Iamso inaweof thepowerofGod thathadworked inDerekPrince'slife, how His leading brought about change in world events throughDerek'sprayersandobedienceandushered ina freshawakening in thelivesofsomanypeople.IammostcaptivatedbyGod'sloveandpurposeforandthroughthisman.ThehonestyportrayedinStephenMansfield's

biography also deeply affected me as a Christian. I found myselfoverwhelmedandproudtohavemetthisgreatmaninmylifetime.IamtransportedbacktoatimewhenthepromptingsoftheHolySpiritwerefreshinmylife,anditgivesmerenewedlonging.

-PHILKEAGGY

AWARD-WINNINGMUSICIANANDRECORDINGARTIST

Thevery firstChristian book that I ever purchasedwasDerekPrince'sbookBlessingorCurse:YouCanChoose,whichopenedmyeyestoseemytrueenemy.Itwasfifteenyearsagothatthis"seed"wasplantedintomylife.SincethattimeGodhasreleasedmetothenationstocarrythetorchofsettingthecaptivesfreeasDerekPrincedid.Heisapioneerandfatherofthefaithtomillions.SimilartotheprophetElisha,hisdeathhasbeenaseedinthegroundthatcontinuestobreedlife.ItwasanhonortomeetDerekinperson,andIcantrulysaythatthereisanawesomemanbehindtheministry.

-KIMBERLYDANIELS

KIMBERLYDANIELSMINISTRIESINTERNATIONAL

DianaandIloveandmissDerekPrince!Inourdarkesthours,wewouldreceive his letters of strength and encouragement. He had an innerfortitude that was without limit. Derek was my spiritual mentor andteacherinthefieldofspiritualwarfare.

-JOHNC.HAGEE

CORNERSTONECHURCH

SANANTONIO,TEXAS

ABiography

ABiography

StephenMansfield

Tothedaughters—

Tihva,Peninah,Ruhammah,johanne,Magdalene,Kirsten,Anna,Elisabeth,

andjosha—

Whohavelovedmuchandenduredmuch

Hislifewasgentle,andtheelementsSomix'dinhimthatNaturemightstandupAndsaytoalltheworld"Thiswasaman!"

-JULIUSCAESAR

ACTV,SCENE5

Contents

ForewordbyJohnHagee....................xiii

Introduction:RememberingaLife..............1

11915IndiaandtheSacrificeofEmpire.................9

2TheGrayStreak:LonelyIstheChild.........................23

3Cambridge:TheHauntingoftheDead....................41

4TheConscienceObjects:Ireland,theArmy,andtheChange..............59

5DiscipledintheDesert:LessonsofaLifetime.......................83

6Palestine:LandofLoveandLonging....................111

7EretzIsrael:PresentattheCreation......................147

8LondontoVancouver:TheDayofSmallBeginnings..................169

9America:ToStepUpontheStage......................199

10ATeacherforOurTime:ToHealtheBrokenStream...................221

11Remembrance:AnEveningWithDerekPrince.................245

12IfIForgetYou,0Jerusalem:Home.................................261

Epilogue...............................275

Appendix:TheLifeandMinistryofDerekPrince............279

Acknowledgments........................285

Notes.................................287

Foreword

TISMYgreathonortobechosentowritetheforewordtothisvolumecelebrating the lifeofDerekPrince,whowasaworld-classscholarandoneofthe greatest spiritual generals who everwalked on the battlefields of spiritualwarfare.

ImetDerekPrince in theearlyseventieswhenademonizedmanwalkedupthe aisle of my church with a pistol and tried to murder me before mycongregation.Theassassinfiredeveryshot inhisgunfromadistanceofeightfeetandmissedonlybecausethehandofGodsupernaturallysparedmylife.

Thenextmorning IbegancallingAmerica's leadingpastors for anyonewhohad personal knowledge of demons and deliverance. I was told, "There is anEnglishman inFt.Lauderdale,Florida,whohaspersonalknowledgeandBiblebalance."

I contacted Derek, and there was an instantaneous divine affection for this"prince"ofaman.Hecametoministeratmychurchmanytimes,andineveryservice there was a supernatural breakthrough that took our church to higherground.

My wife, Diana, and I miss Derek Prince! In our darkest hours, we wouldreceivehislettersofstrengthandencouragement.Hehadaninnerfortitudethatwas without limit. Derek wasmy spiritual mentor and teacher in the field ofspiritualwarfare.

DerekPrincewasanepistleoflivinglove!HelovedtheLordwithapassionfewmeneverknow.Helovedhisfamily.HelovedIsraelanddefendedIsrael'srighttothelandGodgavetoAbrahambyaneternalbloodcovenantintheBook

ofGenesis.

Hewas,ineveryfiberofhisbeing,aservantofGod.TheBiblesays,"Hethatis the greatest among you is the servant to all." Derek's ministry circled theglobe.Hisbrilliant teachingandanointedministrymadehimanapostle to thenationsoftheworld.Hewasamanwhosenamewasasynonymforintegrity.

This mighty spiritual general is buried in a small cemetery in Jerusalem,wrappedonlyinburialcloths,justastheLordJesuswas.Heisnowawaitingtheresurrection of the righteous to see the risen Lord he loved and served withunlimitedpassion.

I,andmillionslikeme,lovedDerekPrince.Ihaveinmylibraryeverytapeheeverproducedandeverybookheeverwrote.Andstillhespeaksfromthegravetothenationsoftheworldthroughthevoicesofhisspiritualchildrenwhoriseuptocallhimblessed.

-JOHNHAGEE,PASTOR

CORNERSTONECHURCH

SANANTONIO,TEXAS

Introduction

RememberingaLife

DIDNOTNEEDhelptobelievethatDerekPrincewasagreatman,butIwasabouttogetitanyway.NevermindthatIhadnearlygrownuptothesoundof thisman's voice.By themiracle of the audiocassette,DerekPrincehad foryears taught the Scriptures in my childhood home, often while laundry wasfoldedortheeveningmealwasprepared.Hewaspartofthefamily,thoughifhegot long-windedand the family routinewas threatenedwithdelay,mymothersimply increased the speedonour1970s tape recorder so that the reveredMr.PrincesoundedlikeaBritishMickeyMouseoraBBCnewscastwithtechnicaldifficulties.Buthewasalwaysthere,hisvoiceprovidingmuchofthesoundtrackofmyearlylife.

What a privilege it was, then, to have lunch with Derek on that sparklingNovemberdayinJerusalem.WemetattheRamatRachel,thekibbutzhotelonthe"HeightsofRachel"stillpockmarkedbybulletsfiredduringoneofIsrael'swars.Therichtapestryofhistoryreachedtous.Throughonewindowwecouldseethemuch-contestedWestBank.ThroughanotherlayBethlehem.Andamerehundred yards in a third direction were the scattered ruins of a citadel builtthousandsofyearsbeforebythekingsofJudea,abathbuiltbytheTenthRomanLegion,andaByzantinechurch:allthestonylegacyofthecenturieslefttothisstrategiclocationonthesouthofJerusalemandatthecrossroadsofhistory.

ThevoiceofthepastwasneverlosttoDerek,andasweatehereflectedonthemeaningofwhatsurroundedus.Hespokeofhistorywithacasualmasteryborneofyearsinreflectionandstudy,andwhilehedid,Itookinhisfeatures.Thoughhewaseighty-seven,hestillhadthoseintriguingeyesthatwerebothintelligentandsoulfulatthesametime.Stilltherewasthefull,juttingforehead,asthoughhis brain was pushing itself forward. His face was yet long and narrow. Hismouthwasstilllinedbyfull,expressivelips,andhisnoseatestament,surely,to

the presence of Rome on British shores. When he concentrated, his facecongealed like an impassioned symphony. When he laughed, every featureconspiredwithglee.AndIcouldpicturehowangermightanimate thosesamefeaturestomakehimfearfulindeed.IhopedIwouldnotseeit.

Yet,IhadfeareddispleasinghimsinceIfirstagreedtoauthorhisbiography.WhenhisgrandsonDerekWesleySelbyapproachedmewiththeideaofwritingthe Derek Prince story, I was interested but cautious. It was an honor to beasked,andIknewenoughofDerek'shistorytoknowhowitmightappealtoanewgeneration.ButIwasn'tsurejustwhatkindofbookDerekPrinceMinistriesexpected.Did theywant ahagiography,what I insultinglycalledat the timea"preacherpuffpiece"?Ifso,theyneededtofindanotherauthor.Nothingwouldbemoremind-numbinglyboringthanjustanotherboastfulbookonjustanotherfamouspreacher.

ButIdiscoveredtomydelightthattheywantedagenuinebiography,aworkof poetic scholarship that would capture the truth of Derek's life and let Godbreathe throughboth the triumphantand the tragic. Iwasglad tohear it. IhadlongbelievedthathistoryisbestwrittenaswefinditintheBible.Humanbeingsaresparednothing inScripture.Wefind themstarklyexposedasvileand lowandcravenandyetapproaching theangels in theirbetterselvesanddelightingtheheartoftheCreatorwiththeirfriendship.Scripturecapturesitall.Ihadcometobelievethatthewaytowritealifeistotellthetruthwithcompassionandletthebeautyarisefromboththedarknessandthelight.ThegoodfolksofDerekPrinceMinistriesagreed,butIwasn'tsurethatDerekwouldfeelthesameway.Thiswas,afterall,hisstory,andhemightnotwantitfullytold.

Infact,Ifearedthathemightnotthinkmethemantowhomheshouldunfoldhisheart.Afterall,Iwashalfhisage,anAmerican,andfarfromtheCambridgescholarhemighthavepreferredashisbiographer.ButIneednothaveworried.Derek had read my other books, understood what I was about, and, more inhonortohisGodthanindeferencetome,heopenedupfromourfirstmeeting.In fact, his transparency took my breath away. He seemed to delight insurprising me and chuckled that he was ashamed at how much he enjoyedtalkingabouthimself.

Our friendship was sealed by our love of humor. His sense of play wasundimmed by the years, andwewere not far into our relationship before thejostlingbegan.DerekandIoncespokeoverdinnerofwhatwouldhappentothebiography ifhediedbefore itwas finished.Themoodgrewheavy.To lightenthemoment,ItoldhimhecouldnotdiebecauseIneededsomeonetoexplainthegameofcrickettome.Hedidn'tmissabeat.Nevertakinghiseyesfromthefoodon his plate, he said with disdain, "Cricket is too sacred to explain to anAmerican."Hewasonlyhalfkidding.

Iwouldrememberthosefirststepsintohumorwhenwesharedourfinallaughtogether. He was in the Shaare ZedekMedical Center in Jerusalem just daysbeforehisdeath.Nurseswereconstantlyfiddlingwithhimwhileweweretryingtotalk,andfinallyIsaid,"You'renotherebecauseyou'resick.Youjustlikeallthesebeautifulwomenfawningoveryou."Heliftedhisnoseslightly,lookedatmewiththemostcondescendingCambridge-bredexpression,andsaid,"Well,ofcourse." Only after the words left his lips did his eyes betray his teasingsolemnity.

BythatlunchattheRamatRachel,DerekandIwerewellonourwaytothekind of friendship a biographer hopes for: respectful, playful, and brutallyhonest.But the other dynamic a biographer hopes forwas just about tomakeitselfknown.Theremustbetheinspiredmoments,thoseunexpectedrevelationsthatcannotbescriptedandthatmakethewriterfeelasthoughGodissmilingonhis undertaking.AsDerek and I ate our lunch and spoke of generations past,Godrememberedus.

IhadnoticedatthefarendofthevastrestaurantatRamatRachelalargegroupwholookedtobeEasternEuropean.Fromtimetotime,theywouldlookupfromtheir food and conversation to stare ourway.Somewere nodding their heads,and others were soon talking as though trying to convince the group of animportantmatter.Thentherewasachange.Inoticedthatmorethanafewbegantoweep.Somekneltbytheirlunchtableasthoughitwereanaltarandbegantopray. Others held each other, as those consoling friends whose hearts areovercome.This continued for some time.Derekcontinued talking,unawareofthegrowingstiracrosstheroom.Iwasdistractedandtriedtolistentohimwhilebecomingincreasinglyawarethatwewerethefocusofacommotion.

Soonayoungmanapproachedfromthegroupandaskedifhecouldjoinus.HisEnglishwasexcellent,andhebegantoexplainwhatwashappeningacrossthe room.Theywere a group fromHungary, he told us, and theywere in theHoly Land to bless Israel and learn the geography of their faith. They haddecided at the lastminute to have lunch at the Ramat Rachel, butwhen theyarrived, they quickly realized that God had ordered their steps. We did notunderstandatfirst,buttheyoungmansoonexplainedthatinthemonthsleadinguptotheirtrip,manyofthegrouphadbeguntopraythattheywouldseeDerekPrince,whotheyknewmadehishomeinJerusalem.Forsome,itwasthemainreasontheyhadcome,andwhentheylookedacrossthediningroomandsawtheverymantheyhadprayedtosee,theywereovercome.Andthetearscame.

DerekandIwerestillconfused.Theyoungman,whosenamewelearnedwasAndras Patkai, patiently explained. In 1978, a Christian couple in Budaors,Hungary, namedSandor and JudithNemeth,wished to improve their English.AlreadyJudithwasfluentinRussian,French,andGerman.HerEnglishneededwork.ThecouplesoonfoundatapeentitledDeliveranceforChildrenandTheirParents. ItwasbyDerekPrince, and the truths theyheardchanged their lives.Theyplayedthetapefortheirhomegroupofsomesevencollegestudents,withJudithinterpreting.Theeffectwasastonishing,andsoonaftertheywrotetotheaddressonthetapetoseeifthismanDerekPrincecouldpaythemavisit,ifhewould come teach the gospel in the communist realms of Hungary. Two ofDerek Prince's friends, Jim Croft and Terry Bysinger, responded to theinvitation.ThispavedthewayforavisitfromDerekseveralyearslater.Bythenthesmallgroupofsevencollegestudentshadgrowntoanundergroundchurchofthreehundred,meetingontheoutskirtsofBudaors.

At this point in the story, Derek, who had been silent while Andras spoke,grewanimated.Heremembereditnow.HeandRuth,hissecondwife,wentintoHungary on tourist visas. They were taken to a small house crammed withpeople.Theshadeswerepulledoneverywindowfor fearof the secretpolice.TherewasastrongsenseofGod'spresence,herecalled,andhehadseldomfeltsuchpowerashetaughtfordaysonend.Heknewabitofwhathadhappenedafter.Thechurchhadgrown, thepastorshadcomeunderpersecution, and thecommunistgovernmenthadtriedtoclosethelittlechurch.TypicalofDerek,herememberedthatJudithwasanaccomplishedpianist,andherhusband,Sandor,

wasalwaysbraveinthefaceofthreatsonhislife.

Derekpausedforamoment,andAndraspickedupthestory.Thechurchhadsurvived,herelayed.Infact,itwasnownearlyfortythousandpeople.Itprintedanationalnewspaper,wasacenterforthearts,andwasarguablyoneofthemostpowerfulculturalinstitutionsinHungary.Whatwasmore,thechurchhadbeenbuilt on the ministry of Derek Prince. His tapes and books provided thefoundationfromwhichtheirwholemovementsprang.Thepeopleofthischurchsaw Derek as their father. Little Hungarian babies were named Derek in hishonor, and, in fact, several youngmen andwomen at theRamatRachelwerenamedforDerekorhiswifeRuth.

Itwasaholymoment.Derekwasovercome.WhileheweptuncontrollablythegroupofHungarianssurroundedus,andtheweepingandthehuggingcontinued.SomekneltatDerek'sfeet.Othersgingerlytouchedhisarm.Derekturnedtomeandsaidthroughhistears,"Itisgoodyouarehere.Godhasordainedourtimetogether."Camerasflashed,andmanyinthegrouppressedyoungAndrastogiveDerekmessagesinEnglish."IleftmylifeofdrugswhenIheardyourtape,"saidone."MycommunistfatherconvertedandturnedourfamilytoChristwhenyouspoke," reported another with sobs. "What you have started has changed thehistoryofournation,"astudentinsistedquietly.

It all seemed to have lasted but a few minutes, and then a tour guide wascalling the Hungarians to their bus. Time had been suspended by beauty andremembrance.Whenthegroupwasgone,IlookedatDerek.Hewassittingalonewithhisthoughts,dabbingthetearsfromhiseyesandtellingmeoverandagainwhatsweetpeoplethesewereandhowthankfulhewasthatGodhadgivenhimthismoment.

They do not give awards forministry.There are noEmmys or Pulitzers forpreaching thegospel.YetDerekhad just receivedanearly trophy,a triumphalbouquet, fromhisLord.Andheknewit.Beforeweleft the table,he turned tomeandsaid,"WhoamItobehonoredinsuchaway?"

Itstruckmethatdayhowscenesofsimilartributecouldeasilyberepeatedtheworldover,witharichtapestryoftribeshonoringDerekforwhathehadplantedontheirsoil.AconferencedesignedtothankGodforDerekPrincewouldhave

toincludedelegatesfromnearlyeverynationontheearth,forhetouchedmostallofthem.Andbesidesthenations,therewouldhavetoberepresentativesfromthemanyuniquegatheringshehadattended.TherewouldbedelegatesfromthebandofBritishsoldierswhodrankfromDerek'slifeduringthehorrorsofwarinnorthernAfrica.Therewouldalsobeambassadors fromall the thousandswhoheardhimpreachthegospelatLondon'sSpeakers'Corner.CertainlythehippiesofAmericaandtheexpatriateJamaicansofpostwarEnglandandtheconvertedblokesfromDownUnderwouldallbethere-andthousandsmore.Therewouldevenhave tobesome inattendance tostand for themillionsaround theworldwho had heard a tape, read a book, or seen Derek in person at any of tenthousandmeetingsaroundtheworld.Hehadtouchedsomanylivesandfatheredsomuchofwhatanewgenerationenjoyed,whethertheyknewitornot.

Yet,thiswasthechallengeIfeltasDerekdroveawaythatday.HowwasItocaptureallthatthisman'slifehadmeant,allthehistoryhisyearsencompassed?I lethis seasons flow throughmymind.Hewasbornunder theBritishRaj inIndia, educated in the radical post-WorldWar I years of 1930s' England, andshippedofftowarasJapaneseZerospoundedPearlHarbor.HewasthereatthebirthofIsrael,therewhenAmericaunraveledinthe1960s,andtherewhenthegreatest spiritual renewal since the resurrectionof Jesus filled thenations.Thespan of his life was daunting. He came into the world whenGeorge V ruledEnglandwithAsquithashisprimeministerandwhenWoodrowWilsonwastheAmerican president. His first wife was born before the White House hadelectricity.Yet,inthelastyearofhislife,DerekandIdiscussedhowtheInternetwouldchangeministryandhowthemanwhothenlivedintheWhiteHousewasnotyetalivewhenDerekwasalreadyinhisfourthdecadeoflife.

