Showing posts with label David Selby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label David Selby. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

My life Amazing true love story of Derek Prince, his two wives and 12 daughters



YouTube full length video: 

Kings College in England

 
Lydia Christensen and eight orphan girls
- later Derek's wife and adopted daughters

Derek teaching the Word



Lydia Christensen Prince

Lydia Christensen Prince (1890-1975) was born in North Jutland, at the northern tip of Denmark, the youngest of four sisters in an affluent family. Her father was a successful builder who played an important role in developing their home town of Bronderslev. Lydia became a teacher in the state school system of Denmark and was a pioneer in the field of home economics.

By 1925, she had obtained a post as director of home economics in a large new school in the town of Korsor. While seeking more meaning for her life, she started reading the Bible and received a vision of Jesus Christ that led to her salvation and baptism in the Holy Spirit. After months of earnest prayer and waiting upon God, she became convinced that God was asking her to give up her position as a teacher and go to Jerusalem in the tumultuous days before Israel became a nation.

In October 1928, at the age of thirty-eight, she set out for Jerusalem with about $200 in traveler's checks, no mission or church to support her, and no idea of what she was to do when she arrived.

She soon established herself there, learned Arabic, and founded a children's home, becoming the cherished "mother" to dozens of Jewish and Arab orphans, mainly girls, eight of whom became her own children. She also began ministering the gospel to Arab women and later to the British soldiers who visited Jerusalem during their furloughs in World War II.

In the mid-1940s, she met and married Derek Prince, a philosophy and language scholar, who was serving in the British army and was stationed in Jerusalem. They ministered there together until the birth of the State of Israel in 1948 when they moved to England with their eight girls. The Princes served congregations, taught, and ministered while living in England, Africa (where they adopted their ninth daughter), Canada, and the United States.

After settling in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, they began traveling internationally as Derek preached and taught the Bible in many nations of the world. Throughout these years, Lydia took care of their family, worked tirelessly and faithfully alongside Derek in their ministry, and even returned to her home economics roots when they were in Africa, teaching home economics to the African women students.

Following a stroke and a two-year illness, Lydia Christensen Prince died in October 1975. Her passing was deeply mourned by her family and thousands of people worldwide from a wide variety of backgrounds whose lives she had touched in her nearly fifty years of enthusiastic, energetic, and compassionate ministry.

For more on Lydia, there is a movie production:


Friday, November 15, 2013

Derek Prince Memorial Service in Charlotte, NC at Forest Hills Church - Sept. 2003

Barry Segal, Vision for Israel, 
sharing his love for 
Derek Prince 
at the Memorial Service 
in Charlotte, NC 2003.



John Hagee sharing at Derek's Memorial Service

I was so blessed to have been on the Derek Prince Ministries staff when Derek passed on to glory in 2003. What a great man of God he was! 

I am very glad that Dick Leggat, Mark DeVito, John Rust, Terri Whitaker and many more are carrying on the ministry of Derek to the nations, from here in Charlotte, NC. And we also give thanks to the more than a dozen DPM offices in the world!

Steve Martin
Love For His People


Published on Nov 9, 2013
Derek Prince Memorial Service 2003
1915 - 2003
Charlotte, North Carolina

Friday, July 19, 2013

Derek Prince - Israel: Past, Present & Future (1/6) - How I became Involved with Israel (with Chinese subs)





Derek Prince - Israel: Past, Present & Future (1/6) - How I became Involved with Israel (with Chinese Subs) - Derek Prince Ministries videos: DP161, DP162, DP163

The name Israel occurs about 2,600 times in the Bible. In this comprehensive series, Derek Prince paints a clear picture of God's dealings with Israel — and instruction on how to pray for Israel.


Ruth Prince



TRIBUTE

A 'Prince'ly Legacy

By Cheryl Wilcox and Scott Ross
The 700 Club

CBN.com – It was 1941. The world was at war. In a British army barracks this Cambridge- educated philosopher had a life-changing encounter with God. He simply opened the Bible and read it. He came to the conclusion that Jesus was alive and the Bible was an up-to-date, relevant book. That conviction changed his life forever. His name was Derek Prince.

