The Luggage Tag of Derek
Prince, Jerusalem
“He reveals deep and secret
things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells
with Him.” Daniel 2:22, NKJV
On Sept. 30, 2025, as I was looking in my bedroom closet to see what else I had in our travel storage bins, for anything I could yet use on my 30th trip to Jerusalem, Israel, I was “shocked” when I found an extra luggage strap among several in the third bin from the stacked top. When I looked at the tag under the plastic area to make sure it had my current information (our address had not changed in 30 years) Derek Prince’s name and address were on it! Wow! This luggage tag is over 22 years old. I must have forgotten that this strap had been his and I now have it.
To have served on Derek Prince’s international home base
office with Derek Prince Ministries, as Director of Operations and Finance, for
a total of eight years, first in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for three years
(1987-1990) and then again in Charlotte, North Carolina (2000-2005), this has
special meaning for me.
The luggage tag has his Jerusalem address written on a yellow piece of paper, enclosed under the plastic cover. It appears to be his handwriting. (See comparative photos below.)
When we are in Jerusalem for three months, Oct. 16-Jan. 12, 2026, we will be living in an apartment just a mile from his final home of 15 years in Jerusalem. He passed on to glory in 2003.
When I then turned the name tag over, just to see what was on the other side, if anything, it had a USA home address in the Fort Lauderdale area (Plantation, FL), where he also resided during the 1980s. The address written was 201 SW 38th Ave. in Plantation, Florida, a suburb. (This may have been David and Anna Selby’s home address, for security reasons.) It also appears to be printed in Derek’s handwriting.
When we moved from Michigan to Florida in August of 1987, we lived in a rental home in Plantation on 17th Ave, not too far from this address printed on the back.
David, the International Director of Derek Prince Ministries, son-in-law of Derek, and my boss for a total of eight years, must have given me Derek’s luggage strap after his passing. I will save this strap!
(The
printed name on the luggage tag appears to be in Derek’s handwriting, when I
compare it to the other autographs I have of him. His greeting and signature to
me in his Foundation Series book in 1988 also matches, as does the office memo
to David Selby, the International Director, regarding an edit.)
Derek also had a condominium in Hawaii that he and his wife Ruth used when he taught annually in January at YWAM (YOUTH WITH A MISSION) for a month. He must have bought this strap there, for it has “Hawaii” on the end.
The state of Hawaii
embossed at the end of the luggage strap.
So, what is the big deal?
First, to have in my possession a piece of history, a
luggage strap used by my favorite Bible teacher, Derek Prince, whom I served on
his staff, is priceless to me. To know that this strap went with him all over
the world, and especially to Jerusalem, Israel, is a “sign” to me of the Lord’s
hand on my life too, as I also travel to Jerusalem often. A part of his legacy
I am living.
Second, to know that the Lord directs our steps, each of
us, is heartfelt. The One who is so gracious to show us “small signs” of His
blessings through directive actions, as ordained and conducted by the Holy
Spirit, means a lot to me.
I bless and honor the legacy of Derek Prince, especially
his love for the Land and people of Israel. He blazed the trail for many of us
in the 1970s-2000s, in biblical understanding and especially the truth about
God’s chosen people, as he lived what he believed as Bible truth.
I bless the Lord Jesus (Yeshua) for allowing my good wife
Laurie and I to serve in Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel in Hebrew) as we have
and will continue to do, even as the Lord leads.
Ahava (love) and Shalom (peace),
P.S. In less than 10 days Laurie and I head to Jerusalem,
Israel for three months. You can read further here: The
Martins in Jerusalem
We welcome your prayers and support as we together bless
Israel and His people in their Land.
Contributions are welcome online on our webpage. Look
for the little DONATE button on the right-side column. DONATE HERE.
Love For His People Ministry P.O. Box 1113 Pineville, North Carolina 28134 USA
Message #19 in my series (2025): “Derek Prince luggage tag"
– Oct. 3, 2025
#LuggageTag #DerekPrince #Jerusalem #Israel #DerekPrinceMinistries #travel #serviceplagues
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When the British army posted him to Jerusalem just at the end of World War II, Derek watched in awe and amazement as the Jewish people returned from many different countries after nearly two thousand years of exile. As he read Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, he realized he was seeing biblical prophecy fulfilled before his eyes.
Then in Jesus' words he has concluded: ?Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing? (Luke 4:21).