ItwasalsointhelastyearofhislifethatDerekspokethewordsthatbecamemy personal commission. We were sitting together in the brilliant sun of aSeptemberdayinJerusalem.ItwasobviousthatDerekdidnothavelonginthisworld.Hewas inpain,hard tounderstand,anddeeply frustrated thathecouldnotmakehismeaningclear.Infact,withoutthehelpofPatTurner,hisfaithfulassistant,Irarelyunderstoodanythinghesaid.ButIheardonesentencewithaclarity thatwouldnever leaveme.Aftersomeofourusualbanter, therewasalongsilencewhenDerekspokeinasuddenburstofclarity.Takingmyforearmin his hands, he leaned towardme and said, "Imust apologize to you." Iwas

confusedandaskedwhyhefelthehadanythingtomakerightwithme.Hethensaid, incarefullymeasuredwords, "Imustapologize foraskingyou towriteabookaboutamanwhonolongerexists."

Myeyesfilledwithtears.ThiswasDerek.Ahumblemanwhocouldadmithewasnotashehadbeenandaproudmanwhowasfrustratedwithwhathehadbecome.ItwasanadmissionthatIcouldnotescape,andItookitasachallenge.Inmy heart I said, "No.Hewill not cease to exist. Thisman is too dear, toomuchaverseofGod'scrafting, toallowhis life todescend inobscurity."AndthoughIhadalreadybeenresearchinghislifeforayear,Ilitmytorchanewanddetermined to impress thewonder ofDerek Prince's life on a generationwhocouldnotknowhowdesperatelytheyneededwhathisstoryhadtooffer.

He isgonenow,andhe ismissed.Hisuniquebrandofbiblicalwisdomandinsightisdesperatelyneededinourtime.Yetperhapsbecauseofthisretellingofhisstoryandthedevotedlaborsofthosewhonowextendhislegacy,itmaybethatthelifeofDerekPrincehasyettohaveitsgreatestimpactinthisworld.Thisis as hewouldhavewanted it to be, for he alwaysknew that his lifewasnotintended as a monument for future generations to admire but as a well fromwhichfuturegenerationscoulddrink.

Come,then-drinkdeep.Thewaterissweet,andourageisexceedinglydry.

1

1915:IndiaandtheSacrificeofEmpire

EREKHADJUSTsettledintohischairandwascradlinghiscupofhotteawithbothhands.Hewasquiet,pensive.Ithinkhewaschanginggears.

Weeksbeforewhenhisstaffhadtoldhimabouthistimewithmeandhowthebiography was going to delve into the depths of his life, Derek had seemedpleased."Itwillbegood,"hesaidwithobviousrelief,"nottotellthesameoldstories."

So it was time to begin. We were alone, a majestic stretch of the Judeanwilderness visible through thewindowof our roomon theHeights ofRachel.Derek shifted about a bit, sipped his tea, and then fixed his penetrating eyesexpectantlyuponme.

Iknewhewasready.Finally,attheendofhislife,hewaswilling,eveneager,totellitall.Ihadonlytolaunchhim.

"Tellme,"Isaid,"ofIndia."

Dereksmiledslightly.Heknewmysparewordsformedachallenge:"Ifyouarereadytotalk,"Iwassaying,"thenrunandIwillfollow.Youarelongpastneedingsomeonetopullitoutofyou."

He sighedwistfully and turnedhis eyes to the regionwhere JesuswithstoodSatan for forty days. There was a pause. "From the beginning," he nearlywhispered,"IbelievethatIndialaidclaimtomysoul...

DerekPrincewasborninBangalore,India,onAugust14,1915.HethusdrewhisfirstbreathsjustasmuchoftheOldWorldwasdyingandmuchofthenewwasmakingitselfknown.

In 1915, the OldWorld was dying in the breasts of thousands of Europe'syoungwho tookwith them to the grave the noble ideals of centuries. Just theyear before, on June 28,Archduke Francis Ferdinand ofAustria-Hungary andhiswifehadbeenassassinatedonthestreetsofSarajevo,Bosnia,byananarchistnamedGavriloPrincip.Fromthisseeminglysmallbeginning,awickedbrewofentangling alliances and ancient animosities exploded into what came to beknownastheGreatWar,thefirstoneto"maketheworldsafefordemocracy."

Withcrisisuponthem,theEuropeanpowerssummonedtheiryoungtomartialglory by appealing to patriotism andmanhood. Traditional concepts of honorstilllivedinthosedays.Theboysandmenofthenationsswelledtothecallandstreamed into themuddy trenches.But no onewas prepared for the butchery.Technologyhadoutstrippedmilitary tacticsby1915,andwhereas justdecadesbeforewarhadbeen foughtwith rifles, cavalry charges, and cannon, this newwarwouldbe foughtwith submarines, tanks,machineguns,planes, and,mosthorribly,nervegas.Humanbeingsbegandyingatthehandsoftheirbrothersingreaternumbersthaneverbeforeinhistory.

Though 1915 was far from the bloodiest year of the war, it neverthelesstypified much that was to come. The battles of that year tell the tale. At theSecondBattleofArtois,forexample,anastonishing400,000menwerelost.AttheSecondBattleofYpres,theGermansusedchlorinegasasaweaponforthefirsttimeinhistoryandsothrustwarfaretonewlevelsofhumandevastation.Itwas also in 1915 that the blunders of the Gallipoli Campaign left more than100,000 dead Allies on Turkish soil and almost ended the political career ofEngland'sFirstLordoftheAdmiralty,WinstonChurchill.

Englandwas tempted to be cruel to her statesmen because shewas alreadyreelingfromherlosses.Thoughthewarhadlastedbarelyayear,herkilledand

woundedtogether totaledmore than550,000.Bywar'sendEnglishdeadalonewould total 680,000. It was madness. Surely nothing could justify suchslaughter.Butthenationsfoundnowayoutofthedarkness,andthesacrificeofagenerationcontinued.

TheOldWorld,both itsmenand itsmeaning,wasdying.AndDerekPrincewasbornjustintimetohearitsfuneraldirge.

Yetaneworderwasrisingtofillthevacuumleftbytheold.OnMay7,1915,a German submarine sank the Lusitania off the coast of Ireland. Some 1,198liveswerelost,139ofwhomwereAmericans.TheUnitedStateswasincensed,andtensionswithGermanyrosedramaticallyovertheensuingmonthsuntil,twoyears later, the Americans joined the war and sent some 4 million men intobattle.More than 53,000 never returned home, a number almost insignificantbeside Europe's millions, but still a deep wound to the American soul. Morelasting, perhaps,wasAmerica's appearance on theworld scene.Forcedby thewar tobreak fromher long-standing isolationism,Americawouldsodominatetheera just thendawningthatmanywouldconcludeat itsendthat ithadbeen"theAmericancentury."

Another nationwas just then emerging as well, from the sands of OttomanPalestine, from the pages of the ancientwritings: Israel. It had all begunwithTheodorHerzl,theJewishjournalistwhowassooutragedbytheshamefulanti-SemitismoftheDreyfusAffairinFrancethatheraisedhisvoicetoissuethecallfora Jewishstate.DreyfushadbeenaFrencharmyofficerwhowas triedandfoundguiltyoftreasononfalsechargesfabricatedbyhisfellowofficersbecausehewasaJew.Hewaslateracquitted,butnotbeforeFrance'soutpouringofanti-SemitismconvincedmenlikeHerzlthattheJewscouldneverbesafeinEurope:theywouldneedacountryoftheirown.HearingHerzl'strumpetcall,theJewsofEuropebeganpouringintoPalestine.ThisbecametheFirstAliyah,orreturntotheland.WhenHerzldiedin1904,though,themovementhefoundednearlydiedwithhim.

GreatBritaingaveitlifeagain.BothtowinJewishsupportforthewarandoutofgenuinesympathyforZionism,EnglandmadeapromiseintheyearsjustafterDerekPrincewasborn thatbecame thefoundingoathof Israel. Ina117-word

note toLordRothschild,headof theJewishbankingfamily,ForeignSecretaryArthur Balfour assured, "His Majesty's Government view with favour theestablishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people."Immigration was slow at first, but the message was not lost on a persecutedpeople. By 1936, whenNazismwas just stepping onto theworld stage,morethansixtythousandJewshadmadetheirwaytothelandthat,twelveyearslater,wouldbecomethenationofIsrael.AndDerekPrincewouldbethereatitsbirth.

Yet,in1915,DerekPrincewasbutanewbornbabe.Heknewnothingofwarsornationson the rise.Hecouldnothaveknown that in theyearofhisbirthamannamedCharlesLawrencedeveloped thefirstsuccessfulaircooledairplaneengine,making long-distance flightpossible.Norcouldhehaveknown that inthat same year aman inNewYork namedAlexanderGrahamBell called hisfriendnamedWatsoninSanFrancisco,thusachievingthefirsttranscontinentalphonecall.YoungDerekcouldalsonothaveknownthatamannamedEinsteinhadjustannouncedhisgeneraltheoryofrelativityorthatamannamedFordhadjust produced his millionth automobile. Yet each of these breakthroughs,achievedintheyearofhisbirth,wouldhaveaprofoundeffectuponhislife.Thiswas1915,theyearthatmarkedthedeathoftheold,thebirthofthenew,andthebeginningforyoungDerekPrince.

YetDerek's beginningwas asmuch aboutwhere hewas born as itwas aboutwhen. That hewas born in India, that he spent the first five years of his lifethere,and that themenhe revered inchildhooddevoted themselves to servingtheirmonarch in that landare,certainly,among themost important realitiesofhislife.

Today,Bangaloreisat theheartofIndia'sSiliconValley.Internetcommerceabounds,andtherearesectionsofthecityasmodernasanyintheworld.Yetin1915,BangalorewasoneofthecitiesfromwhichtheBritishruled"thejewelintheCrown."Inthosedays,theUnionJackflewhighabovemanicuredlawnsaskhaki-cladsoldiersdrilled,turbanedservantsservedwhiskiesoncoolverandas,andofficers'wivessportingparasolsreadKiplingandDickenstotheiryoung.

TheEnglish hadbegun in India a century and a half before under a generalnamedRobertClive.Inthenameof"trade,not territory,"ClivehadsubduedawarringtribeoutsideaBengalivillagecalledPlessyandthusopenedthegatesofnorthernIndiain1757.Allgoodintentionsaside,thecenturythatfollowedwasmarkedmorebyconquestthancommerce.Infairness,mostEnglishthoughtofthemselves as the liberatorsof an enslavedpeople.Historian JohnStuartMill,writing in 1823, captured the dominant English view of Indian natives at thetime:

By a system of priestcraft, built upon the most enormous andtormenting superstition that ever harnessed and degraded any portionofmankind,their[theIndians']mindswereenchainedmoreintolerablythantheirbodies;inshort;despotismandpriestcrafttakentogether,theHindus, in mind and body, were the most enslaved portion of thehumanrace.'

Totheircredit,theEnglishdidindeed,inKipling'sphraseoflateryears,"takeuptheWhiteMan'sburden."TheyinstitutedthePaxBritannica,whichallowedlegal, administrative, and educational institutions to thrive. They graced Indiawithorder,cleanliness,sport,theaccumulatedwisdomoftheWesterncanon,theEnglish language, and, perhaps above all, Christianity and aChristian idea ofprogress.

Still,IndiawantedtoberuledbyIndians,andin1857asavagemutinyprovedthe point. British troops prevailed, though, and beginning in that year Indiabecame the possession of Queen Victoria. Her viceroy and his few thousandaideswoulddeterminethedestinyofnearlyone-fifthofallhumanity.Indeed,bytheyearofDerekPrince'sbirth,morethan300millionIndiansweresubjecttosome100,000EnglishmenandtheirIndianofficials.

Interestingly,itwastheslaughterinthetrenchesofEuropethatultimatelyled,inpart,totheEnglishdeparturefromIndianearlytwocenturiesafterClive.ThewarleftnearlyamillionBritishmaleseitherdeadorincapableofserviceabroad.Asaresult,Indianswereincreasinglywelcomedintothecivilservice,theofficercorps,andthecourtsoflaw.

Indeed,oneIndianlawyer,whopliedhistradefirstinBombay,theninSouth

Africa, and then again in his homeland, was named Mohandas KaramchandGandhi.HewouldcombinethelawhelearnedintheTempleofLondonwiththelanguageofhisnation'scaptorsandmergebothwithauniquelyHindupassiveresistancetoconvincetheEnglishthattheyoughttoleaveIndiatotheIndians.In 1947, he would victoriously hail the English decision to grant India herindependenceas the "noblest actof theBritishnation." In1915, though, IndiawassolidlyEnglish,andfewexpecteditwouldeverbeotherwise.

The men of Derek Prince's immediate family were the kind of warriors whomade the British Empire great. They were all army officers, all men of deepVictorian values, and all devoted to the belief that England was a force forrighteousnessintheworld.WhentouristsviewmonumentsinLondonfashionedtocommemoratethecharacterthatbuilttheEmpire,thatprevailedonfar-flungbattlefields, it is men like those of Derek's family whom they are meant toremember.

ChiefamongthemwasDerek'sgrandfather,thequintessentialBritishimperialofficer.HisnamewasRobertEdwardVaughan,andhewasborninFelhamptononAugust 12, 1866, toThomas, a farmer, and his devotedwife, Eliza.WhenRobertcameofage,helefthometojointhearmy,possiblytoescapeafarmer'slife, andby the timeofDerek's birthwas living inRawalpindi as a lieutenantcolonelinchargeofsupplyandtransportfortheIndianarmy.Hepossessedanastonishing ability to organize, to plan in the abstract but execute in theparticular.Thearmyfoundhiminvaluableandpromotedhimtomajorgeneralinrecognitionofhisskill.Oneofthefewsurvivingpicturesof"theGeneral"isastudyincharacter.Sportingabushymustacheandabulldog'sjuttingchestisaman of stern bearing and movie-star good looks, regally adorned in a reduniformdrapedwithtigerskin.

OnOctober18,1890,Robert,thenahandsometwenty-four-yearoldlieutenantin the Bengal Staff Corps, married Amy Mountjoy Woodward. Amy wouldbecome amajor figure in theDerek Prince story, for shewas a deeply piouswoman. At a time when most Englishmen were officially Anglican but

personally uncommitted, Amy was a praying, Bible-reading Christian whogenuinely believed what she affirmed every Sunday in the liturgy. She alsobelievedintheexceptionalityofhergrandson.Muchofwhathelearnedoffaithandpietyinhisearlyyearswasgleanedatherknee.

The true military hero of the Vaughan family was Robert and Amy's son,Edward. The year Derek was born, his uncle Edward was a lieutenant in thestoried Bengal 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse). He had entered the service onJanuary 22, 1913, and eagerly joined the legendary horsemen who foughtferociously and had a reputation formeltingwomen's heartswith their gallantmannerandstrikingblueuniforms.

ItwasduringWorldWarIIthatEdwardmostdistinguishedhimself.Whilealieutenant colonel fighting in thewesterndesertofAfrica,hewascapturedbyItaliantroopsandtakentoItalyasaprisonerofwar.Hethenlivedinasqualidprisoncampforthreeandahalfyears.Finally,inanactofexceptionalbravery,heescapedandmadehiswaysouthwarddownthespineofItalyuntilhemetupwithinvadingBritishtroops.Celebrated,decorated,andgivenafieldpromotiontotherankofgeneral,Edwardwasmadethe"commanderofDelhiCommand"inIndiauntilindependenceendedthatpositionin1947.

Edward'scareerendedpainfully,though.HisfileintheIndiaandOrientRoomof theBritishLibrary contains a troubling series of letters inwhich he foughtvaliantlytohavehisretirementpaysetaccordingtohishighestrank.Thearmyargued in return that Edward's field promotion did not count for purposes ofretirement, and thus he would have to settle for the pay accorded a colonel.Edward seems to have ended the exchange bitterly, retired, and then died notlongafterofcomplicationsarising fromhis long imprisonment.Hewasa truehero of the realm, and it is of more than passing interest that the blood thatflowedinhimalsoflowedintheveinsofDerekPrince.

GeneralRobertVaughan'sdaughterandGeneralEdwardVaughan'ssisterwasGwendolynChrysogonVaughan,Derek'smother.Likeherson,GwendolynwasalsoborninIndia,inGoomarg.Photographsofherrevealatrim,athleticfigurewith raven hair and eyes that blend British determination with a hint of theIndiandreamer.Shewasthehighlycultured,overachievingdaughterofaBritish

general abroad.She readvoraciously andwas so skilledon the piano that shewasoftencalledupon togive impromptuconcertsafter thesumptuousdinnersserved in the general's home. She also loved tennis, hiking, and hunting, acontagiouspassioninBritishIndia.Clearly,shelittheearlyfiresoflearningandcultureinDerek'ssoul.Yetthroughouthislife,Derekwouldseeherasatragicfigure,awomanofgreatgiftandbeautysquelchedbythestiflingexpectationsofVictorianculture.BothhergiftsandherpainwoulddeeplyshapeDerek'searlyviewoflife.

On February 10, 1914, Gwendolynmarried a dashing young captain by thename of Paul Ernest Prince. The single wedding picture that survives is abreathtaking tribute to the glory of British India. The men-Colonel Robert,LieutenantEdward,andCaptainPaul-areintheirdressuniforms,helmetsunderarm,medalsgleaming,andtigerskinsgrandlydrapedoverbroadshoulders.ThewomenareadornedinEdwardianfinery,delicatecreaturesradiatingastrengthandnobilityborneofarmylifeinIndia.Thoughtheycouldnothaveknownit,theystoodthatdayat theendofanage,symbolsofaglorysoontopassfromhistory.LittlemorethanfourmonthsaftertheweddingofPaulandGwendolyn,ArchdukeFerdinandwoulddieofanassassin'sbullet.Weeks later thegunsofAugustwouldchangetheirlivesforever.

Derek's father was an extraordinary man whom Derek would refer to withhonorandlongingallhislife.PaulPrincewasborninDerbyshireonApril27,1882.His father,Edwin,was a cottonmanufacturerwho, alongwithhiswife,Agnes Ann, provided a good life for young Paul. Yet, like his future father-inlaw,Paul left the agrarian life behind andwon an appointment to theRoyalMilitaryAcademyatSandhurst.Graduatingin1900,hiscommissionwasoneofthelastdocumentsQueenVictoriaeversignedinherownhand.

LieutenantPrincewas assigned to theRoyalEngineers, and after training ingeneralengineeringandsubmarineminingatPortsmouth,hesteamedtoIndiaontheSSSiciliatoserveintheQueen'sOwnSappersandMiners.Hewouldgivehimself toIndiafor twentyyearsbeforereturningtoEnglandtoinstructyoungengineers for another decade. Retiring in 1935, he would live another thirtyyears,anditwasonlyduringtheselatteryearsthathebecametrulyaccessibletohisson.

ThesethenwerethecharacterswhofilledthestageofDerek'searlylife.Itisfitting to speakof them in just such terms for, asvaliantandasgiftedas theywere, toDerek theywerenot unlikeplayers on a stagewithwhomhehadnopersonal connection. It is important to remember that in the Victorian andEdwardian eras, people rarely spoke of religion, seldom spoke of personalmatters,andthoughtdisplaysofemotionasignofweaknessorinstability.Thiswas particularly true among military men. Though Derek revered his familymembers and always remembered themwith pride, he barely knew them andwasataloss,evenattheendofhislife,tospeakoftheminanyrelationalterms.Theywere symbols, examples, and influences, but theywere never intimates.ThismakesDerek'searlyyears largelyabout the impartationofaheritage thatboth empowered and imprisoned him. It is the defining dichotomy of his life,onethatmakesthesuccessesofhislaterlifeevenmoreremarkable.

