of over 150 people. He was 88. The funeral was held in Jerusalem on Friday, September 26, 2003, with a memorial service held in Charlotte, North Carolina, Saturday November 1, 2003.

Lydia Prince l Ruth Prince

"We owe the Jewish people an enormous debt"

Derek reads scripture to Prime Minister Menachem Begin prior to a march in Jerusalem, 1985

Derek recording a radio programme with Ruth as his audience