Derek Prince Ministries International, Inc.

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Disclosure Note:
In 2008, by the request of Derek Prince Ministries, the CEO and Founder of Wall Watchers began serving as a Board advisor.

MinistryWatch.com’s Take
September 2004
By J. Andrew Preslar

Introduction

Derek Prince Ministries International (DPM) is a Christian organization whose mission is to propagate the teachings of Derek Prince throughout the world. DPM focuses especially upon politically and economically oppressed countries. DPM reaches out to the world through its U. S. headquarters (in Charlotte, NC) and ten international offices. The latter are located in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, the Netherlands, South Africa, the South Pacific, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. DPM is primarily a teaching ministry, carrying out its mission via conferences, radio broadcasts, the Internet, and by producing, translating, and distributing books, audio and video tapes, and other materials featuring the teaching of Derek Prince.

A Cambridge Man

Derek Prince’s spiritual journey began more than sixty years ago when he was seized with a fit of “Holy Ghost laughter.” That journey has since included a number of “power experiences,” which allegedly include performing exorcisms, speaking in unknown/ previously unlearned languages (commonly referred to as “speaking in tongues”), participating in miraculous healings, and receiving prophetic utterances. Derek Prince does not, however, conform to the stereotypical image of a Pentecostal “holy-roller.” Prince was educated in biblical languages and secular philosophy at Cambridge University, England, and his teaching style reflects that background. Prince’s manner of teaching was marked by articulate dignity and analytic ability, each of which is underscored by his crisp British accent.

Teachings

Prince’s life’s work has consisted of studying and teaching the Bible. This work has yielded some forty books, numerous articles, and hundreds of video and audio messages. Prince’s teaching ministry includes a wide variety of topics in its scope, some of the more prominent being:

(1) Demons. Prince’s teaching on Christian living lays great stress upon the reality of spiritual warfare. Prince believed that demonic oppression constitutes a major deterrent to spiritual victory. According to Prince, believers must learn to directly combat Satan and his demonic hordes through positive confession and exorcism. His explanations of how to become proficient in battling Satan are put forth in his book, They Shall Expel Demons.

(2) Generational Curses. Prince taught that a believer can experience prolonged spiritual defeat through being subjected (often unwittingly) to a “curse.” Such a curse may be a generational matter, incurred through no fault of the believer. Prince maintains that there are seven indications that one is suffering from a curse: experience of mental/ emotional breakdowns, chronic sickness, barrenness/ miscarriage, marital and family problems, continued financial insufficiency, being accident prone, and a [family] history of suicide and unnatural or untimely deaths. The likelihood that one is suffering from a “curse” is roughly proportionate to the number of “indications” which apply to the individual. Prince and other proponents of the “generational curse” doctrine appeal to Deuteronomy 28, where Moses presents Israel with the alternatives of blessings or curses, the former being predicated upon obedience to the Lord, the latter upon disobedience. Those who criticize Prince’s application of this passage point out that the context of Deuteronomy and the subsequent books of the Bible (Joshua--2 Kings; referred to by scholars as the “Deuteronomic History”) indicates that Deuteronomy 28 is addressed specifically to the nation of Israel and that the curses predicted there were historically realized in the history of that nation due to her disobedience (cf., Deuteronomy 29:22-28). In other words, this passage, contra Prince and others, does not teach that generational curses apply to individual believers today.

(3) Christian Perseverance. In his teaching, Prince stressed the primacy of the will in human living. This led him to emphasize the need for perseverance, in good times and bad, and through emotional ups and downs. According to Prince, the keys to perseverance include accepting the reality and understanding the nature of spiritual warfare, relying upon the Holy Spirit’s empowerment, positive confession of the Word of God, identifying and revoking generational curses, and constantly studying the Scriptures, whereby “the Holy Spirit reveals to us the glory of the Lord, and we are changed into the likeness of what we see” (Derek Prince, “Endurance Through Focus,” in Foundational Teaching From Derek Prince Ministries, April, 2003).

(4) Bible Prophecy and the Modern State of Israel. Prince believed that God is not through working with Israel as his chosen nation, and that current events in the Middle East could have direct bearing on biblical prophecy. He is careful not to fall into the trap of date-setting, but his interpretation of several key prophetic passages leads him to believe that the Bible teaches that during the last days the people of Israel will be living in their home land, will be surrounded by enemies, and will be worshipping in their temple. The first two are states of affairs currently exist, the third may be on the horizon. For these and other reasons, Prince focused a good portion of his writing and teaching ministry upon speculation about the ways in which current events in the Middle East fulfill, or are being orchestrated to eventually fulfill, biblical prophecy concerning the last days.

(5) Balanced View of Signs and Wonders. Prince definitely supported and reveled in the “supernatural” and often emotionally charged experiences which characterize the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, but he also maintained that it is the will, not the emotions, that is the decisive element in human living. According to Prince, emotions ebb and flow, but a will which is firmly committed to God remains constant. Prince has been cautiously critical of some of the more extreme practices associated with the “signs and wonders” movement, but he also points out that in the Bible there are cases of individuals doing seemingly “outrageous” acts at the behest of God (he cites Ezekiel and Jeremiah as examples). Although he proclaims himself to be a practitioner of the “miraculous” (e.g., exorcisms), Prince contended that it is the Word of God, not signs and wonders, upon which truth is based.

Spreading the Word

DPM’s daily radio broadcast, Keys to Successful Living, is the ministry’s flagship program. This fifteen-minute program features the teaching of Derek Prince and is broadcast on radio stations across America and worldwide- in forty countries and ten languages. Keys to Successful Living can also be listened to online. Derek Prince has published more than thirty books, and these have been translated into sixty languages. DPM has made most of these books available for purchase via its online Bookstore. DPM’s website also features Derek Prince Teaching Letters, daily devotionals, and a prayer network.

DPM’s field ministry is focused upon developing countries. In addition to providing Christians in these countries with translated versions of Derek Prince teaching materials, DPM ministers in a “hands-on” way through its conferences. DPM staff members continue to bring his teachings to churches and individuals throughout the world. Many DPM conferences feature teaching on a single issue (e.g., generational curses, marriage and family), others are designed specifically for young people, and international conferences sometimes include charitable work in the community. Still, the main ministry of DPM is the distribution of Prince’s teaching via books, tapes, and videos. This work has become worldwide in scope, and is continuing to expand.