WhenDerek Prince was born, then, on that August day in 1915, his proudparentsundoubtedlyintendedtofashiontheirsonintoachampionoftheempire.At his baptism on October 12, the Rev. Hatchell of St. John's Church inBangalorewouldhaveheldthebabyaloftandofferedhimtoGodasPeterDerekVaughan Prince, "Christ's new faithful soldier and servant." These were thevenerated words of the Anglican liturgy of baptism, but they were also thedearest hopes of the Vaughans and the Princes who stood misty-eyed inattendancethatday.

Not longafterPeterDerekVaughanPrincewasborn,hismotherdeclared thatshedidnotlikethenamePeterandthattheboywouldhenceforthbeknownasDerek.Howhecametobegivenanamehismotherdidn'tlikeisnotknown,butthe incident does say something of the strength of Gwendolyn's personality.Derek'slifelongattractiontostrong-willedwomenwasprobablyanextensionofhisownmother'sforcefulness.

Derek'searly lifewasasmuchIndianas itwasBritish. In themannerof thetimes,hewasrearedmorebyhisIndiannanny,calledanayah,thanhewasbyhisownmother. In the traditionofcenturies,Britishchildrenof thatage lived

largely under the tutelage of servants and had timewith their parents only atpredeterminedtimesoftheday.Derekspentthefirstfiveyearsofhislife,then,as the temporarilyadoptedchildofanIndianwomanand,often,aspartofherfamily. He started life speaking Hindustani as well as English and knowingIndianloreaswellasthepoemsofRudyardKiplingandthelegendsofNelsonandClive.InthesamewaythatBritishnanniesinLondontookthechildrenofaristocrats on strolls through Hyde Park and down the tree lined Pall Mall,Derek'sayah tookhim to themarketsofBangaloreand tobusycornerswheretheotherayahsofBritishfamiliescollectedtosharethegossipoftheday.

Derek's early childhood was similar to the romance of a Kipling novel. Helived in an exotic, violent, clashing world where East did indeedmeetWest.Americans would know the culture of Derek's early life as "frontier." Nativeuprisingswerecommon,thieveswerehung,andwildanimalssometimescarriedbabiesoff in thenight.Derekwitnesseditall.Shortlyafterbirth,Derekwouldhavebeenlaidupontigerskins.Thereweremanyinhisfamilyhomes,mostofthemshotbyhisfather.Twowerehismother'sprizes.Dangerwaseverywhere.During the years Derek lived in Bangalore, two officers were killed in anelephant stampede. He knew men who had been mauled by the big cats orcrippledbysnakebites.These imagescaptivatedhimand inspiredhim towritethe first "book"ofhis life, entitledMyFirstGameAnimal.Hewasbarely sixwhenhewroteit.

The dinnertime conversation he overheard would have been filled withspeculation about Indian uprisings and assassinations. The year before Derekwas born, Gandhi had returned to India from South Africa, and there wasrebellionintheair.TheBritishdespisedthismanthatChurchillcalleda"half-nakedfakir,"but theirspitewasmixedwithfear.ThenativeswerelisteningtoGandhi.Timeswere tense,andlittleDerekmusthavesensedit.Moreover, thetalkofwar inEurope andofGerman intrigue in theEastmust have filledhisyoungimaginationwithflamingimages.

The most important images from his first five years of life, though, wereinspired byDerek's father.CaptainPrincewas an unusual, often contradictoryman.Hewas,on theonehand,asuccessfulandrespectedBritishcommander.Yet he had a nonconformist's soul.He chafed in the regimentation ofmilitary

life and was never happier than when far from headquarters with his fellowofficers and an Indian crew building a bridge or laying a road. He loved thefreedom,thebeautyofanopensky,andthesolaceofaquietwilderness.Derek'searliestmemoriesofhisfatherwereofthecaptain'sunrestrainedjoyuponbeingassigned to build in some remote backwater of India. Oddly, this meant thatDerekknewhisfatherwashappiestwhenawayfromhome,amessagehisyoungsoulcouldnothavefailedtoabsorb.

YetPaulPrincewasalsoamanofunusualcompassionandconscience.UnlikemanyofhisfellowBritishofficers,helearnedtoloveIndia,tobefriendIndians,andtodespisetheWesternarrogancethathebelievedwaspoisoningtheempire.Other officers thought him strange. He gave exceptional responsibility todeserving Indians on his crew. This shocked his British peers. He was alsogenerousandpersonablewiththe"natives."Heoftenspokeupintheirdefensebefore his superiors and seemed to prefer Indian company to British in somecases.Hewasaccusedof"goingnative"or"goingsoft,"buthedidn'tmind.PaulPrinceservedhiskinginuniform,butitwashisconsciencethatruledhislife-alessonnotlostonhisson.

CaptainPaulwasalsounusualasafather.ItwouldbenaturaltoexpectthatagraduateofSandhurstandacareermilitarymanwouldbeastrictdisciplinarian.Sometimesthiswasindeedthecase.Derekoncecollapsedintohilariouslaughterwhen a cousin was visiting and seemed unable to recover himself. ThisinfuriatedhisfatherandearnedDerektheworstspankingofhismemory.Itmayhave been thatCaptain Paulwas simply embarrassed by his son's behavior infrontofpeers.ThiswascertainlythecasewithDerek'sothermajoroffense:hisfailuretostandwhen"GodSavetheQueen"wasplayed.Everyloyalsubjectofthe queen was expected to rise to attention at the first notes of this anthem.Derek never did. Captain Paul thought his son was being disrespectful, andDerekwasrepeatedlypunisheduntilhisparentsdiscoveredthathewashorriblytone-deaf,adefecteasilydetectedbythosewhoheardhimsingthroughouthislife.

In anotherbreak fromboth theEdwardian andmilitary cultures inwhichhelived, Derek was always encouraged to address his father by his first name.Derek'sboyhoodfriendswouldhavebeenaddressingtheirfathersas"Papa"or,

moreformally,as"theMajor"or"theColonel."Derekusedthename"Paul"andneverthathecouldrememberaddressedthemanas"Father"or"Dad."

Perhapsmoresignificantly,CaptainPaulneveroncetoldhissonthathelovedhim.ItisoneofthemostdefiningdeficitsofDerek'slife,thoughnotunusualinthat age. Derek never remembered climbing into his father's lap, neverremembered a fatherly hug, and never remembered an intimateword betweenthem.Suchactsoftendernessmayhaveoccurred,butiftheydid,theyweresoinfrequent that the adult Derek could not recall them. It is a heartbreakingreality, and all the more so when we reflect that the man who would beinternationallyknownforhisfamilylife,whowouldhaveaglobalreputationasa spiritual father, and who would teach love to millions-this man had neverknowntheloveofhisearthlyfather.

WhatDerekdidknowfromanearlyagewastheexpectation,thestandard,therule.Thiswas theprimarymessageofhisearly life: there isawaychosenforyou,sowalk in it.But itwasnotawaychosenbyGod,personality,orgift. Itwasawaydefinedbyculture,class,anddictateoftradition.TheIndianscalledthispakkah:whatisexpectedofaman,thewayheoughttobe.IfDerekheardthiswordonceinchildhoodhehearditamilliontimes.Ifhewasloudatplay,hismotherscoldedthathisbehaviorwasn'tpakkah.Ifhemussedhisclothes,hisfatherwarnedthatotherswouldknowhewasn'tpakkah.Itwasthedefiningruleoflife.Amanhasaroletoplayasdeterminedbythepastandhispeers,andhedishonorsbothifherefusestofilltheform.

Obviously, such expectations can be stifling, soul-numbing, and vain. Yetthere was in this inheritance a good and noble understanding of what a manought tobe,and this tooseepeddeeply intoyoungDerek's soul. It iscapturedbest, perhaps, in Rudyard Kipling's oft-quoted poem "If-." Kipling, the poetlaureate of the British Empire, had written the poem to commend to a newgeneration the heroism thatmadeEngland great. Published in 1910 as part ofRewardsandFairies,thewordscametodefinethemanlyidealoftheage.

TheimpactofthispoemonyoungDerekishardtoexaggerate.Athisparents'urging,hememorized itword forwordby the timehewas five.Hewasoftencalled upon to recite each verse as votive confirmation of the man England

destinedhimtobe.Afatherlyrebukemightbeginwiththewords,"AsKiplingsaid..." only to be followed by several lines of the poem in answer to sometransgressiononDerek'spart.Eveninoldage,Derekwouldleanbackwithhiseyesclosedandrecitethepoemflawlessly,tearsstreamingdownhischeeks.

Indeed,socriticalareKipling'swordstoanunderstandingofDerek'slifethattheybearreprinting.Hearingthewordsagain,particularlythroughtheearsofafive-year-olddesperatetopleasehisfatherandawaitingworld,willtakeusfarinunderstandingtheculturalsoilfromwhichDerekgrew.

AsmovingandinstructiveasKipling'swordsare,wemustrememberthattheyare about the externals: behavior, character, duty, and skill. But they are notaboutthesoul,aboutthathungryinnermanofwhomprophetsandpoetsspeak,anditispreciselyinthistensionbetweentheinnerandouterlifeofmanthatwefindthedefiningtensionofDerekPrince.

England taughtDerek to perform. It taught him honor as theway of amanfulfillinghisrole.India,though,taughtDerekmystery.IntheHindugods,intheIndiansuperstitions,inthebarelyconceivableideasofreincarnation,karma,andBrahma-the invisiblepressed itself intoDerek'sworldview.Englandwasmindand body. Indiawas spirit. Englandwas realitymastered. Indiawas reality asprison. England lived in the visible. India looked past the visible to what itthoughtwasthereal.Englandtaughtmantoachieve.Indiataughtmantocease.

Derekwouldspendthefirstdecadesofhislifetornbythepullofthetwo.Hewasasonoftheupperclasswhowouldearlylearnhisdutyandstrivetofulfillit.Inschool,ontheplayingfield,andinsocietyasawhole,hewouldgivehisallto become theman of England's dream.Yet hewould always feel amysticaldraw,thelureofaworldoutsidehisown.Dangerously,though,whathefeltwasnotthelureofChristianmysteriesbuttheseductiveappealofpaganspirituality.Itwouldhaunthimuntilagreaterpowerintervened.

Hefirstfelttheintrusionof"thedarkside,"ashesaidlaterinlife,duringaninnocent fatherly prank.Men of Paul Prince's generation believed that teasingtheir sons made them better men. Once during a family picnic, Captain PaulremovedapieceofmelonfromDerek'splateandhiditwhiletheboy'sheadwasturned.WhenDerek noticed his fruit was gone, he erupted. Screaming at theservants inHindustani, he insisted they return the fruit hemistakenly thoughttheyhadstolen.Thefamilysimplylaughedatthefive-year-old'stantrum.

Derekrememberedinlateryearshowitwasinthatmomentofangerthathefeltsomethingenterhim.Itwasastrength,apowerbeyondhisownthatfilledhiswordsandcaughthimupingreattorrentsofrage.Evenaftertheheatofhispassion passed, he knew somethingwas different and that itwasn't good. Foryears, he would feel it return, welling up inside of him when emotionsummoned.ThiswasmorethanthespiritualityIndiaoffered.Itwas,ashewouldlaterlearn,spiritsofeviloccupyingtheterritoryofferedthem.OnlyafterDerekhad learned of their existence and how to defeat them was he able to offersimilarvictorytohisgeneration.

Yet itwasbecauseof thisoccupation, thisembeddingof force intohis soul,that Derek would always say that India had laid claim to him. He clearlybelieved that in India something had reached for him, sought to own him.ThoughhewouldreturntoEnglandattheageoffivetotakeupthedutiesofhisstation,heknewhecarriedwithinhimself something thatheacquired in Indiaandthatsoughttoexertcontroloverhislife.Itwouldmakehimmiserable,drivehimtoimmorality,distancehimfrommeaning,andleavehimexhausted.Allthewhile, he would live the pristine existence of the English upper class in theEdwardianera.Hecouldnotdenythestrugglethough.EnglandandIndiawerewrestlinginhissoul.

2

TheGrayStreak:LonelyIstheChild

HEREWERETIMESin listening toDerekwhenIwondered ifhewasevertouchedbyhisownstory.Hehadtolditsomanytimesbeforeandhadlived such a long time, I sometimes couldn't tell if he remembered from theheart.

ThenamomentwouldcomewhenIknewhedid.Often,though,Ihadtostophimandremindhimtofeel.

I had studiedWinstonChurchill, and I remembered the agonizing lonelinessyoungWinstonfeltinhisearlyyears.HewaspackedofftowhattheBritishcallpublicschool-Americanswouldtermthisprivateschool-andoftendidn'tseehisparents for months at a time. His letters home pleading for a visit areheartrending.Cruelly,his fathersometimesgaveaspeech twoblocks fromhisson'sschoolbutwouldn'tdropbyforavisit.ThestampoflonelinessneverfadedfromWinston'ssoul,formingitselfintodepressionandrageinhislaterlife.

AsDerekspokeofhisownexperienceinpublicschool,I listened,butIwasdisturbed.HewasdescribinganexperiencejustlikeChurchill's,buthebetrayednofeeling.Theemptinessinhisvoicetroubledme.

Stoppinghim,Iasked,"Wasn'titlonely?Wasn'titpainfultobesoalone?"

Derek looked abit shocked, because itwasn'tmyhabit to interrupt.Hewaskind, though. He stopped, reflected, and then uttered the words that were sopainfullybeautifultheyalmostcapturethehumancondition.

Slowlyhesaid,"Lifewasagraystreak,"andthen,lookingawayasthoughtodistance himself from the memory, he said pleadingly, "but I had nothing tocompareitto."ItwasthenthatIknewDerekhadforgottennothingandstillfeltitall.

It is odd how our earliest memory in life comes back to us again and again.Somethingabout thatfirst lastingimageseemstocaptureeverythingaboutourbeginning.Onceitbecomesfixedinourmind,itformsintoasymbolwedrawfromfortherestofourdays.

OneofDerekPrince'searliestmemorieswasofclimbingtherailingofahugeshiptolookoverthesideintothewaves.Herememberedthathismothercalledoutforhimtoclimbdown,thatitwasn'tsafe,andDerekrememberedthefeelingalllittleboyshavewhenabigadventureisthwarted.

Theyearwas1920,andDerek,thenonlyfive,wasonasteamerleavingIndiafor England. What had probably fascinated young Derek was a ritual allEnglishmen observed as they left the subcontinent. Typically, each passengertookoffhissolar topee, thecanvas"pithhelmet"popularamongtheBritish inthetropics,tiedaropetoit,andletitdraginthewaterastheshipsteamedhome.It was a way of saying good-bye, of tipping one's hat to the home now leftbehind.

Derek probably remembered this voyage all his life both because every boyremembershisfirsttimeatseaandbecausehislifewasabouttochangeforever.His parents haddecided that he shouldbe educated inEngland andnot in thecolonial schools of India. So, in 1920, Derek and his mother made the longvoyagebacktoEnglandsothatDerekcouldlivewithhisgrandparentsandgotoaproperEnglishschool.

Thoughnoonecouldhaveknownitatthetime,Derek'slifewouldneveragainbe the same. In India, he had known a stable home, doting servants, and thesecurityofatightcommunity.Now,atthetenderageoffive,hewasbeginninga

lifestyle that would define him for decades: separation from parents, monthsaway at boarding school, and the family constantly relocating, makingcommunityandlastingrelationshipsvirtuallyimpossible.

WhenDerekandhismotherfinishedtheirlongvoyagetoEngland,theyweremetbyDerek'sgrandparents,whohadmovedhomefromIndiaandretiredsomeyearsbefore.RobertandAmyVaughanlivedtheninSussexinasmallvillagecalledCookfield,andforafewmonthsDerekandGwendolynstayedwiththem.After arrangementsweremade, though,Gwendolyn returned to India, leavingDerekwithhisgrandparents.

Hismother's departuremarks the beginning of an agonizing time for youngDerekandtheintroductionofaforcethatwouldhaunthimtherestofhisdays:loneliness.OneofthethemesthatsurfacedofteninDerek'sadultconversationsabouthislifewashisstrugglewiththisfoe.Itseemedtowanttoownhimandpressitselfintohissouluntilhisheartwouldbreakandhisvisionwoulddim.Inhisearlydays,hewasitsvictim.Inmidlife,heconqueredit,buthealwaysknewitwasstalkinghim.Then,inhislatteryears,hehearditsvoiceagainandfoughtit valiantly. Yet all his life he felt as though loneliness was an enemy onassignmentagainsthimandthathehadtomasterittobeofanyconsequence.

His second early childhood memory reveals how he first met this foe. Hismother had returned to India some months before. Derek was playing in hisgrandparent'shome.Suddenly,heheardfootsteps.Hisfirstthoughtwas,Mother!She'shome.Thenherealizeditwasonlythefootstepsofthemaidonthefloorabove.Thetearscame,asdidthecrushingrealizationthathewasallalone,thathismotherandfatherwereontheothersideoftheworld.Heneverforgotthatmomentand,laterinhislife,cametobelievethatadestructiveformofgriefsetitshooksintohissoulatthatmoment.

RobertandAmysensedtheirgrandson'splightandtriedtomakehimhappy.There were walks in the park, pony rides, and games with the neighborhoodchildren.TheretiredgeneralseldomletyoungDerekmissanarmyparade,andtherewasnolackoftoysandgifts.ThetruthisthatRobertwasintenselyproudof young Derek and showed him off wherever he could, always betraying aglowingfondnessfortheboy.

Still,Derek could not have helped thinking of India and his distant parents.The Vaughan's home in Cookfield was filled with treasures acquired from adistinguishedmilitarycareer.Therewere Indianarmyuniformshanging in thecloset, tiger skins on the floor, and furnishings all throughout the house thatcalled themind to the East. In themanner of people who have lived abroad,Robert and Amy often spoke in partial phrases of the Hindustani they hadlearned,neverlettingDerekforgetthelandofhisbirth.Thoughhisgrandparentsdidnotintendit,theirchatterinthelanguageofIndiaonlykindledthelonginginhisheart.

Itwasduringtheseyears,though,thatDerekfirstwitnessedthekindofpietythatwould laterdefinehis life.Oneeveninghewalked intohisgrandmother'sbedroomand foundheronherknees,openedBiblebeforeher, prayingaloud.The boy thought it strange and asked her about it. She told him that everyeveningatseveno'clockshereadtheBibleandthenkneltinprayer.Ithadbeenher habit for years. ThoughDerek could not explain it, he immediately had asensethathisgrandmotherspentmuchofhertimeprayingforhim.Yearslater,he was sure it was her prayers that drove a wedge between his soul and thesurroundingcultureanddrewhimeverfurtherinhisspiritualjourney.Evenonhisdeathbed,hewouldtearfullyrememberherintercessions.

When Derek was seven, he began attending a school in the Sussex town ofWorthing. It was a small, privately owned school run by several ladies whopreparedthechildrenoftheupperclassforEngland'selitepreparatoryschools.Derek would have been drilled in all the basic academic subjects, but histeachers would also have emphasizedmanners, character, and religion. Givenwhathewouldbecome,oneofthegreatbenefitsofDerek'sschoolyearswastherequired studyof theBible,Christianhistory, andAnglicanpolity.Thoughhehadnoactive faithofhisown in theearlyyears,Derek'smindandheartwerenevertheless being filledwith thewords and the truths of theBible: from theAnglican liturgy, from the scriptures he was required to memorize, from hisstudyoftheGreekNewTestament,andfromthemanyreligionclasseshewasrequired to take. Time and again his life would be changed as these early

plantingssprangtolife.