"I was so ignorant I didn't know you had to go to church to get saved. I mean, I didn't have any spiritual language at all," Derek notes.
Derek was a son of British privilege. Born in India, he was whisked away to boarding school and later Eton.
"I was reading my school reports just two days ago from Eton, I mean years back," says Derek, "and one of my teachers said, 'He had a rather sour outlook on life.'"
He furthered his education at Cambridge and later held a fellowship in ancient and modern philosophy. Then, while defending his majesty's England, he cracked open the Bible.
Derek Prince"I was a professional philosopher before I became a Christian, and philosophers all have problems in their minds," he explains. " I thought, I need something to protect my mind. Then I read in Ephesians 6 'the helmet of salvation,' and being logical by background and by character, I said, 'That's it! The answer for depression is hope.' So I said, 'I'm going to put on the helmet of salvation.' My unit was almost immediately sent out to the Middle East, and I spent the next three years in the desert of the Middle East.
So began the spiritual journey of internationally known Bible scholar Derek Prince.
"In my country people do not know what Coca-Cola is or who the president of the United States is, but they know Derek Prince," says one Siberian national.
On September 24, 2003, Derek died peacefully in his sleep and went home to be with the Father. At age 88, he’d spent nearly six decades in ministry. He had finished his race on the eve of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, or the Feast of Trumpets. His body was buried in Israel, his adopted homeland for more than 20 years. In his last interview with The 700 Club, Derek talked about his deep love for the Jewish people.
"Without the Jewish people, we'd have no patriarchs, no prophets, no apostles, no Bible, and no Savior. How much salvation would we have without that? So we all owe an infinite debt to the Jewish people," he says.
Earlier this month, Derek was memorialized in Charlotte, North Carolina, home of his North American ministry. Family, friends, and co-laborers in Christ celebrated his life and ministry to the nations.
"The name of Derek Prince became a synonym around the world for integrity and for courage, courage to speak on Bible topics that most preachers were afraid to think about, let alone teach," says John Hagee at Derek's memorial service.
"Friends, I am hear to tell you that the same Derek Prince that I lived with at home in Jerusalem was the same man you saw in the pulpit," Barry Segal told the congregation at Derek's memorial service. "He was without guile, and he was without hypocrisy."
"A prolific writer, Derek authored more than 40 books, including his hallmark work, Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting. He recounts the great move of God he witnessed while teaching in Kenya during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
"Prayer and fasting," says Derek, "definitely made an impact for one generation on that nation of Kenya."
Today, Derek's teachings are broadcast by radio around the globe and translated into Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Malagasy, Mongolian, Russian, Samoan, Spanish, and Tongan.
Derek Selby, Derek Prince's grandsonGrandson Derek Selby recounts what his grandfather told him about his legacy: "It is my desire, and I believe the Lord's desire, that this ministry, Derek Prince Ministries, would continue the work God started through me until Jesus returns."
But Perhaps Derek Prince's teachings, his books, or his ministry to the body of Christ are not his greatest legacy. Instead, it is the extraordinary example of his family life.
"I was married to Lydia for 30 years and to Ruth for 20. And each of them was a happy and successful marriage," says Derek. "The most painful thing in my life has been the death of Lydia, and even more, the death of Ruth. With Lydia, I was a part of a big family, but Ruth and I were, basically, two people on our own. We had that big family, but I have never had such a close, personal relationship with anyone in my life as I had with Ruth, and losing her -- I won't say losing her; the Holy Spirit rebuked me by saying, 'You haven't lost her. She has gone ahead. She will be waiting for you.' But I am just so sorry for people who aren't ready for the issue of death because if it doesn't come to me, it is going to come to my wife. Death is part of life. That is the way it is because of our sin. Thank God Jesus has taken the sting out of death. We are going to have to die, but Paul says that we don't have to mourn like others because we have a glorious expectation."
Derek's passion for fatherhood is also a living legacy to the body of Christ and an example for other leaders to emulate. While on his tour of duty in Palestine, grandson Derek Selby explains, "He came to a children's home that a lot of soldiers would frequent for prayer meetings. That home was run by a Danish woman named Lydia Christinson, who had already been there for 15 years on her own in Jerusalem. The day that Lydia and Derek got married, he immediately became the father of eight adopted daughters. One is British, one is Palestinian Arab, and six of them are Jewish girls."
When Israel declared statehood in 1948, the region erupted in war. Derek Prince and his multi-racial family were forced to flee the country because of threats against their lives.
"In the middle of the night, Derek lead his wife and eight daughters into the streets with nowhere to go and left everything they had in the home, which wasn't much to begin with, to protect his family and get them to safety," says Derek Selby. "That eventually led to them coming back to England, where Derek's preaching ministry really began."
One of Derek Prince's adopted children, Anna Selby, remembers her father affectionately.
Jessica Sorenson, Derek Prince's ninth adopted child"I don't recall when he came to the home in Ramullah," Anna says. "I just remember that he was always there for me, and he has always been there as my daddy. He was a great dad, big supporter. I shall miss him dearly."
Derek and Lydia bonded with their ninth adopted child in Kenya. Her name was Jessica.
"They went to my parents and said, "We heard that you take in children. They are much older now' They said, 'We no longer do that. We are missionaries. We no longer take in children.' They got up to leave, and as they went to the door, my hand went out to my father to say, 'What are you going to do with me?'" says Jessica Sorenson. "What you saw in the pulpit is what you saw at home. He was the same man. He wasn't two different people. What I remember about my father is that he was a loving man. I knew that I was loved by my father, and I think he loved me when others didn't love me. That has always touched me. He loved me and he instilled faith."

