One of my most respected bible teacher. 
___________________________________________
Reprinted with permission from Charisma &
Christian Life, [November, 2003].
Copyright Strang Communications Co., USA. All rights reserved.
www.charismamag.com
Derek Prince, Charismatic Author And Bible Teacher, Dies in
Jerusalem
The former atheist, educated as a scholar, was a forerunner of
modem teaching on prayer and the biblical restoration of
Israel
By Eric Tiansay and Adrienne S.
Gaines
Internationally known author and charismatic Bible teacher Derek
Prince died of heart failure Sept. 24. He was 88. Prince had
suffered from a series of chronic illnesses in the last several
years and died in his sleep at his Jerusalem home, a statement from
Derek Prince Ministries said.
Prince, who had lived in Israel off and on since the 1940 s , had a
teaching and healing ministry that spanned some six decades. His
daily radio program, Today With Derek Prince, currently reaches
more than half the world and includes broadcasts in Arabic,
Chinese, Croatian, Malagasy, Mongolian, Russian, Samoan, Spanish
and Tongan.
A controversial though popular Bible teacher known for his logical
and reserved teaching style, Prince wrote more than 45 books about
the Holy Spirit, faith, marriage, deliverance ministry, healing,
prayer and fasting, and God's destiny for Israel. His The
Spirit-Filled Believer's Handbook has been translated into more
than 60 languages.
"I really believe he is going to be remembered as one of the
leading teachers in the charismatic renewal, and one who helped
save the charismatic renewal from extremes," said author Stephen
Mansfield, who is writing a biography about Prince and was with him
days before he died. "He always tried to ensure that his teaching
was solidly biblical."
But Prince did not set out to be in ministry. As a university
student he was a philosopher and self-described atheist.
Born in India of British parents, he was educated in England as a
scholar of Greek and Latin at Eton College prep school and at the
University of Cambridge. He held a fellowship in ancient and modern
philosophy at King's College, Cambridge. While serving with the
British army in World War II, he began to study the Bible and
became a Christian.
After being discharged from the army in Jerusalem at the end of the
war, Prince witnessed the return of Jews to Israel from around the
world and interpreted it as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy.
Israel's restoration became a main focus of his teaching. His books
Our Debt to Israel, The Last Word on the Middle East and The
Destiny of Israel and the Church have informed Christians of their
scriptural responsibilities to Israel and the Jews.
"He was an example ... for many believers throughout the world,"
said Batya Segal, who with her husband, Barry, leads Vision for
Israel ministry. "He had a tremendous passion for the Word of God,
for the land and people of Israel."
In 1945 Prince married Lydia Christensen, a Danish missionary more
than 26 years his senior. He became father to her eight adopted
daughterssix Jewish, one Palestinian Arab and one Britishand the
couple later adopted another daughter in Kenya.
The Princes immigrated to the United States in 1963 and pastored a
church in Seattle. In the early 1970s Prince began to teach about
the need for Christians to pray for national leaders, and helped
found Intercessors for America (IFA) in 1973. Prince's book Shaping
History Through Prayer and Fasting is still one of the IFA's best
sellers, said President Gary Bergel.
"Many people don't know how much influence he had on the prayer
movement," Bergel said. "That initial teaching really set the
course of our ministry."
Though well-known for his teaching on deliverance ministry, Prince
is also remembered for his participation in the controversial
discipleship, or "shepherding," movement in the 1970s. As reports
of control and manipulation began to circulate, Prince eventually
withdrew from the movement he began with Don Basham, Ern Baxter,
Bob Mumford and Charles Simpson. He publicly repented for his
involvement, saying, "I believe we were guilty of the Galatian
error: having begun in the Spirit, we quickly degenerated into the
flesh," WorldNet Daily reported.
Pentecostal historian Vinson Synan said that although Prince never
regained the level of popularity he had before 1977, he had
widespread influence in the charismatic renewal and his
"well-organized teaching" filled a void for many
charismatics.
Prince's first wife, Lydia, died in 1975, and in 1978 he married
Ruth Baker, a single mother to three adopted children. She died in
1998 in Jerusalem, where the couple moved in 1981.
Prince is survived by 11 children and an extended family of more
than 150.