In1924,Derek'sparentsreturnedtoEngland.Ithadbeenfouryearssincehehadlastseenthem,andwhenheglimpsedthefigureofhismotherdisembarkingfrom the huge ship along the Portsmouth dock, he ran to her and collapsedtearfully inherarms.Hewasonlynine,butnearlyhalfhis lifehadbeenspentaway from his parents. This was not an uncommon separation in those days.Parentsservingabroadunderstoodthattheyweresacrificingtheirchildrentotheempire. The children, though, paid a huge price emotionally, a price oftenunrecognizeduntilthosechildrenreachedadulthood.

AfterashorttimeinWorthing,thePrincefamilymovedtoKentandsettledina tiny village calledBobbing, nearwhereMajorPrince servedwith theRoyalEngineers. Oddly, the family lived in an oast house, a building designed fordryinghopsduringthebrewingprocess.Whyamajorinthearmychosetosettlehisfamily insuchasimpledwelling isnotknown,but thesettingfilledyoungDerekwithasenseofadventure.Thehousehadnoelectricity,andDerekhelpedhisfatherkeeptheoillampstrimmedwithmilitaryprecision.BehindthehousetherewasawalledpeachgardenwithfruitsolusciousthememoryofitbroughtadreamysmiletoDerek'sfaceforyearsafter.Thereweresometimesfires,too,and one of Derek's lifelong memories of Bobbing was the fiery vision of anearbyoasthouseburningtothegroundinthenight.

Thisboyishblisswasshort-lived,forinamannerconsistentwiththepatternofhis life, Derek was soon sent away to school. His parents had chosen aprestigious institution called Hawtrey's, some two hours away at Margate, aquietcoastal townonthesoutheastcoast.Derekwouldspendmostof thenextfouryearsofhislifethere.

Hawtrey'swasfoundedbytheRev.JohnHawtrey,anassistantmasteratEton,one ofEngland's premier schools devoted to preparing youngmen forOxfordandCambridge.Seeinganeedforbetterschoolsdesignedtopreparecandidatesfor Eton, Rev. Hawtrey first set up St. Michael's School at Alden House inSloughin1869.Theschoolcontinuedtherefor thirteenyears,producingsomeofEngland'sfinestscholarsandleaders.In1881,Rev.HawtreyvisitedhissisteratMargate andwas so impressedwith the healthy climate of the little coastal

town that hemovedhis school there. It quickly gained a reputation for being,alongwithTheDragonSchool,oneofthetwoprimarypreparatoryschoolsforEtonandwasrenamedinhonorofitsfounderwhenhediedin1916.

Derekrememberedthetraumaofhisfirstdayattheschoolfortherestofhislife. His parents took him to Margate in the family's snub-nosed Morrisautomobile,andDerek'slastingimpressionwasofbeingdeeplyembarrassedbyhowhisfather'scarcomparedtotheDaimlersdrivenbytheparentsoftheotherboys.ItisoddthatthenormallynonconformistandunflappableDerekwouldbeembarrassedby sucha thingas a car, butperhaps it says somethingabout thecultureoftheschoolandthesenseofcompetitionthatinfectedhimassoonashearrived.

TheMajorandGwendolynregisteredDerek, touredthe threebrickbuildingsoftheschool,andthenturnedtosaygood-bye.Derekalwaysrememberedthathismotherkissedhimandhis fathersimplyshookhishandandwalkedaway.The boy was left alone-again. Immediately, though, the new students wereherdedintoaroomtohavethe"procedures"explainedtothem.Itwasapitifulscene. Several dozen nine-year-olds, many already in tears, stood at attentionwhiletheschool'spolicieswereexplained.Oneboycouldstanditnolongerandfinally cried out, "I want my mommy." Other boys began to cry aloud insympathy.Derekdidnotcry,butitwasjustatthatmomentthathefeltitagain:thatparalyzing,gnawingloneliness,thefeelingthatwouldbecomehisenduringmemoryofHawtrey's.

Fortunately,hewasgivenlittletimetowallowinemotion.TheheadmasterofHawtrey's during Derek's time there was a man named Frank Cautley, ahandsome, dashing scholar/athlete who was married to the founder'sgranddaughter. Cautley knew that the only antidote to homesickness wasindustry, and he quickly herded the new class into their routine. There werestudies to begin, sports to master, and the ever-pressing need to keep thingsclean,pressed,orderly,andneat.Allthewhile,Cautleytaughttheboysthattheywere theelite, that theymust learn toperform thedutiesof the rulingclass inservicetoGodandcountry.Thiswastheirmission,theircalling-andHawtrey'sintendedtoteachthemhowtofulfillit.

Despite his loneliness, it was at Hawtrey's that Derek began to stretch hiswings and explore his powerful natural gifts.Cautley's bold example capturedDerek's young imagination, and he quickly rose to the challenge the schoolissuedtohim.Theboyimmediatelyfoundthathehadaclear,systematicmind,perfectlysuitedforlanguagesandstudyoftheclassicalliteraturethatcomprisedthecoreof thecurriculum.WithCautley'surging,hegavehimself to athleticsandfoundthathehaduntappedabilitiesthatwonhimtheadmirationoftheotherboys. He played rugby, tennis, football, and cricket, and he excelled at all ofthem.Almosteffortlessly,hebecametheleadstudentintheschool.Hewastall,handsome,gifted,andpopular.

Yet, he was also becoming an odd combination of proud, distant, anddisgruntled. Apart from Cautley, he had little respect for his teachers andactually felt superior to them. Some of this, surely,was adolescent arrogance,andsomewasagenuinelyhigherintelligence,butitlefthimcynicalandbored.Theadmirationofhisfriendswassweettohissoul,buthewasstillaloner,everaloof. He had no warm relationships, was self-sufficient in the extreme, andoftenseemeddrawnintohimself.

Onavisithome,hismothernoticedherson'slonertendenciesandaskedhimto explain. "You're not like other boys," she said, "You have no friends, nohobbies."

Derekthoughtforaminuteandreplied,"ButIdohaveahobby."

Surprised,sheasked,"Well,whatisit?"

"Iwon'ttellyou,"heteasedandthensaid,"ButI'lltellyoutheinitials:HN."His mother was perplexed, and only after a good deal of time passed did heexplainthatthelettersstoodfor"humannature."

The exchange is revealing. His mother is deeply concerned about her son'sincreasingly oddnature.Derek toyswith her, gives only a partial answer, andthenexplains thathishobby ishumannature.Gwendolyncouldnothavebeencomforted by her son's strange answer and increasingly strange ways. Derekwas,afterall,onlytwelveatthetime.

Bythetimeheturnedthirteen,DerekhadabsorbedeverythingHawtrey'shadtogive,andHeadmasterCautleydecidedhisgiftedyoungscholarshouldattemptthe entrance exams for Eton. Derek took the train to the legendary Englishschoolandfoundthathisexaminationconsistedofanessayontheproposition"if it isgood,fightfor it."Itwasa typical themeof theage,a timewhenmenwerestillreelingfromthelossesofthewarandwonderingifanycausecouldbeworthsuchhorriblebloodshed.ThemastersatEtonclearlywantedtogetasenseofDerek'ssoulaswellashismind.Hisessaymusthavebeenstellar.Returninghome the same day, he stepped off the train at Margate only to be met byCautley,whowaswavingatelegramfromEtondeclaringthatDerekhadalreadybeenaccepted.ThedecisiontoadmitDerektoEtonwasmadeinhalfaday.

InJulyof1929,DerekPrinceenteredEtonCollegeandso joined the ranksofEngland's emerging elite. He would walk in the footsteps of nineteen primeministers, twosignersof theAmericanDeclarationofIndependence,andsomeofthegreatestthinkers,artists,andexplorerstheworldhaseverknown:AldousHuxley,GeorgeOrwell,PercyShelley,RandolphChurchill,IanFleming,HenryFielding, JohnWhitehead,ThomasMerton, and JohnMaynardKeynes. ItwasassumedatEtonthatitsstudentsweredestinedforgreatness.

Derek's scholarship earnedhimaplace as the tenthbest student in the1929enteringclass,orwhatEtoncalledan"election."Hewasfortunate.WhenHenryVI founded the school in 1440, he hadmade provision for seventy deservingyoungscholars to receivea freeeducation. In the slangofEton, these seventycame tobeknownas"Tugs," short for theLatinword toga,a reference to theblackgownstheseseventystudentswore.Yet,throughthecenturies,theschoolgrewbeyond these initial seventyuntilbyDerek'sday thereweremore thanathousand. These other students were called Oppidans, or "town dwellers,"becausetheylivedinthesurroundingtownratherthaninschoolquartersliketheTugs.TheOppidansalsopaidtheirowntuition,somethingDerek'sfathercouldneverhaveaffordedonhismodestarmysalary.Clearly,Derek'sintellectualgiftswerepavinghiswaytopower.

DerekinitiallyfoundEtonadisorientingplace.Hewasrequiredtowearatophat,tailcoat,stiffwhite-collaredshirt,andwhitebowtie.Becausehewasamongthenewstudents,the"electionof1929,"hewasforbiddentoputhishandsinhispockets.Itwasalightformofhazing,aswastherequirementthathecouldonlywalkononesideofthestreet.Therewasalsothetraditionoffagging,inwhichanolderstudentmadeanewstudenthisservant.Usuallythisarrangementwasgentleonthenewboy,butsometimesitbecameanightmare.Beatingswerenotuncommon at Eton, committed both by older boys against their "fags" or byschoolofficialstocorrectabuses.

Derekescapedtheworstofthisandsettledintotheroutinelargelythroughthecomfortofnewfriends.Theboysheregularlydinedwithwerecalledhis"mess"in Eton-speak, and these became his dearest comrades. There was JohnWaterlow,whosefatherwastheBritishministerinAthensatthetime.HewasthetopstudentofDerek'selection.TherewasaGreekstudentnamedVlastoandaboycalledHolmes,amongothers.Evenattheendofhislife,Dereksoftenedintosentimentalityashespokeofthem.

HislifewasdefinedbythesmallnumberofmenwhoruledhisdaysatEton.TherewasfirstthekindlyDr.Alington,headmaster,whomDerekloved.Amanwho reveled in the company of youth and often treated disciplinary problemswith humor, Alington inspired Derek with his love of history and his poeticsense.Thetwooccasionallywalkedtogetheracrosstheschoolgrounds,ahugetreatforanyTug.Yet,Alingtoncouldbefirm,evenharsh,inthelongtraditionoftheschool.OnceDerek'selectionwasfoundtobetoo"uppish"andwereallcaned. Another time they received the same punishment for speaking ill of ateacher.

Someoftheteachers,ormasters,deservedtobespokenillof.Dereklivedforawhileinahouserunbyamanknownforhisrepressedhomosexualbehavior,oftentryingtokisstheboyswhensayinggoodnight.Derekandhishousematessimplyavoidedhimwhenpossible,buthisbehaviordidnotendearhim tohischarges.Still,studentsatEtonhadlearnedtoexpectoddbehaviorfromsomeoftheirmastersandtookitallinstride.

AnotherofDerek'smasterswasmoredifficulttoendure.Infact,Derekhated

the man, and he was not alone in despising him.Writing years later, one ofDerek'sclassmates,FreddieAyer,capturedthevenomousattitudeofmostoftheboyswhohadencounteredthismasterinmathematicsandhousemaster.HehadalonghistorywithEton,Ayerwrote,which:

...atleastledhimtotakeaninterestinboys,whichmighthavebornebetter fruit had he not been a sadist and a repressed homosexual.Heused to prowl about the passages at night and I could not go to thelavatoryafterlightsoutwithouthiscomingtomyroomandaskingmewhere Ihadbeen.Beingan innocentboy, Ididnot realizeuntil longafterwards that he was suspectingme of homosexuality. Hewas notallowedtobeattheboyshimself,buthecontrivedtohavethembeatenbyhissixth-formers(olderstudents)andlaterwhenhehadanOppidanhouseheblackmailedat leastoneboy, tomyknowledge, into lettinghim beat him. He was much concerned about our masturbation andused on his nightly rounds to question us about our apparent loss ofvitality...Ihatedhimatschoolandforsometimeafter,untilIsawhimdrunk at aChristChurch dinner and thought himmore pathetic thanodious.3

Ayerwasapparentlynotexaggeratingthemaster'sextremes.Oncewhenaboywas late returning tohishousebecausehehadbeendiningatWindsorPalace,themasterinsistedtheladgetanoteofexplanationfromhishost.Theboydidso, returningwithanotehandwrittenbyKingGeorgeVI.Themaster read thenoteand,seeingthatitincludednodate,threwitinthetrashcanbeforeissuingpunishment.Whenhediedin1967,thewifeofahousemastertoldafriend,"I'vebeengoing to funeralsall thisweekand [his]wasmuch thenicestbecausenoonecouldpossiblymind."

Though Derek was tormented by the likes of these housemasters, henevertheless thrived in the rich intellectual lifeofEton.He threwhimself intothe classical literature that his masters demanded, reading Horace, Virgil,Euripides, Pelham'sOutlines ofRomanHistory,Bury'sGreece, and Plutarch'sLiveswithrelish.HehadalreadyachievedsomecompetenceinGreekandLatinatHawtrey's,butwithintwoyearsofenteringEtonhecouldreadcompetentlyinbothlanguages.HisassignmentsincludedtranslatingEnglishpoemsinLatinandGreek andwriting poems of his own in classical style.Hewas once asked to

rewritethehymn"OnChristtheSolidRockIStand"inLatinverse.Thegraceofthehymnneverlefthim.

Thewrittenwordcaptivatedhim.Hewrote for theschoolnewspaper, joinedthe Essay Society, and became wild about Shakespeare, winning the school'sShakespeare Medal in 1933. He also won the Assistant Masters' Latin ProsePrizeandwas"sentupforgood"-commendedto theheadmaster-four timesforhisproficiency inLatinverse.Probably inamisguided literaryexperiment,hewroteaGreekiambicthatwassooddthatoneofhismastersentereditintohispersonaljournal.Literallytranslated,itmeant"Droppingdungisunexpectedtome."Strangely,themasteraddedthewords,"Sad,buttrue."

AshehadatHawtrey's,Derek thrived inathletics.Heplayedcricket, tennis,rugby,andanoddEtonsportcalled"TheWallGame,"whichoneoldEtoniancalled"largeboysfighting in themud."Derekhimselfsaid later in life that"itwasasillygamethatnobodyeverwonbecausetherulesweresocomplex."Yet,aswithothersportsatEton,theobjectivemaynothavebeenathleticexcellencesomuchascharacterdevelopmentandtheventingofadolescentenergy.Typicalof boys his age, Derek played games with a wild adolescent passion. Hishousemasteroncewroteafterarugbymatch,"Princeattimeslookedextremelywell,butwasalwayserratic."

SomeofthemostintriguingreferencestoDerek'stimeatEtonarefoundinthejournal of the CollegeDebating Society, which he apparently joined in 1933.The record of his words portrays a budding wit, a sharp mind, and a ratherunformed worldview. It also reveals the joviality of college life. One entry,writtenbyafellowdebater,contends,"Mr.Prince,whodiffidentlyproceededtomurmurafewindifferenttruismsonthealreadywell-wornsubjectofthedebate,continued."Inanotherentry,Derekcondescendinglychallengedaspeakerwhomade the statement, "The Classics are not what they were." "Really?" Derekreplied. "Have they changed?"WhenDerekonce spoke for too long, a fellowdebater recorded, "Mr. Prince decided that it was time to do some moredancing."

The playfulness of the debates aside, though, there were shining momentswhen it appears that Derek was wrestling with his faith. One of the society'sdebates had to do with whether the British government should purchase theCodex Sinaiticus from the Soviet Union. Discovered in the rubbish bin of aMount Sinai monastery in 1844, the Codex is a very ancient manuscript thatincludes largeportionsof theOldandNewTestament inGreekaswellas theapocryphalGospelofThomasandTheShepherdofHermas.Iteventuallycameinto Russian and then Soviet hands, which is why in 1933 England wasconsideringbuyingitforapriceof£100,000.

In the debate, Derek stood against the purchase. "First," he insisted, "thegovernment isnotentitledtospendotherpeople'smoneyonmereobjectsd'artsuchas aCodex.Second, themoney spenton itspurchasewouldprobablybeused to finance a Soviet anti-God campaign."At first, hiswords appear to bethoseofaneconomicconservativeandamanoffaith.Yet,themorehetalked,thelessclearhisviewsbecame,thoughhedidbetraysomeofhisthoughtsaboutGod.

TheSovietanti-GodcampaignwasnotreallyacampaignagainstGod,butagainstpriests.TherewaslittleofGodleft in theworldandwhattherewas,was far toodeeplyandcunninglyconcealed tobeaffectedbyaSovietcampaign.Inanycase,whatdiditmattertotheChurchofEnglandwhathappenedtoGodinRussia,providedthatinEnglandhereceiveda fillip from thepurchaseof theCodex? Inshort,hurray foranti-God!

Later in the debate, another student raised the question of whether Russiashouldberequiredtospendthe£100,000itwouldgetfromthepurchaseoftheCodexintheEnglisheconomy.Derektookthepositionthatitdidn'tmatter.

They will merely be able to devote the hundred thousand pounds,which theywouldnormallyhave spent in this country, to someotherpurpose-suchas,forinstance,theanti-Godcampaign.Ofwhich,bytheway,Ineitherapprovenordisapprove.Imerelysaythatthepurposetowhich themoney isdevoted isamatterofconsequence indifferent tothosewhosupportedthepurchaseoftheCodex.

WhatisoddisthatDerekseemstohavedraggedGodintothedebatewhenitwasn'tnecessary.ThesubjectwasbuyingancientChristiandocumentsfromtheSovietUnion.Itwasn'twhetherGodexistsorwhetherHehasrevealedHimselfadequately in theworld.GodmusthavebeenverymuchonDerek'smind.Hewasclearlywrestlingwithhisownsoul,havinganinnerdialogueabouthowtruealltheChristianitythathadbeenforceduponhimreallywas.

Histastesinliteratureatthetimealsoreflectthisinnergrapplingwithtruthandthestateoftheworld.WhilecasuallyscanningthebooksinasectionoftheEtonlibraryoneday,DerekhappeneduponthewritingsofAntonChekhov,thefamedRussian storyteller and playwright. Soon he was devouring Chekhov's shortstoriesand readingplays likeTheWoodDemonandTheSeagull aloud tohisfriends.

Chekhov'sworkreachedtoagrowingdarkness inDerek'ssoul. Increasingly,Derekhadbeguntoseetheworldintragicterms,aviewnotuncommoninthedespairingcultureofpostwarEngland.Theworldwascoldandthreatening,andmankindwas at themercyof titanic forces of harm.ForDerek itwasmore amood than a philosophy and one not unique to him among adolescents, but itdominated his outlook in these years. Derek might have described hisunderstanding of reality in very much the same terms that Chekhov used todescribethecentralmessageofhiswork.