Derek Prince: father, friend, and teacher to the nations.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Derek Prince - 'WHEN You Fast, not IF' (sermon)

Derek Prince teaching the Church



Derek Prince sharing the Word

Peter Derek Vaughan Prince (Bangalore, August 14, 1915 - Jerusalem, September 24, 2003) was an international Bible teacher. He is buried in Jerusalem, where he lived the past 20+ years. His first wife Lydia, who passed on before him, is buried in the same cemetery, as is Ruth, his second wife. His nine adopted daughters live in various countries, including the USA, England and New Zealand.

His whose daily radio program, Derek Prince Legacy Radio, continues to broadcast to half the population of the world in various languages. These languages include English, Arabic, Spanish, Croatian, Russian, Malagasy, Tongan, Samoan and four dialects of Chinese. 

He was probably most noted for his teachings about deliverance from demonic oppression and about Israel

(Editor note: His little booklet, "Our Debt To Israel", changed my life, as it ignited my heart's love for Israel and the Jewish people.  I will send you one free if you request it. Steve Martin)

 He was best known in Pentecostal and Charismatic circles, although his teaching is distinctly non-denominational, a fact that has long been emphasized by his worldwide ministry.

Derek Prince Ministries operated under the slogan "Reaching the Unreached and Teaching the Untaught" for several decades.

Today the mission statement is "Derek Prince Ministries exists to develop disciples of Jesus Christ, through the Bible teaching of Derek Prince." 

The vision is to reach the peoples of the world, in a language they understand, with the Bible teaching of Derek Prince, using every type of media and all forms of distribution, regardless of the economic means of the recipients. There are over 14 offices worldwide.

Derek liked to use his hand to emphasize a point.

One of the best Bible teacher I knew, and sat under.

His teaching tools were the Bible and Strong's Concordance.

Making a point...

...with out stretched arm.

King of Kings in Christchurch, New Zealand


I had the privilege of working with the staff of Derek Prince Ministries, first in Fort Lauderdale, Fl from 1987-1990 as the Financial Supervisor, and then in Charlotte, NC from 2001-2005 as the Director of Operations and Finance. 

What Derek taught during his life is as relevant today as it was then. Even more so, as the day draws nearer.

David Selby, Derek's son-in-law, carried the major responsibility of the USA ministry office, and served also as the International Director. I was most blessed to have had David as my boss for those eight years total.

When Derek and Ruth visited the office once or twice a year, limited by his extensive worldwide travel, we rejoiced to be with them.

I bless those currently on staff in the Charlotte, NC office. Many have served there for over 20 years, and have remained very faithful in their tasks.

As Derek loved to say, "God is Faithful". We are very thankful for his life laid down for our Faithful and True God, the Living God of Israel.

Steve Martin
Love For His People




Sunday, April 28, 2013

Derek & Ruth Prince - graveyard in Jerusalem

Derek & Ruth Prince graveyard in Jerusalem 

(German Colony district)


Derek & Ruth Prince, residents of Jerusalem for over 20 years, are buried in this German Colony district of Jerusalem.

Lydia Prince is also buried here. She was Derek's first wife, who died about five years before Derek married Ruth. Lydia and Derek had adopted nine Jewish/Arabic/African kids. Lydia had adopted and raised raised eight of them as a single woman. Her incredible book, "Appointment In Jerusalem", tells the story.

I am most appreciative of having had the opportunity to work on staff at their ministry - first from 1987-1990 in Fort Lauderdale, Fl., and then again at the Charlotte, NC location, from 2001-2005. The ministry had already relocated to Charlotte, in 1994.


Derek Prince Ministries staff in Charlotte, NC 2004



The 2006 Vision for Israel staff, where I served as USA Director, is also in the photo above. These two framed photos, of both ministries, are on the top shelf of my current office in uptown Charlotte, NC.

As the Director of Operations and Finance at Derek Prince Ministries, I served with David Selby (Intl. Executive Director), Jack Alongi (Director of Donor Relations), Peter Wyns (USA Outreach Director) and Derek Wesley Selby, (Director of Communications.) Another 22 staff members assisted us in these departments.


For more information on Derek Prince Ministries, please click on the name below.



My son Ben Martin (who also worked at DPM for many years) and I are now part of Love For His People, Inc., founded by my wife Laurie and myself in 2010.



Also in 2010, Ben and I initiated this new ministry's annual Ahava Adventures service trip to Israel, when I was able to take the above photo of Derek's burial location through the front gate. (It is a gated cemetery, and wasn't open on that Saturday morning. Shabbat in Jerusalem is highly respected.)


As a side note, I had been inside the gated cemetery where Derek is buried on two previous occasions. Once with Mahesh Chavda Ministries, when I was the Administrator for 14 years, from 1987-2000, and again on tour with Christian Friends of Israel (CFI), as a board member, on several "Meet and Greet" trips.






Come join us on our next Ahava Adventure! 

(Use the search box for "Ahava Adventure" 
on this blog site for current information.)


In addition to this Blog website, Love For His People has another site, with info on our complete work in support of Israel and our friends who live there.



Shalom,

Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People