AllIwantedwastosayhonestlytopeople:"Havealookatyourselvesandseehowbadanddrearyyourlivesare!"Theimportantthingisthatpeople should realize that, forwhen theydo, theywillmostcertainlycreateanotherandbetterlifeforthemselves.Iwillnotlivetoseeit,butIknowthatitwillbequitedifferent,quiteunlikeourpresentlife.Andso long as this different life does not exist, I shall go on saying topeople again and again: "Please, understand that your life is bad anddreary!"4

IfChekhovframedtheworldasDereksawit,PlatoframedtheworldasDerek

wished it to be.He had discovered Plato atHawtrey's in his study of ancientGreek and was immediately captivated by the alternate world the greatphilosopher proposed. Plato had suggested that the material world is but animperfectcopyof the idealworld.Thepresentworld,heargued, is filledwithforms,orcopiesofperfectobjectsthatexistintheidealrealm.Thus,atableinthisworldisbutaform,animperfectderivativeofaperfecttableinthelandoftheideal.Thesamewouldbetrueofaman,atree,orevenanidea.Theyallexistinperfectformin the idealworld.This ideaansweredDerek'ssouringviewofrealitywiththehopeofsomethingbetter."Ilovedtheideathatthereisaperfectworldsomewhere,"heoftensaidwhenrememberingtheseyears.

WhatDerekyearnedforwasheaven,buthisgripontheChristiantruths thatpromiseheavenhadlongbeenslipping.Itishardtosaywhenitbegan.Perhapshe had been herded into too many disappointing chapel services, forced towitness toomany lifeless rituals.Perhapshehad, likemanyofhisgeneration,turnedfromthetraditionsofChristianEnglandinthedisorientingaftermathofthe war. Whatever the case, he had clearly begun to reject the truths thatprovidedatleastthebackdropifnotthepassionoftheEdwardianera.

ThisdistancingfromthefaithofhisfatherswasevidentseveralyearsintohistimeatEtonwhenitcametimetobeconfirmedintheAnglicanchurch.Manyofthe boys at the school were confirmed at the age of fifteen and everyone,includingDerek'sparents,expectedthathewouldbeaswell.Yetwhenthetimecame,Derekwrotehisfatherandexplainedthathedidn'twanttobeconfirmed,that he wasn't sure he believed what a man had to believe to receive thesacrament.The letterhewrotehis fatherhasbeen lost,butDereknever forgothisfather'sresponse:"Alltheotherboysoffifteenarebeingconfirmed,andyouwillbe,too."

Itwasanunfortunatedecision.PaulPrinceinsisteduponwhatmustbedone,uponwhataboyofDerek'sageought todo.Hewasmakingsurehissonwaspakkah.YetbyinsistingthatDerekobservetheritualswhentheyclearlymeantnothingtohim,Princeforcedtheboyintotheworldofreligionasheartlessduty.The fact is that Derek may have had more respect for confirmation than hisfather did.He knew that itwas aweighty experience that ought to have deepmeaningforthosewhoobserveit.Derekhadsearchedhisheartandfoundthat

confirmation meant little to him, not to mention that the whole of Christiantheologywasinquestioninhismind.Perhapsifhehadbeenencouragedtowaitor if someone had coached him to understanding, Derek might have taken adifferentpathinhisearlyyears.

Instead,athisfather'sinsistence,hebecameacandidateforconfirmation.Hemet,notwithaminister,butwithahistoryteacherwhomadesurehelearnedalltherelevantscripturesbyheartandthathecouldanswerthestandardquestionsin the appropriate way: What is your name?Who gave you this name? Theanswer?"Mygodparentsatmybaptism,whereinIwasmadeamemberofChristandanheirofthekingdomofGod."Andsoitwent.Themindwasengagedbutseldomtheheart.

Surprisingly, confirmation brought a sense of conviction. Though heunderwent the ritual of confirmation in the most dismissive fashion, henevertheless found himself confronted with his own failings. "I thought tomyself,"hesaiddecades later,"confirmationhasreallycomeat theright time.I'mnotnearly asgoodas Iought tobe.So I'll turnover anew leafwhen I'mconfirmed. You know, I'll go to Communion and I'll brush my teeth andanythingelsethatIknowtodo."

Derek had embarked on the well-worn path toward moral perfection. LikeBenjaminFranklin, JohnWesley,MartinLuther,andanarmyofothersbeforehim,Derekhaddecidedtorespondtospiritualhungerwithaprogramofmoralimprovement.Theyearningof theheartwouldbemetwithchangedbehavior,theachingoftheinnermanansweredbyareformedouterlife.

Ofcourse,itdidn'twork.Infact,"TheharderItriedtobegoodthequickerIgotbad."Hewasconfrontinghisownpowerlessness.Asintelligentandtalentedas hewas, he could notmake himself good. In fact, he could not evenmakehimselfdisciplinedornicetoothers.LiketheapostlePaul,hefoundthatwhenhewoulddogood,evilwaspresent.Theconclusionhedrewwasdisastrous."Iconcluded that religion didn't work, at least it didn't work for me, and whyshould I bother with it. So really, it had the effect of turning me away fromChristianityandfromreligion."

Itispainfultowatch.AteenageDerekfindsthisworldwantingandbeginsto

lookforanalternaterealitytogivehimmeaning.TheChristianityhehasknownleaves himcold and empty, so he leans toChekhov forwisdomandPlato forhope.Yetwhenconfirmationisforcedonhim,itworkssomethingintohissoul.Hetriestobegood,thinkingthisiswhatitmeanstobeChristian.Hefailsandconcludes that Christianity may be true, but it isn't true for him. He growsdarker,emptier,andlesshopeful.

Healsogrowsangry:"ThenIbegantolosemyrespectIdidn'thavemuch-butIbegan to losemy respect forChristianity. I regarded it as a sortof crutch thatweak-willedpeopleneeded tohobble through lifewith. IdecidedIdidn'tneedthecrutch.However,aslongasIwasatEton,wehadtogotochapelonceeveryweekdayandtwiceonSundays.WhenIwentuptoCambridgeIdecidedthatI'ddoneallthechurchgoingIneededtodoinmyearlyyearsandIwouldn'tdoanymore."

Hewasangry,yes,butthetruthishewaslonelyandsecretlydisappointedthathis faithhadnoanswers forhisachingsoul.That familiar fiend, that isolatingloneliness,hadplaguedhimatEton.Hecalledtheschoola"nestofsnobbery,"arealization that only comes to onewho feels himself an outsider. In 1934, heheardChristmascarolssungbythecollegechoirandfeltsolonelyheweptandran fromhiscompanions tohide the tears. "Ican't really say that Ihadaveryhappy lifeatEton. Idon't thinkhappinesswasreallymuchesteemed.Youdidwhat youwere supposed to do, conformed to the customs and traditions, andprobably developed a certain amount of cynicism." It is just such cynicism,though,thatdoubtseverythingandleavesnothing.Foronealreadysusceptibletoadisablingloneliness,cynicismmeansonlygreaterisolationstill.

ItisnothardtoimaginethatIndiaandEnglandwereintensioninhissoul.Hewas a leading student in one of the finest schools in the land, an institutiondesigned topressdutyand imperialvalues into theheartsofEngland'syoung.Yet,hewaslongingfortheinvisible,themystical,thatperfectotherworldthatPlatopromisedandthatIndiahadfirstsuggested.

Typicalofhisage,hisotherworldwouldtakeasecondplacetothepressofthe

realone.Dutycalled.Expectationreigned.Hemustbepakkah.Ifhislonelinessand spiritual longing were not quite buried, they were at least silenced andsilenced by the roar of his generation's march. His philosophy at the time isperhapsbestcapturedbyhis favoritepoem,oneheoftenquotedaloudand theboysofEtonchantedtoeachotherasthemantraoftheiremergingworldview.Itis theLongfellowpoementitled "APsalmofLife," andwith its call to actionover contemplation, to doing over philosophizing, it fit the eager energy of agenerationweary of outworn ideals and longing for the bold action of a newcentury.

Derek loved thepoemand took itsmeaningashisown.Perhaps, though,heinterpreted ita littledifferently thanothersofhis time.Whenhis fiveyearsatEtonweredone,herefusedtoattendgraduationandsailedofftoEuropewithafewfriends.Ashelatersaid,"Thewildwascalling,soIlefttheconstrictionsofEtontoheeditsvoice."

3

Cambridge:TheHauntingoftheDead

OU'REKIDDING?"

"No,I'mnot."

"Youjustleft?"

"Yes."

"Youwerethenumberfourstudentatoneofthemosteliteschoolsintheland,andyoujustwalkedaway?"

"Well,Ifinishedmystudiesfirst,but,yes,Ijustwalkedout."

"Wherewereyougoing?"

"ToEurope.Iwantedsomethingtrueandbeautiful.So,Iwenttothecontinent.Itseemedwildtomefromafar,andthat'swhatIwanted-somethingdifferentanduntamed.SoIleft."

"Andyoudidn'tevenattendgraduation?"

"No, it didn'tmean anything tome, the pompofEton and all that. So I leftbeforeallthefuss."

"Didyougoalone?

"No.AnotherEtoniannamedAlanClifton-MoggwasgoingtoViennatolearn

German.Itwasdecidedthathewouldbetutoredbyacertainfamily,andallthearrangementsweremade.Hesaid,`Whydon'tyoujoinmeinVienna?'SoIsaid,'OK.'Myfatherquiteapprovedoftheideaandgavemetwentypoundsamonthforeverything:travel,food,lodging-everything."

"Yourparentsdidn'tmindthatyoumissedyourgraduation?"

"No, they were quite unconventional about those things, and you mustrememberthatgraduationsdidn'tmeanthenwhattheydonow."

"SoinMayof1934yousimplyleftEnglandbehindandwentoff toVienna.Whatdidyouendupdoing?"

"We stayed in the home of a woman named Frau Jutta Popper. She wasGerman,andherhusbandwasJewish,and lookingbacknowI realize thatshewasalreadydistancingherselffromhim.Ididn'tunderstandtheGerman/Jewishissue at the time. Politics didn't interest me. Alan and I spent our time atmuseumsandartgalleries."

"DidyoumastertheGermanlanguage?"

"No,werenegedon that idea. Ihad learnedsomeGerman inschool,butwegot aroundonEnglish,mostly.Wewere restless, andonedaymy friend said,`Let'sbuysomebicyclesandgowestward.'So,wedid."

"ButtheAlpsweretothewest,weren'tthey?"

"Yes,andIrealizenowthatthiswasacrazythingtodo.Imean,it'suphillalltheway.Ineverhaveenjoyedabicycle,andeversincethenI'veneverwantedtorideabicycleagain."

"Wheredidyoustay?"

"WewouldstayinFreundinzimmer,whatyoumightcall`youthhostels.'WecouldgetabedforfiveAustrianshillingsanight.WewenttoSalzburgandthento Innsbruck. Actually, at Innsbruck my bicycle was stolen, and I was reallyquitegratefulforthat.IdecidedtogosouthtoItalybytrain."

"Byyourself?"

"Yes.Ibecameadeptatsavinganight's lodgingsbytravelingonthetrainatnightsoIcouldsleep.IttookmeamonthtogettoItaly.IwenttoVenice,thenFlorence,andstayedwithSirGeorgeDickLauder,abaronetwhohadavilla.Heletmestaywithhim.ThenIwenttoRome."

"Whatwasgoingoninyourmind?Youseemalmostlikeahippiethen:alwaysonthemove,sleepingontrains,livingonthechangeinyourpocket.Whatwasdrivingyou?"

"Oh, the feeling of freedomwas exhilarating, Imust tell you. Yes, I was ahippiebeforetherewerehippies.IguessIjustwantedwhatwasreal,andIknewthat theculturearoundmewasn'treal.IdidanythingIcouldtopushbackandjustbeme.Ipaintedmytoenailspinkand..."

"Sayagain?Youdidwhat?"

"Ipaintedmytoenailspink.Iworesandals,andmytoenailsshowed,andIjustwantedtobedifferent.So,Ipaintedthem."

"Youknow,todaypeoplewouldprobablythinkyouwere..."

"Yes,Iknow."

"Well,wereyou?"

"No.Iwasarounditall thetime,butIneverwastemptedorhadanydesire.Youhave to understand thatwe felt the traditions had failedus.What societygaveusforanswershadbeentestedandfoundfalseintheGreatWar.Iwantedtoshoutabig`No!'totheworldaroundme.OnewayIdiditwasbypaintingmytoenails."

"ButyouwereEton,upperclass,andheadingtowardCambridge.Youweren'texactlyaradical,toenailsaside."

"Iwascaughtbetween twoworlds: thepathmyclassputbeforemeand thehungerthathauntedmygeneration.SomeofthemostmiserablepeopleIknew

wereyoungmenmyagewhofelttheywerebeingshovedontoastagetoplayarolethathadbecomeatragicfarce.Ifeltsomewhatthatway,anditwaspainful."

"Werethetoenailsyouronlyactofrebellion?"

"Oh,no.IhadarrangedtomeetmyfriendJohnWaterlowinAthens.HisfatherwastheBritishministerthere.IjoinedupwithJohn,hissister,andanothergirl,and we sailed around the Mediterranean on the yacht of the admiral of theBritishfleet."

"Thatsoundsprettytame."

"Well,wenotonlydidwhatyoungpeopleoftendowhenmalesandfemalesarethrowntogether,butwerentedasailboatcalledTheEmmyandproceededtosail around theGreek islesnude.Thatmadequitean impressionon theGreeksailorsandfishermanwepassed."

"Ibetitdid."

"ThentherewasthetimeIalmostgotmarried."

"Youwhat?"

"I almost gotmarried.My friendAlanClifton-Mogghadmet aRussiangirlfromUkrainewhoneededtomarrysomeoneintheWest,orshewouldhavetogobacktoRussia.HernamewasKitty.ShewasprettyinaSlavicway.WhenIheardofherplight,Iagreedtomarryher."

"Wereyouinlovewithher?"

"Idon'tthinkso,butIwantedtohelp."

"Whathappened?"

"We found out that in France,where she lived, you could notmarry unlessboth people had been citizens there for six months. So, no marriage. SheeventuallymarriedanAmericanandwrotemeduringthewar."

"Didyoutellyourparents?"

"Yes,Idid.IwrotemyfatherandtoldhimIplannedtomarryKitty.Hewrotebackdeeplyconcerned.Infact,IthinkwhatItoldhimagedhimconsiderably.Imusttellyou,though,thatourexchangeoflettersaboutKittywasthefirsttimeIever realizedhecaredaboutme. It is strangenow, lookingback, that thiswasso."

"Whatanamazingtimethiswasinyourlife.YouleaveEton,liveawildandnomadic life inEurope,and thenreturn toCambridge.Howlongdid this timeabroadlast?"

"Well,aboutfivemonths.IenteredCambridgeinOctoberofthatyear.

"Soforfivemonthsyoupressedtheboundariesoffreedom,morality,andevenyoursenseofyourself.Whatdidyoulearn?"

"Ihadmymomentarythrills.Ultimately,itwasempty.IreturnedtoEnglandnowiser,abitashamed,andailing."

"Ailing?Whatdoyoumean?"

"I had contracted a serious case of diarrhea that I couldn't master. Perhapsworse,my skin had broken out in amiserable case of acne that got so bad Icouldn'tcarrymybackpackonmyshoulders.AndIwasexhausted.IrodeatrainfromAthenstoSomerset,thirdclass.ThatmeantthatIrodeonwoodenseats,Icouldn'tsleep,andIhadlittletoeat.Thetriplastedsixdays.IarrivedlateonenightatLangport.Thankfully,mymotherhadsentataxiforme.Iwasneversogladforatriptoend."

"Didyouradventuresdoanythingtoyoureligiously?"

"No.Iprobablycamehomeconcludingthatfaithanddoubt,painandpleasurewereallthesame.Ifeltnothing,hopednothing,andbelievedalmostnothing."

"ItsoundslikeyouwerereturningtoIndiainyourheart,thatyouweremovingeastwardinyourworldview."

"That'sprobablytrue.TheabsolutesoftheWestweren'tprovingrealtome."

"And then you landed at Cambridge. That must have been a joltingexperience!"

"Yes. Itwas quite difficult.Not academically, because I always achieved inmystudies.ButitwasdifficultbecauseCambridgewasstillaffectedbythewarandthelossofsomany.Morethelossofbelief,really."

"IhavereadthatCambridgewasatroublingplaceinthe1930s.Isthattrue?"

"Yes, it was. There were no answers, but there was a heaviness. We felttrappedbyhistory.Thetruthis,Cambridgewashauntedbythedead..."

ThereisasceneinthemovieChariotsofFirethattenderlycapturesthedawnofthepostwareraatCambridge.Itisthecollegedinner,a"sumptuousaffair,"thenarrator tells us. The deans and faculty are seated at a head table, years ofwisdomandstudyetchedupon their faces.Theenteringclassof thecollege isbefore them, their tuxedos illuminatedelegantly in the lightof thecandelabrason the long rows of tables. High on the walls above the seated college arepictures of the ancients who seem to peer knowingly down upon theproceedings.

In the movie, the dean stands, looks tenderly at his students, and says inpracticedvoice,"I take thewar listandrundownit."Hebegins thenaspeechintendedtoinspiretheincomingclasswithvisionsofthoseformerstudentswhofell on the battlefields of the Great War. It is a beautiful scene, designed toreveal how thememoryof theFirstWorldWar fashioned the aspirations of anewgeneration.Anewkindofmanmustemerge,wearegiventounderstand,toleadtheOldWorldfromitstimewornwaysintothepromiseofanewera.

Itisawonderfulbitoffilmmaking,anditwouldbetemptingtobelievethatitisbutascriptwriter'sfancy.Thetruthis,however,thatsomethingverymuchlikeithappened.In1919,theyearaftertheGreatWarended,Rev.H.F.Stewart,the

deanofTrinityCollege,Cambridge,gaveasermonatacommemorationofthewar thatprovided the inspirationfor thescene inChariotsofFire.Thesermonwasbothpoeticbeautyandarevelationofhowtheeldergenerationviewedthesacrificesoftheirsons.SpeakingatSt.John's,DeanStewartsaid:

I take theWarList and I runmy finger down it.Here is name aftername which I cannot read and which my elder hearers cannot hearwithoutemotion-nameswhichareonlynamestoyou,thenewCollege,butwhichtous,whoknewthemen,bringuponeafteranotherpicturesof honesty andmanly beauty and goodness and zeal and vigour andintellectualpromise.Itistheflowerofageneration,thegloryofIsrael,thepickofEngland;andtheydiedtosaveEnglandandallthatEnglandstandsfor.6

ThiswastheprevailingviewoftheEnglishrulingclassintheyearsjustafterthewar:TheGreatWarwasawartosaveourworld.Thedeathofoursonswasatragicnecessity.LetushonorthosewhodiedtokeepEnglandsafe.

As theyearsprogressed, though, adifferentviewaroseamongall classes. Itgrew from the poetry of men like Siegfried Sassoon, Wilfred Owen, RupertBrooke,andThomasHardy.Ittookforminthetalesofleglessveterans,inthecynicalvisionsoftheVersaillesPeaceTreaty,inthedawningawarenessofwar'slastingdevastation,andintheconclusionsdrawnfromweighingnearlyamillionEnglishdeadagainstthemeagerwinningsofwar.Englandbegantobelievethatshehadindeedyieldedupthe"gloryofIsrael"butwiththerealizationintheendthatitwasnothingmorethanacostlytributetonationalpride,racialvanity,andbasebloodlust.Eventhepatrioticpoetofempire,RudyardKipling,grewangrybywar's end. Inhis "ADeadStatesman,"he took aimat thepolitical rhetoricthatledtoneedlessslaughter.

In the 1920s, a toxic brew of anger, despair, grief, and moral uncertaintypouredintothesoulsofEurope'syoung.Theybecame,inthewordsofGertrudeStein,"alostgeneration."AsF.ScottFitzgeraldwroteinThisSideofParadise,boththefewwhoreturnedfromwarandtheiryoungerbrotherswiththemsoonfound"allgodsdead,allwarsfought,allfaithsinmanshaken.118Theirparentshad lived in an age of certainty,with unshakable confidence in the remainingpillars of Victorian society. War changed everything. Now the young foundthemselves a generation without faith, without country, without morality, andwithoutevenahumanistichopeinthebettermentofman.Asifinsummaryofthetimes,oneofFitzgerald'scharacterssaid,"Iknowmyself,butthatisall."9

Bythe1930s,Cambridgehadbecomearepositoryofthespiritoftheage.Theonly certainty was that the old certainties could not be true. In fact, thepossibilityoftruthinanyultimate,finalformhadlongbeendiscarded.Studentsand faculty alike adopted atheism, celebrated socialism, and toyedwith everypleasureaschallengetothemoralvisionoftheOldWorld.Homosexualitywastherage in thoseyears."Bedandboy" toursof theMiddleEastwerecommonforthosewhocouldaffordthem,anddrugswerejustthenbecomingthefashionforanescapistgeneration.Thebeliefinanelitestillsurvivedfromthecanonsoftheold,but thatelitewasnolongerexpectedtobeexemplaryincharacterandvirtue. Instead, the elite were to be the experimental vanguard of a newconsciousness,ofanewunderstandingofmanandsociety.

ThespiritualityofCambridgeintheseyearswasperhapsbestsymbolizedbyCharles Raven. By the time Derek Prince entered the university, Raven hadbecomevice-chancellor.AlreadyinhiscareerhehadbeenanAnglicanpriest,alecturer, deanatEmmanuelCollege, and the canonofLiverpool, amongotherinfluential roles. Even when Raven took positions away from Cambridge, hemaintainedcontactwiththeschoolandheldswayoverthebestminds.Hewasnearly a legend both because of his persuasive preaching and because he hadbeenadecoratedarmychaplainwiththeRoyalBerkshiresduringthewarwhenhewasfamouslyexposedtosnipers'bulletsandgassingatLaBasse.EverynewstudentatCambridgelearnedthetale.

Ravenwastypicalofanewbreedofchurchman.HeheldtotheauthorityandtheformsoftraditionalChristianfaithbutdrainedthemofallcontent.Hewasa

humanist,aconvincedsocialist,andarationalistwrappedinliturgicalgarb.Heonceproclaimedinawidelyprintedsermonthat"thenewphysicalscienceshaverendered untenable the traditional ideas of authority of the supernatural, ofmiraclesandinfactofthewholemethodofGod'soperation."Hisgoal,hesaid,wasto"formulateanddefendaChristcenteredviewoftheuniverseinsuchwaysas toheal thebreachbetweenscienceand religion."ButwhatdidhemeanbyChrist?AfellowtravelerofRaven's,oneBishopBarnes,expressedtheviewofboth in a 1934 sermon preached at Cambridge. "Christ lives," the bishopproclaimed. "It is well nigh impossible to go to a meeting of the League ofNationsUnionandnotfeelHispresence."

Raven became a thoroughgoing pacifist and tried to take the youth ofCambridgewithhim.Hehadthepositionstodoit. In1932hewastheregiusprofessorofdivinity,andby1949hehadbecomethemasterofChrist'sCollege.As T. E. B. Howarth, historian of Cambridge, has recorded, "In 1934, he[Raven] gave a series of singularly unprophetic lectures entitled `Is warobsolete?'andinMarch1936,theverymonthinwhichtheNazisoccupiedtheRhineland, he was taken to task by The Times for saying in a speech inBirmingham that it was almost certainly true that nine out of ten of themostvirile young men in Cambridge would go to prison rather than go into thearmy."10

WhatmakesRavenofsuchnote isnot just thathewas typicalof religionatCambridge in the 1930s, but that hewas also deeply influential in the life ofDerekPrince.CharlesRaven'sson,John,wasoneofDerek'sbestfriends.Derek,oftenfarremovedfromhisownfamily,frequentlyvacationedwith theRavensandsatwiththeeldermanforhoursofconversationoverteaandcakes.Raventhe pacifist and socialist, Raven the rationalist and theologicalmodernist,wasthemostdecisiveforceintheshapingofDerek'sreligiousviewsduringhisyearsatCambridge.

Butweareaheadofourstory.IntheProtocollumBooksRecordingAdmissionofScholarsandFellows-1933-1934,nowlocatedintheCambridgeArchives,isthisentry:"AtameetingoftheFellowsfortheAdmissionofScholarsholdeninthe Combination Room, Sunday, October 13, 1934, admitted Peter DerekVaughanPrince,bornthe14thofAugustatBangalore,India,sonofPaulErnest

Princeof theHollies,WestTarring,Sussex,Colonel. (Eton,Classic)." It is thefirstmentionofDerekinthearchivesofCambridge,anditisthestartofacareerdescribedatthetimeasboth"brilliant"and"colourful."

The skeletal facts of Derek's time at Cambridge have been rehearsed oftenthrough the years.His first lodgings at the schoolwere offKing'sLane at 63TrumpingtonStreet.ThismeantthatDerek'sroomfacedoutsidethegroundsofKing's College but granted access to the interior. Because his room was atground level and had awindow that opened just above the street,Derek soondiscoveredthathisroomprovidedasecretentranceforstudents inviolationofcurfeworwhowantedtosneakwomenintothebuilding.Throughoutthenight,Derek would be awakened by fellow King's students crawling through thewindowor, insomecases,by theamoroussoundsof fellowstudentsand theirdateswhowereunabletowaituntiltheyreached"digs"oftheirown.ByDerek'ssecond year, though, he had moved into Gibb Hall and was no longer theunofficiallate-nightgatekeeperofKing's.

Hechosephilosophyashiscourseofstudybothbecausehehadshownsomeaptitude and because it interested him. He also found that philosophy classesdidn'thavelecturesintheearlymornings,arevelationthatpleasedhim.Hehadcome to believe that an academic lecture before nine in the morning was anexceptionalcruelty.

Academically he was brilliant. He won scholarships for Greek and Latinwithinmonthsofenrollingandwasconsidered for thevauntedHallamPrizeayear later. He was the only fourth-year candidate considered for a universityscholarship. He completed what Cambridge calls a classical tripos-a threepartmasteryofclassical literatureand languages-withFirstClassHonors.NotonlywasheaJohnStewartofRannochScholarin1936,butwhenhecompletedhisbachelor's degree, he did so with such distinction that he was in a class byhimself,histestscoressettinganewhighinthefield.AnarticleintheLondonTimesrecordingthisfactcalledhim"anexceptionalamongexceptionals."

UponcompletinghisBA,hedecidedtopursueamaster'sdegree.Hispathwasdecidedbyanoddcombinationofintellectualinterestandpersonalpassivity."Ineverreallywasambitious.Ijusttookthecourseofleastresistance.Itwaseasier

formetostayatCambridgeandcontinuemystudiesthanitwastodoanythingelse."Sohestayed,earnedhisMA,servedasaprofessorinclassics,andwrotehis dissertation on "The Evolution of Plato's Theory of Definition." He wasawardedhisdegreeinMarch1941.

These are the broad facts of Derek's life at Cambridge. They are true andsignificant, and they form the backdrop to the Derek Prince story that hasreachedalmostlegendarystatusintheretelling.Yetitispossiblethatinfocusingon the successes and the humorous episodes, those who tell Derek's story,includingDerekhimself,haveneglectedtocapturethepainanddespairofthoseyears. In doing so, they may have denied the pained and the despairing anopportunitytoengagetheDerekPrincestoryatitsmostmeaningfullevel.

The truth is that Derek Prince was miserable most every day of his life atCambridgeUniversity.The picture of his entering class in 1934 shows a darkanddourDerek,clad inmortarboardandgown,withanexpressioncompletelyvoidofinterestorhope.Hewasonlynineteenyearsold,buttherewouldbelittletochangethatexpressioninthesevenyearsofhisuniversitylife.

We should try to picture theDerekof thosedays.He is tall and thin, a fewinchesabovesix feet inheightbutcertainlynomore than130pounds.Hehashorrible acne that accents a face often drooping and soulful. Friends speak ofhimintermsthatarereminiscentofLincoln:"Melancholydrippedfromhimashewalked."He iswiry and athleticbut trods theold college town slowly andalways lost in thought. His eyes are beginning to show that ancient, soulfulqualitythatwillonlydeepenwiththepassingyears.Healreadyhasalightstoopinhisshoulders,evidenceofthescholar'slife.

Perhapsaboveall,itwasatCambridgethatDerek'soldnemesisachievedtheupperhand.Loneliness,ofadarker,moregraspingkindthanhehadeverknown,filledhislife."IfeltasupernaturallonelinessatCambridge,"Dereklatersaid."Istayedinmythoughts,mainly,becauseIonlywantedwhatwasrealandfoundlittleofitaroundme."Theblacknessthatenfoldedhimsenthimintoapanic.Hefeltdefenseless,without theweaponsheneededtodrivethedepressivedragonaway.Indesperationhethrewhimselfintoanythingthatbroughteventemporaryrelief.

Hestartedtodrink.Atfirstitwasjustasherryorginwithhisfriends.Soonhedevelopedatasteforwhiskey,andthenfoundthathewasn'tsatisfiedwithjustadrinkortwobuturgentlyneededtoreachthatwarm,insulatingoozeontheothersideofhalfabottle.Hedidnotgetdrunkoften,buthedidlikedrinkinguntilhewas"blurry."Itwasthewayofhisfellowstudentsandthefashionatthetime,butDereksoughtsomethinghecouldnottelltheothers:hedidnotwanttofeelthe stabs of loneliness, the force that sucked the meaning from his soul.Sometimesthedrinkinggotoutofhand,andhefoundhimselftakinghisexamswiththealcoholstillworkingonhismind."Iamdrunk,"heoncesaidaloudtohimself during a test. No one heard him, though, and no one knew himwellenoughtoknowwhatwarredagainsthissoul.

He also took comfort inwomen, an easy thing to do atCambridge in thoseyears.Girls fromas farawayasNorwayandSwedenknewthat theuniversitymen of England were good marital prospects and flocked to Oxford andCambridgetofindmatesasapathtoprosperity.Derekwastallandhandsome,andhisacnewashealingasheaged.Hehadnolong-termrelationships,buthedid date and he did begin to explore the female body. He had a number ofpartnersthroughtheyears,whichwastamebythestandardsoftheday,butwhathewantedwasrelationshipandnot justsex.Heknewonlythathewaslonely,buthefoundthatsexmerelypressedtheblacknessdeeperintohissoul.

Thoughthereweredrugsandhomosexualopportunitiesallaroundhim,hewasnever tempted.Hewould seem a likely candidate for both: the loneliness, thethemeofescapisminhisphilosophy,hisnihilism.Butneitherlaidclaimtohim.

Heturned,instead,tomusicandfilm.Hewastone-deaf,andhefeltleftoutofthemusicalpleasuresothersenjoyed.Hedecidedtofightbackbylisteningtothegreatcomposers.HestartedwithBeethovenandBach.Wecanvisualizehiminhis King's College rooms sitting under the nine-footlong horn of his oldgramophonewith awhiskey in hand, spinning out the greatmusicalworks ofmankind.HecametoknowMozart'sItalianoperasbyheartandevenbegantofeela"kinship"withtherestofMozart'swork.Heworkedhiswayuptothejazzera,andthendiscoveredDukeEllington.Hewassmitten.TheDukemadehimwanttodance,somethinghenevercoulddowell.Thefactthathewantedtodoso-perhapsforthefirsttimeever-istelling.

He fell in love with movies as well. He saw everything that starred FredAstaireandGingerRogers.Hesatenraptured throughpopularcomediesofhisday, and then paid extra to see them over and over again. Top Hat was hisfavoritemovie,butanycomedyoftheperiodgavehimlaughingrelieffromtheblacknessatthedoor.

In the manner of the scholar, he read voraciously and well outside hisacademicfield.HereveledinKeats,Shelley,andShakespeare.HemasteredallofShakespeare'ssonnets,committingmanyofthemtomemory,andherecitedthemaloudtofriendswhethertheywantedhimtodosoornot.

LikeKing Solomon of old, he also gave himself to folly. Hewas trying toescape his inner prison. He wore a blue "Teddy Bear" coat and sang bawdysongsatinappropriatetimes.Afriendoncebethimhalfacrownthathewouldn'tjumpoffofabridgeintotheicywaterbelow.Derek,theleastlikelyamonghispeers to do so, jumped. Dozens of students stood astonished as Derek pulledhimselffromthefrigidwaters,bemoanedhisbrokenwatch,andwalkedbacktohisroom-halfacrowninhand.

He was trying too hard, though. The fact is he was the embodiment ofdiscontent.Askeddecadeslaterwhathisinnerdialoguewasatthetime,hesaid,"Iwillbeindependent.Noonewillruleme.Iwillnotbedictatedto."Hewasangry:thatlifeseemedanillfit,thatthefaithofhisfathershadfailedhim,thathewasamong"thebestandthebrightest"ofhisageanditmeantnothing.

Having tried to master loneliness with energy, he grew exhausted. Thedarknessenclosedhim.Hesank.Depressionenvelopedhimandworkeditswayinto the fabric of his thinking. Shut away in his room, he recited a hauntingpoemoverandagain.Itwas"Finis"byWalterSavageLandonItdripstheverynihilismandpreoccupationwithdeaththatshroudedhimatthetime.

More telling, perhaps, is a sonnet Derek wrote himself. He penned "In the

Slough of Despond" sometime in 1937 while in a deep depression. Ever thescholar,hecomposeditaftertheShakespeareanpattern.

Itisarevealingpiece.Derekadmitstoa"mysteriouspower"thatrestoresmen,but he feels himself untouched by it. Instead, the winter in his soul coverswoundsthatevenspringcannotheal.ButtowhatwoundsisDerekreferring?Heoften spoke of loneliness and depression, but is there somethingmore? Is hespeakingofthedistanceofhisparentsorofhisfather'sinabilitytoexpresslove?Hashebeenharmedbyfriendsorafailedlove?Doeshefeelwoundedbylifeasawhole?Wecannotknowforsure,butwedoknowthatDerekbelievedhimselfdamagedinawaythatcouldnotbehealed.Itisatorturousstateforanyman.

Thereisaninterestingmedicalnotethatemergesfromtherecordoftheseyears.Derek'sacneapparentlyreappearedandgrewworsethanever,horriblycoveringhisbackandshoulders. Ithadfirstarisenduringhis tourof thecontinentafterEton,yet,whileitclearedforaseason,itobviouslygrewworseduringhislaterCambridgeyears.Doctorsatthecity'shospitalwereatalossforasolution,and

the condition became chronic, plaguing Derek with horrible pain andembarrassment.

Thedozensofointmentstheyhadprescribedfailingtodomuchgood,Derek'sdoctors decided to treat himwithX-ray therapy. Thiswas a fairly innovativeapproach in the late 1930s, and it came with risks. Derek's head, neck, andshoulderswerebombardedwithheavydosesofradiationinanattempttocleartheacnefromhisskin.Accordingtohismedicalrecords, the treatmentprovedsuccessful,andthoughDereksufferedanumberofskinailmentsthroughouthislife,heneverbattledsevereacneagain.

Seventy years later, experts in the field have described the therapy Derekreceivedas"barbaric"and"unwise."Derekwassubjectedtodosesofradiationthat are beyond those used today for a large tumor.Askedwhat the results ofsuchexposuremightbe,doctorstodaysaythatthemostlikelyresultwouldbeacancerofthebrainthatmightnotbediagnosablefordecades.

Despite thepainofhis interior life,Derek'syearsatCambridgebroughthiminto contactwith some of the luminaries of the age.He studied, for example,under the famed philosopherLudwigWittgenstein.Derekwas fascinatedwiththeman.Wittgensteinwas just thekindofeccentricprofessorwhocommandstheadmirationofstudentsandwhoseodd legacyfills lives foryears.He livedstrangely,inaroomwithasinglebookshelfanddeckchairinit.Hesleptinthedeck chair andmetwith studentswhile they sat on the floor.Hewas Jewish,homosexual,andwildlypopularamonghisstudents.

Hewasalsoagenius.Hecametobelievethatallphilosophicalproblemsareessentially the result of language ill-fitting the world of facts. Philosophy, heargued,isessentiallyatherapeuticactivity,employedtorelievethepuzzlementphilosophersexperienceatthemisusesofordinarylanguage.Iflanguagefitfactsmore suitably, philosophy would die. With this and other novel ideas,Wittgenstein not only transformed the fields of philosophy and linguistics butalsopresagedmuchofthepostmodernistworldview.

DereklovedWittgensteinbothbecauseof theman'seccentricityandbecausethe man spent time with him. The truth is thatWittgenstein may have had acrush on Derek, though the younger man would not have recognized it and

nothingever cameof it.Derek's lonely soul simplyneeded theattentionof anolder,wiserman, and this became the basis of their relationship.This did notmean, however, that Derek believed everything Wittgenstein said. OnceWittgenstein was visiting with a group of students in Derek's room. Theprofessorofferedthequestionofwhytwoplustwoequalsfour.Hewasmakingapointaboutlanguage,butDerekinterruptedandsaid,"BecauseGodsaysso."Itwasa remarkable responsegivenDerek'sdistance from religion, and itmayalsohaveshownhiswearinesswithunendingsophistry.

Wittgenstein was not the only luminary Derek knew. The poet A. E.Houseman was at Cambridge in those years, as was literary master ArthurQuillerCouch.HewouldalsohaveknownAbbaEban,latertheveneratedIsraelistatesman and scholar. In a different vein, Derek datedMargot Fontaine, thefamousballerina,andinfactbecameinfatuatedwithher.Hesentflowerstoherbeforeallherperformancesforyearsafterward.

Among themost fascinatingepisodesofDerek's timeatCambridge, though,washisinvolvementin"theApostles,"thefamedsecretsociety.Atfirstglance,Derek's involvement in the infamousgroupseemsatoddswithhis introverted,scholarlyways.Yetthefactisthathewasanactivememberandatatimewhensomeof themostnotoriouspersonalities in thesociety'shistoryweremembersaswell.

TheCambridgeApostles began in the early 1800s as aChristian discussiongroup.Themembers,largelycomposedofclergymen,ponderedquestionssuchas, "Are theGospelspresentedhonestly in their interpretationby theclergyoftoday?"or"IstheBibleusedasaninstrumentforkeepingthepoorquiet?"Withthe rise of political radicalism associated with the romantic movement in the1830s, the discussions changed. "Is there any rule of moral action beyondgeneralexpediency?"wasthetopicofonedebate."Isthepracticeoffornicationjustifiableonprincipleorexpediency?"wasanother.

Inthemid-1800s,thesocietyturnedtoopenacceptanceofperversion.Beliefin the "higher sodomy" prevailed, the view that since men are superior towomen, love between two men is superior to the love between a man and awoman. Oddly, this view did not necessarily mitigate against the Christian

mooringsof theCambridgeApostles.AsRichardDeaconhasexplained inhishistoryofthesociety:

Homosexuality was paradoxically related both to fervent Christianbelievers and toatheists. In thecaseof the formerquite a fewof theclergy and those preparing to enter the Church entertained ahypocritical and sophistical theory that in some esotericway allwaswellifone'ssexualadventureswereconfinedtothesamesexandnottofemales.SomepracticingChristiansamongtheearlierApostleshadsubscribedtothistheory,onewhichhasbeensustainedandupheldbysomeChurch ofEnglandClergy (bishops among them)well into the1980s.But,moreimportantly,homosexualitywasalsoarevoltagainsttheChurch and its teachings, a protest against thatmost dubious andcontroversialofallChristiandoctrinesthatpeoplearebornsinful.12

Inthedecadesfollowingitsintroductionintothesociety,homosexualitybeganto define the group and the morality of its members. The society gained areputationforitsperversionandamoralliving."TheApostlesrepudiatedentirelycustomary conventions and traditionalwisdom,"wrotemember JohnMaynardKeynes."Wewereinthestrictsenseofthetermimmoralists."13Atheismandsexualinnovationsoonmarkedthesociety.Itsmembershipwastypifiedbymenlike Bertrand Russell, who advocated the abolition of organized religion, andhistorian Lytton Strachey, who once wrote, "Parents would die if they knewwhatwewerereallylike."

By the 1930s, the society as a hotbed of homosexuality had dimmed, and itbecame more a hotbed of radical ideas. In this, it was not that far from thecultureofCambridgeasawhole.Derekwouldhavebeeninvitedbecauseofhisleadingacademicstatusandbecause thosewho invitedhimassumedhewouldbe a fascinating conversationalist but also open to new ideas. Thus, DerekPrince, the future preacher, sat in meetings with JohnMaynard Keynes, GuyBurgess, andAnthonyBlunt to discusswhether the English nationwasworthpreserving.GiventhatBluntandBurgesswouldjoinmenlikeKimPhilbyandDonaldMacClean in some of the worst spy scandals of English history, it isfascinatingtowonderatDerek'sassociationwiththem.

The greater likelihood is that Derek enjoyed the friendship but remained as

muchonthefringeaspossiblebothsociallyandphilosophically.Throughouthislife,hewouldexhibitatremendouscapacityfordetachment.Hecouldbepartofa group and never truly connect to its core. He could be present in body yetabsentinmindandspirit.Thisabilitymayhavecomefromyearsofdutyfromwhichheremovedhimselfmentally,oritmayhavecomefromthetendencyofthelonelytofindtheirinnerlifemoreinterestingthananythingaroundthem.

Regardless, Derek seems not to have made much connection. Asked in hislatteryearsabout theCambridgeApostles,hesaidsimply,"Itneverseemedtomeanmuchtome."Possibly,hedidnotmeanmuchtothemeither.InRichardDeacon'shistory,TheCambridgeApostles:AHistoryofCambridgeUniversity'sElite Intellectual Secret Society, the entiremention of Derek in the text is asfollows:

But not all Apostles served in civilian posts during the war. PeterDerek Vaughan Prince (elected in 1938), another colourful King'scharacter and Old Etonian, went out to Palestine to serve with theRoyalArmyMedicalCorps.ACravenStudentin1939,helaterranaschoolforChristianandJewishchildreninJerusalemuntiltheBritishmandate ended. He briefly returned to Cambridge as a fellow in1948.14

WhatisultimatelyofimportanceisthatDerekwasamongtheelite,enmeshedinasecretsocietythatmighthavemeantaccesstopowerhadhechosenit.Hismembershipwouldhaveguaranteedhimthenetworkingneededtoachieveanyambitionshemighthavehad inpolitics, academia,or in the ratified climesofaristocratic society.Whenhe turned to faith,whenhe left his socially upwardpathforamorespiritualone,heturnedhisbackonthekindofaccesstopowerthatothersofhisagelongedfor.

Itmayhavebeen,then,thatDerek'sverydisregardfortheculturearoundhim-hisdisillusionmentwithhislife-servedhimwellinthelongrun.Hehadweighedtheworldasheknewitandfounditwanting.Itdidnotanswerhislonelinessorthe longingofhis soul for "something thatwas real."Whenhe foundwhathebelievedtobe"real,"then,ittooklittlethoughtforhimtodecidetolayasideallthathepossessedasamemberoftheEnglisheliteandtofollowwherethe"real"tookhim.Thismaybethecentralmessageofhisearlylife:havingbeenoffered

allthathisagecouldgivehim,hewaswiseenoughtoknowthatonlysomethingoutsidetheagecouldmakethewinterinhissoulturntospring.

4

TheConscienceObjects:Ireland,theArmy,andtheChange

EREKWASINtears.Iwas,aswell.IwastellinghimofthedayintheCambridgearchiveswhenthestaffbroughtmealargeleathervolumecalledthePorter'sBook.Ihadthumbedthroughtheimmensetomeandthoughtatfirstitwaslittlemorethanalengthyhandwrittenlistofstudents, theirdegrees,andtheirspanofyearsatCambridge.

ThenIcame to theyearsDerekwasenrolled.The listschanged.Therewerestill names, degrees, and dates, but there were also long red streaks throughmanyoftheentries.Iwasconfused.Therewouldbeaname,astreak,andthenwordsinredlike"Dunkirk"or"bombingofBritain."Iaskedtheattendant,whocouldnothavebeenmorethantwenty,whatthestreaksmeant.Withanalmostholyquietinhervoice,shesaid,"TheyarethemenofCambridgewhodiedinthewar."

It was then that I came to understand what it meant for a nation to lose agenerationtowar.TherewerepagesinthatPorter'sBookonwhicheverynamewasstrickeninred.Theyhadalldiedatwar.TheyhadenteredCambridgeinthe1930s,devotedthemselvestothegreatintellectualpursuitsofmankind,andthenmet deathwhile still in dreamy youth. I pictured the porter, whowould haveknownandlovedthoseboyswhentheyweretherowdysonsofKing'sCollege,searchingthedeathlistsandsadly,wearilystrikingoutthenamesofEngland'syouthfulglory.

ItoldDerekofallthisoverteainhishomeinJerusalem,butIthinkIwenttoofar.InmytypicallyAmericanway,Iwascrashingaboutinmemoriesthatshouldhavebeentreatedmoretenderly.Derekwasholdinghishead,tryingtospeakbut

toobrokentobeunderstood.Finally,hiswordsseparatedbywearinessandtears,he said, "They were such fine men. They were so vitally alive when I knewthem.Andthen,asthoughinaninstant,theyweregone.Welostmorethanweknewinthoseyears."

Andwewepttogether.

Itisoneofthemostfascinatingaspectsoffamouslivesthatdestiniesareoftendecided inveryshortperiodsof time. In thesingleyearof1895, forexample,WinstonChurchillwascommissionedasalieutenantintheBritisharmy,buriedhisfatherandthenannywhoshapedhislifemorethananyoneelse,and-duringavisittoCuba-cameundergunfireforthefirsttime.Inasimilarlyshortperiodoftime,Lincolnlosttheloveofhislife,methisfuturewife,anddecidedhemightonedaybepresident.Destiniesarefashionedinbriefandlivedatlength.

DerekPrince's liferevealsashort,decisiveseasonaswell,and it isvirtuallyimpossible to understandwhat he becamewithout first understandingwho hewasduringhisowncrucibleofdestiny.Itisatroublingtale,muchatoddswiththelaterpublicimageofthemanyetverymuchtheanvilonwhichthatgreatermanwasfashioned.

In1939,DerekPrincewasnearcompletinghismaster'sdegreeinphilosophy,teaching at King's College, and wrestling the vacuousness of his inner life.Duringthesummerofthatyear,justashewasbeginningtowritehisdissertationonPlato,DerekwasinvitedbyJohnRaventojoinhisfamilyonatriptoIreland.John'sfather,CharlesRaven,wasthenthechancellorofCambridge,buthewasalsoanAnglicanpriestwhoenjoyedleadingasmallchurchinaremoteareaforafewweekseveryyear.Itworkedoutwellforeveryone.Thelocalrectorcouldtake a needed vacation, the congregation would get to hear the revered Dr.Raven,andtheRavenfamilycouldexploresomenewandexcitingportionoftheworld.

Derek set off with the Ravens to Galway, which lay on the west coast ofIreland. Throughout his life, Derek would recall these weeks in Ireland with

great joy, as perhaps the last hurrah of unburdened youth. Everything seemedlightandfrivolous.JohnRavenoncebumpedupagainstaframedcross-stitchingof theLord's Prayer on thewall of the vicaragewhereDerek and theRavensstayed.Seeingit,CharlesRavensaidaloud,withdeep,TrinityCollegegravity,"TheLord'sPrayerhasfallen."Everyoneinthehouseeruptedwithlaughterandoftenrepeatedthewordsinthesillymanneroffriendsenjoyinganinsidejoke.Sixty years later,Derek could still be reduced to tearful laughter by someonesayingwithmockgravity,"TheLord'sPrayerhasfallen."

WhatDerekalsorememberedwerethehoursspentdivingforflowers.CharlesandJohnRavenhadahobbyofpaintingBritishwildflowers,andthiswaspartofthereasonfortheiryearlyjauntsabroad.Therewereonlythreewildflowersthattheyhadneverpaintedbythesummerof1939,andallthreeweretobefoundonthewest coast of Ireland. Theywere flowers that grew on a riverside, and toretrieve them someone had to swim into the river and pull themwhile underwater.Forsomeunexplainedreason,JohnRavencouldonlyswimonhisback,which made pulling flowers while swimming nearly impossible. Derek, wholoved to swim and swam well, volunteered. He spent days pulling the rightspecimens, waiting while they were drawn, and then pulling other specimenswiththefeaturestheRavensrequired.

Derek Prince was nearing his twenty-fourth birthday, but he was probablyhavinghis first summerofwateryabandon, thekindmostchildrenhaveeveryyear.Thememoriesnever lefthim. In fact,hecould recite theLatinnamesofeach flowerhepulled-Ellatine trilongus andEllatinehexandra-until the dayofhisdeath.

Withsummer'send,theRavensreturnedtoEngland,butDerekdecidedtovisitsome distant cousins in another part of Ireland. It is easy to imagine that hesimply could not bring himself to leave. He enjoyed the peace and beauty ofIreland, and he enjoyed, too, something he had never known in large doses:family life.With theRavens,he foundbelonging, laughterarounda table,andhobbies shared by father and son. Thiswas new to him, and it is not hard toimaginethathedidn'twanttoleavethisnewexperiencetooquickly.Astheonlyson of an army officer, he had never known the informal warmth of a largefamily,sohedecidedtoimmersehimselfinanotherfamilyinyetanotherpartof

Ireland.

Derekwent tovisithis cousin,SeanRiley,*whoworkeda farmon theeastside of Ireland just outside of Dundalk. Sean and his wife, Clare,* had fivechildren and farmed in amanner thatwas as primitive as Irish farming couldhavebeeninthosedays.SomethingabouttheirlifecaptivatedDerek,though.Heintendedtostaytwoweeks.Heendedupstayingsixmonths.

ItishardtosaywhatitwasabouttheirlivesthatwonDerek'sheart.Perhapsitwastheloveofthechildrenwhocrawledupinhislapafterdinnerorwokehimwitha tickleearly in themorning.Hehadnobrothersorsistersandhadspentvery little time with children in his life. They alone may have won him. Orperhaps itwas the alternateworld that Irish farmingopened toDerek.Hehadgone toEuropebecause itwasnatural andwildandotherworldly.Perhaps theopenness and the green of Irelandwere so different from those ofCambridgethatDerekfeltconnectiontolandandtherhythmsoftheearthforthefirsttime.Then too it may have simply been the life of a family: the kitchen beforemealtime, thehearthfire lateatnight,andthesmellofSean'spipemixedwithblack earth and sweat. For a youngman in his twentieswho had knownonlycities,schools,andloneliness,aboisterousIrishfarmmayhaveprovidedjusttheplaceforthesoul'swintertofinditsspring.

Whatever the lure, Derek made himself at home. He grew a beard, begansmokingapipe,andstartedwearing thebootsandsweatersofanIrishfarmer.He learned tosnig turnipsandwring laundrywithamangle.HeboughtacowforE10andlearnednotonlyhowtomilkbutalsotoseparatethecream.Hewasleaningtothatothersideofhissoul-theIndiaside-thepartthatmadehimpainthistoenailspinkandseekouttherawandtheuntamed.

At night he would ponder this invisible other world as he worked on hisdissertation.He had already read everyword of Plato, and now hewanted toview Plato throughWittgenstein. How would Plato's attempt to understand athingbydefiningitproperlymergewithWittgenstein'sinsistencethatlanguagefails theworldof facts?Derekwanted to findout,andheknew that itwasanunexplored area-just the gap in academic knowledge for which a buddingscholarlooks.Sohewroteatawoodentableinthefarmhouseusingthevolumes

ofPlatoandKoineGreekhehadbroughtwithhim.Everyweekorsohewould,reluctantly,mount a bicycle and ride the threemiles intoDundalk to take hisworktoatypist.

Itwasononeof these trips thathenearlykilledhimself.Heusually rode toDundalk balancing his briefcase over the handlebars. On this nearly fataloccasion, the briefcase somehow got wedged between his knee and thehandlebars, throwing him from the bike.He landed on his head and shoulder,slicing both open. He was stunned and bleeding but managed to ride theremainingmiles intoDundalk.Hedidn'tknowhowbadlyhewashurtuntilheheard the ladies on the street crying out, "Mother ofGod, havemercy on us,havemercyonus."Thetruthisthathewasamess,coveredwithbloodanddirtfromheadtotoe.Whenhereachedhistypist'shome,shecleanedhimupandgothim toadoctor.Despite thedoctor's stitches, thecutsdidn'thealwell and leftnotablescarsfortherestofhislife.

The risksof the ride toDundalkmayhavebeenworth it, though, forDereksent his dissertation off to Cambridge and received in return an offer of afellowship. This was more than what Americans know as an academicfellowship.HewasbeinginvitedtojointhegoverningbodyofCambridgeand,if his fellowship was renewed twice, to enjoy the privileges of Cambridgeacademiafortherestofhislife.Hewouldhaveasalary,lodging,andprivilegesthroughouttheschool.Derekacceptedtheoffer.Then,Cambridgehesitated.

The reason for Cambridge's near reversal had to dowith the coming of thewar.Theyearwas1939,anditwasobviousthatBritainwasabouttogotowaragainstGermany.Hitlerwasonthemove,blitzkriegwasbeingperfectedontheContinent,andNevilleChamberlain'spolicyofappeasementwasshowingitselfafailure.WhatcametobeknownastheBattleofBritainwasnotfaroff.

Derek knew that he was going to be "called up," to be summoned into thearmed forces. In fact, he already knew that he was due to enlist late in thesummer.Healsoknewhehadadecisiontomakeandthathewasputtingitoff.CambridgemayhavebegunaskingthesamequestionDerekwasaskinghimself:"Is Derek Prince staying in Ireland to dodge the draft, or will he return toCambridge to assumehis duties?" IfDerekwas dodging the draft,Cambridge

would not offer him a fellowship. In fact, if Derek was staying in Ireland toavoidthewar,hewouldnolongerbeaBritishcitizen.WhatCambridgecouldnotknowwasthatDerekhimselfwasunsure.

ItwasoneofthemostdifficultdecisionsDerekhadeverfaced.Heknewthathis family expected him to go into the army. In fact, most of his friends atCambridge,caughtupinthepatrioticfervorofthetimes,expectedhimtodothesame.ButDerekhadseriousreservations.HewasinsympathywiththepacifismofCharlesRaven. The two had discussed themattermany times late into thenight.Moreover,hisreadingofPlatoledhimtobelievethatwaraccomplishedlittleandthatthephilosophershouldriseabovetheviolenturgesofthemobandpetty rulers.Hehad todecide:Shouldhe stay in Ireland, dodge thedraft, andlosehiscitizenship?ShouldhereturntoEngland,refusetoserve,andgotojail?Orshouldheserveasanoncombatant,whichstillmeantthathewassupportingthewareffort?Whatheknewwithoutdoubtwasthatanyoptionshyofcarryinga gun meant that he was "flying in the face of family tradition." If he didn'tchoosetherightpath,hewasn'tsurehisfamilywouldevertalktohimagain.

Hewasofferedawayoutofhisdilemma,and it saysagreatdealabouthischaracterthathedidnottakeit.TheBritishgovernmentbeganofferingpositionsin the intelligence services to thosewithadvancedstandingat theuniversities.Theirlinguisticandanalyticalskillsmadetheminvaluableindecipheringcodesandtransformingdataintousefulinformation.ManyofDerek'sfriendstookthisoption since it offered them an officer's commission and the likelihood of aposting in England rather than near the fighting. Derek thought about thisopportunityanddecideditwasthecoward'sway.Hewasn'tafraidtofightordie;hesimplybelievedthatwarwaswrong.Hecouldnotproduceintelligencethatsentothersintobattleifhebelievedthebattleitselfwasimmoral.Soheturneddownarole in the intelligenceservices,andthedecisionisamonument tohischaracteratthetime.

Derek remained in Ireland until the spring of 1940. He took long walks,smoked his pipe, andwrestledwith his conscience.But the armywas not thesolecauseofhisturmoil.Therewasanothermatterthatwouldnotlethimrest.

SeanandClareRileywereanunusualcouple.Seanwassimple, loving,and,

byallaccounts,aterriblefarmer.Hedidwhatmustbedonetofeedhisfamily,buthehadlittle imagination, little ingenuity,andevenlessambition.Clare,onthe other hand, was a woman with a keen mind who was bored with herhusband,boredwithIrishfarmlife,anddriventodespairwhenshelookedaheadtotheprobablecourseofherlife.Shelovedherfivechildren,butshesensedthattheyformedpartoftheunbearableprisonofherlife.

DerekwasawelcomediversionforClare.Hewashandsomeand intelligent.Hetalkedaboutideasandnotjustthebusinessoftheday.Hewashumorousandhelpful, always grateful for every meal and every peaceful moment with thefamily.ForDerek,Clarewasafascination.Shewasbright,energetic,andwarm.Herlaughwasinfectious,andherbodywasanintriguingmixtureoffarm-wifestrongwithanalmostbawdybuxomness.Derekhadneverknownanyone likeher.

Thetwogrewincreasinglyclose.Derekwasdrawntothismotherly,feminine,sensualcreatureas thougha forcehadgraspedhimagainsthiswill.ClarehadbeguntoseealifewithDerekasanescapefromherdrearylife.Thetwobeganfindingways tobealone togetherand, in time, theybecamesexually intimate.NotoncebutanumberoftimestheypossessedeachotherwhileSeanwasaway.AndClarebecamepregnant.

NowDerekwasfacedwithtwocrises:WouldhegointothearmyorstayinIreland, and what would he do about Clare? He couldn't sleep and couldn'tconcentrate.ThewarmhearthoftheRileyhomebecameacoldslabofbetrayalandpain.Heknewhehadtoleave.Thetwotalkedanddecided.ClarewouldtellSeanthechildwashis-easilydoneinanagebeforemedicaltestscouldconfirmthetruth-andDerekwouldreturntoEngland.Irelandwasahavennomore.

Things began to move quickly for Derek. He returned to his lonely room atCambridge and soon after had to appear before a tribunal to declare hiswillingnesstobeararms.Hehaddecidedhecouldnot.HeappearedbeforethetribunalandfoundthattheviceprovostofKing'sCollegewasamongthem.He

preparedhimselfforhumiliation.Askedifhewouldbeararms,heaffirmedthathewouldnotandthenmadeacaselargelyfromtheworksofPlato.Thetribunalsat patiently.Derek finished.Then they askedhim if hewould "servewithoutarms,"meaningwould he join the army and take a noncombatant role.Dereksaid he would, and then it was all over. The next day, the school magazineprinted an article aboutDerek's appearance under the headline "Prince PleadsPlato." The editor of the magazine, who hated Derek for once stealing hisgirlfriend,hadwrittenthevenomousarticle.

Thoughembarrassing,thearticlehadlittleeffectonthecourseofDerek'slife.He would go into the army. At least that was decided. But Derek was stillburdened.HewasashamedofhisbetrayalofSean,andhewonderedwhatClaremust be going through. He worried through sleepless nights and disorientingdays.Inhisweakenedcondition,hecontractedasevereearacheafterswimminginapublicpool.Hecouldbarelymoveforthepain.JohnRavendroppedbytoseehimandinsistedthattheycallforthedoctor.Adoctorappearedsoonafter,butjustasheenteredthedoorway,thefirstairraidsirenssounded.TheGermanswerebombingEngland for the first time.Thedoctor left immediatelybut toldDerektogotothehospital,whichDerekdidwithJohn'shelp.

In thehospital,Derekwasput inabedamongseverecases.PeoplehorriblywoundedbyGermanbombswerefillingupthewards,andDerekfeltsillytobeamong themwithanearache.Thankfully, thehospitalhadbegun testing somenew drugs for infections, and they gave Derek the medication and dismissedhim.The earache soon clearedup, but thedrugsmadehim terriblydepressed.Whilehewas lying inhishospital bed, agroupofPlymouthBrethrenwalkedthroughtheward.Anelderlymemberof thegroupapproachedDerekandsaidsimply,"Godis,Godislove,andGodlovesyou."Hadthemanlingered,Derekwouldhavearguedwithhim.Instead,themanjustwalkedaway,hiswordsleftbehindtoseizeuponDerek'smind.

Hewenttohisparents'homeinSomersetandtriedtostabilize.Hetooklongwalksandoftenpausedtosleepinthegrass.Hewasmiserable,depressed,andworried.Helatersaidhewas"mentallyswimming."ForsomereasonhismindturnedtoIndia,andhebeganmeditatingandattemptingyogatosoothehimself.DuringhisCambridgeyearshehadpracticedbothyogaandvoodoo,butnoneof

itworkedforhim.HeevenrevisitedwhatheknewaboutBuddhismandtriedtoput himself in that mindset. This didn't work either. He was void, spirituallyempty,andphysicallytormented.Finally, thedrugskilledhis infection,andhestopped taking them. This improved his emotional state, but he was stillswimming,searching,andashamed.

As his mind cleared, he became aware of the exceptional kindness of hisfather.AllhislifePaulPrincehaddreamedofasonwhomightachievemilitaryglory.Yet now,withwar erupting on theContinent and the firstNazi bombsfallingonhisbelovedEngland,hisonlysonrefusedtobeararmsintheserviceofhiscountry.HadPaul flown intoa rageand refused toeverspeak toDerekagain, many of his time would have understood. Yet, he had not respondedangrily. Instead, he was astonishingly kind and understanding. "You must dowhat you believe is right for yourself," he had insisted toDerek's relief. Paulheld this compassionateviewdespite the fact thatDerek'smotherhadbecomeunusuallyquiet,andDereksensedherdisapproval.Itwaspainful,buthisfather'sgentleness softened the blow of his mother's disappointment and became amonumentinhismemorytotheloveofhisfather.

DerekalsobegantofocusonClareandthemessheleftinIreland.Shouldhegobacktoher?ShouldhecomecleanwithSean?Howcouldhedosuchathing?Yet he remembered her, and, in a way his shame could not drive away, hewanted her again. He was tormented, but he could not discern if he wastormentedbyalongingtohaveherinhisarmsagainorbythehorrorofhissin.And,yes,itwassin,iftherewassuchathing.EveniftherewerenoGod,hehadsinnedagainsthonor,sinnedevenagainsthisownpaganmoralcode.Thewronghe had done pressed him against his own sense of himself, against the fadingimageofthemanhehopedtobe.Hissenseofsuperioritywasdissolvinginaninescapablesenseofhisownvileness.

His tormentwas interruptedonlyby thearmy.OnSeptember12,1940,Derekreported for duty at BoyceBarracks inCrookham,Hampshire. These decadeslater,thescenebringsasmileattheironiesandtheclashofcultures.Derekwas

probablynotsoamusedatthetime.

Hisenlistment forms tell thestory.Hearrived,wasquickly interviewed,andherded into a medical exam. He looked to be in good shape. The orderlyrecordedthathewas6feettalland150pounds.Hischestwas36inches.Hewasthin, perhaps a bit gaunt. A doctor looked him over closely. He noted a scarbetween the left nipple and the shoulder joint. Derek explained that this wasfromhisbicycleaccidentinIreland.Whenhespoke,hisbreedingandeducationwere immediatelyevident inaway that isunique to theBritishdominions.Tothedoctor,Dereksoundedlikeafellowuniversityman,whichmadehimwonderwhyDerekwasenlistingatthelowestrank.Surelythismanshouldhavebeenanofficer. To the orderlies and sergeants who corral the new enlistees, Dereksoundedlikesnobbishtrouble.

ThedoctornoticedthatDerek'sbackandarmswerescarredbyacne.Perhapsthisnewrecruitseemedtohisnewhandlersas thepimply,scholarly type.Thedoctor noted, too, that Derek's pulse was 100. This was high, signaling thatDerekwasnervous,perhapsmorefromtheshoutingsergeantsthanthestrainoftheexam.

Following themedical exam,Derekwas taken toyet another sergeant atyetanother table to answer yet another series of questions. This sergeant had aheavyaccentthatrolledbroadlyfromthetopofhismouth.Hewasacockney,andheandDerek strained tounderstandeachother.HeaskedDerekwhathistradeclassificationwas.Derekdidnotunderstand."Whatdoyoudoforalivin',sweetheart?"themanbarked.Derekrepliedevenlythathewasa"collegedon,"atermoftenusedforCambridgescholars.Themandidnotunderstand.Heaskedagain. Derek had no other words to explain. They repeated the exchange.Finally,themanwroteasDerek'sprofessionthathewasa"DonColleger"andthis morphed into Derek's nickname while in basic training: "Don College."Anothersergeant, trying togetabetteranswer,askedDerekwhathespenthisdays doing. Derek replied that he spent his time studying Plato. The orderlywrotedownthatDerekhadspenthislife"researchingthephilosophyofPlato."Disgusted,theywavedthenewrecruiton.

Dereksettleduneasilyintobarrackslife.Itwasevidenttoallthathewaswell-educated,upperclass,andaloof.Thoughheperformedwellinhisdutiesandinthephysicaldisciplinesofmilitarylife,hisfellowsoldiersthoughthimoddandarrogant. On duty, he performed with confidence and precision. Off duty, hewandered the nearby canals aimlessly, walking for hours as though lost inanotherworld.

Hewasconfusing.Hedrankwhiskeylikeothersoldiers,andhesworewithacommand that impressed them.But then therewere the hours he spent poringovertheBible.Whatwasthatallabout?Howcouldamanwhocouldoutdrinkmost everyone else in the barracks then pull away fromhismates to read theBiblebythehour?Whatkindofstrangecadwasthis?

WhathisfellowsoldierscouldnothaveknownwasthatDerekwasreadingtheBibleasanintellectualexercise.Beforeenlistinginthearmyhehadrealizedthathewouldnothavemuchroominhiskitforbooks.Hemustthinkofonelarge,engagingvolume-preferablyonphilosophythathehadneverreadbefore.Itmustlasthimformonths,perhapseveninvitinghim,thankfully,toasecondread,anditmustmakehimabetterphilosopherintheend.

He settled on the Bible. Surely no one could be thought educated in theWesternworldwhohadnotreadtheBible.Hisdecisionmade,hewalkedtothenearestbookstoreandboughthimselfalarge,black,KingJamesBible,thefirstone he had ever owned. And he began reading it where all books should bestarted,atthebeginning.ThismeantthatwhilehewassufferinginhissouloverClareandfacingthenoisyupheavalofanarmyrecruit'slife,hewasreadingofAbrahamandMoses,ofsonslaiduponthealtar,andofsacrificesmadetoanall-knowingGod.

These themes fed into the meditations of his heart. He walked the canals,thought about his life, and held himself against the lives of the ancientpatriarchs.Perhapshetookcomfortintheirfailingsandfoundconvictionintheirnobility.Whenheweariedoftheseinnerexercises,hethoughthardabouthowto

relate to his fellow soldiers. He knew he was a strange bird to them, but hewanted to fit in, tounderstand theirworld.So,scholar thathewas,he thoughtandheplannedandhereasoned.

When he completed the army's basic training, he was assigned to the No. 1Lightfield Ambulance Unit of the Royal Army Medical Corps. This was atypicalassignmentformenwhowereconscientiousobjectorsbutwhoagreedto"servewithout arms." Itmeant thatDerek began to learn about bandages andmedicines, about treatingwoundedmen in battle and about the logistics of anarmyfieldhospital.Hisfellowtrainees,knowingthattheywouldsoonusetheirnew skills in battle,were excited and threw themselves into their studieswithanxiousdevotion.Derek,typically,wasbored.Whattookotherssevenoreighttries to accomplishDerek completed in the first attempt.What others learnedwith difficulty and then recited aloud through the night to master, Derekabsorbed effortlessly. In his boredom, he grewmore aloof and depressed, histhoughts turningtoClare, to theJewishpatriarchs,andtotheircommandment-givingGod.

Despitehisdistractions,Derekmusthaveimpressedhissuperiors,becauseinApril 1941 he was selected to attend a noncommissioned officer's course inScarborough,Yorkshire.Hehadbeenpromotedtotherankofcorporal.NoonefoundthismoreironicthanDerek.Militarylifemadeabsolutelynosensetohimat all. The senseless routines and themind-numbing duties all left himwith asenseofabsurditythatremindedhimoftheworksofSwiftandDante.Acaptainapproached him one day and asked him how the cooking was going. Derekwasn'tacookbutknewbetterthantoactlikeanythingwasstrange.Somewhere,fromsomeerroneousnotationonascribbledrecord,thiscaptainhadgottenitinhisheadthatDerekwasacook.Derekdidn'tdarecorrecthim."Justfine,sir,"hereplied smartly. The next day, this same captain approachedDerek, addressedhimas "CorporalPrince," and sogaveDerek the firstnotion thathehadbeenpromoted.TwodayslaterhewasonatrainforScarborough.IntheBritisharmy,itwasbestnottoaskanyquestions.

Throughout his life, Derek's primary impression of Scarborough was thewarmthandkindnessoftheYorkshirepeople.Inthepatrioticfervorofthetime,familiesroutinelywelcomedyoungsoldiers into theirhomesforameal,and itwasnotuncommonformeninuniformtobekissedandcelebratedonthestreet.Derekhadneverseenanythinglikeit,andthoughhestruggledtounderstandtheYorkshire dialect, he found the open, generousmanner of theseworking-classnorthernersbeginningtothawhiswintryheart.

InScarborough,Derek studied leadership,medicine, andmilitary theory.HealsocontinuedhisreadingoftheBible.ThroughLeviticusandDeuteronomyheslogged,refusingtoadmitdefeatbeforethetediumofthesacrificialsystemandJewish law.Hewas exercising a scholar's discipline, but therewas somethingmore.Hewashopingformeaning,somethingtrueandpersonalthatmightreachtohisinneremptiness.

We should reflect on Derek's mindset at this moment in his life. Thoughhaving achieved dizzying heights in his academic career, he has also failedhimself.Hehasbeddedandimpregnatedhiscousin'swife.Hehasthenrefusedtobeararmsindefenseofhiscountry,thusflyinginthefaceoffamilytradition.He finds himself, now, a heavy-drinking, Bible-reading corporal amongworking-class soldiers.The officerswho commandhimought to be his peers,but army policy prevents him from associatingwith them.He is lonely, he isdisgusted with himself, he fears he has embarrassed his parents, and he isbewilderedbytheirrational,mindlesslyboringwaysofthearmy.So,hedrinks,hereadshisBible,andhewalksalone.

Theonlymanwhotooksomenoticeofhiminthebarrackswasasoldierwhohad somepeculiar views about religion. Seeing thatDerek read theBible, theman engaged him in religious discussion. Derek knew the type: the religiousextremist, the zealot, the kind of man who won't change his mind but can'tchange the subject. Derek was put off by the man's harsh ways and by hisBritish-Israelism, the view that Israel has been replaced by the British as thechosenpeopleofGod.Derekfoundtheideaasstrangeasthemanbuttriedtobekind. The two men talked from time to time, though Derek often excusedhimselffromtheman'scompanytocontemplatehismisery.

One day this same man approached Derek and announced, "I've found aplace."Hemeantthathehadfoundalocalchurchandhadbeguntoattendit.HeinvitedDerektojoinhim.Derekrepliedthathehadnointerestinreligion,butthathehadnothingelse todoonSundays,sohewouldgoalong.Itwassheerboredom,then,thatmovedDerektomakeoneofthemostmomentousdecisionsofhislife.

Derekwentabouthisusualbusinessthroughtheendoftheweek:heattendedhis medical classes, read his Bible, stayed largely to himself, and drank hisbelovedwhiskey. Then Sunday came, a cool, sunny day inMay. Derek rose,dressedhis trimframe inhiskhakiuniform,andwalked the fifteenminutes tochurchaccompaniedbyhisunusualandever-chatteringfriend.

Throughout his life, Derek had worshiped in some of the most beautifulmonumentsoffaith inEngland.HisparentshadtakenhimtoWestminsterandSt. Paul's in London, of course, but he had also spent hours in the gloriousCollegeChapelatEtonandinthesoaringKing'sCollegeChapelatCambridge.He knew what the architecture of pure devotion looked like. On thisScarborough Sunday, though, Derek found himself entering a building thatappearedfromthefrontlikeanyshoponthehighstreet.Butinside,hehadneverseenanything like it.Withinwasa single roomwith rowsofwoodenbenchesseparatedinthemiddletocreateacenteraisle.Atthefrontofthisroomwasaroughwoodenpodium,aclearlyunusablepianopressedagainstthewall,andasmalltable.

Derekandhissoldiercompanionwereconspicuousbyvirtueoftheiruniformsand by virtue of their age. They were clearly the youngest of the near fortypeopleinattendancethatday.Theyweregreetedwarmly,though,andgesturedkindlytotheirseatsjustbeforetheservicebegan.

What followedwas unlike anythingDerek had experienced in theAnglicanchurch.Theservicewasopenedwithaprayerthatwasbothmorepersonalandmorepassionate thananyprayerDerekhadeverheard.Peopleencouraged theman prayingwith their amens and nodded their agreement. Some raised theirhandsintotheairasthoughreachingtoanunseenGod.Thenthesingingbegan.Takingtheirredhymnbooksinhand,thecongregationopenedtotheannounced

pageandsangtotheencouragementofanamazinglyenergeticsongleader.ToDerek'sbewilderedamusement,thecongregationsangthefirstsongthroughandthen sang it a second time.When the second songwas announced, it toowassungthroughtwice.

Not longafter thepreacher rose tospeak.Derek, trained in logicand textualcriticism,waseagertoapplyhisskillstothepastor'swords.ThetextforthedaycamefromthefirstfewversesofIsaiah6.Inthispassage,IsaiahseesavisionoftheLordseateduponHisthroneandisoverwhelmedbytheexperience."Woeisme!" Isaiahcries,"for Iamundone;because Iamamanofunclean lipsandIdwellinthemidstofapeopleofuncleanlips."

Derek had not been expecting to hear anything from the speaker thatmightapply tohis life.Afterall, themanhaduntil recentlybeena taxidriver.Whatcould he teach aCambridge don?YetwhenDerek heard Isaiah'swords uponseeing his God, Derek said to himself, "There could be no better words todescribeme than amanof unclean lips among a people of unclean lips."Thepreacher had Derek's attention. Even though the man rambled from theme totheme,scripturetoscripture,Derekcouldnothelpbutfeelthatdespitethelackofintellectualcontent,thesermonwasforhim.

While Derek entertained these thoughts, the preacher came to his closingpoint.HewasattemptingtoillustratethefactthatSaulwasatallman.Whatthishad to do with his sermon Derek did not know. But to make the point, theexcitedpreacherjumpeduponabenchtoillustrateSaul'sheight.Yet,whentheman landed on the bench, it snapped in themiddle and sent the poor, startledspeaker tumblingto thefloor.Thereweremuffledgiggles in theroom,but themanquicklyregainedhiscomposureandwentonwithhistalk.

Nearinganend,thepreacheraskedeveryonetoclosetheireyesandbowtheirheads.Derekdidnotquitefollowallthatwassaid,buthedidcatchthewords"ifyou want this, raise your hand." Derek had never raised his hands in churchbeforeandwasn'tabouttodosonow.Yetheknewthesepeoplehadsomethinghedidnot,somethinghedesperatelywanted.Still,wouldhebealowclassfoolinthenameofreligion?

Whilehewrestledwithhimself,he realized thathisarm,quite involuntarily,

wasrisingintotheair.Hewassurehehaddonenothingtomakeitso,butthereitwas, now straight up in the air.Derekwas shockedbut not altogether sorrythat his hand was up. He did want whatever it was these people had, and ifraisingyourhandwasthewaytogetit,fine.Thecongregationseemedtorelax,thepreacherseemedsatisfiedthatasoldierhadrespondedinhischurch,andtheservicesooncametoanend.

BeforeDerekandhisfellowsoldiercouldmaketheirwayto thedoor,ashort,craggy, seemingly frailwomanapproached themand invited them todinneratherhouse.HernamewasMrs.Shaw,andsheranaboardinghousenearby,shesaid.Shewouldenjoythefellowship,and,afterall,thetwoyoungmenlookedlike they could use a goodmeal. Thewoman's kind facewon them, and theyfollowedhertoherhome.

DerekwasimmediatelytakenwithMrs.Shaw.Perhapstherewassomethinginher that reminded him of his grandmother, or perhaps he simply missed thefemalepresence.Whateverthecase,hewalkedcloselybyhersideastheymadetheirwaytotheShawboardinghousethatsunnyafternoon.

Inspiredbyherpastor'ssermon,Mrs.ShawbegantellingDerekofthemiracleGodhadgivenherfamily.Yearsbefore,herhusbandhadattemptedtoenlistinthearmyduringWorldWar Ibutwas found tohave tuberculosis inone lung.Thisnotonlypreventedhimfromfightinginthewarbutalsofromworking.Ashisconditiongrewworse,his familygrewdestitute. "Iprayed formyhusbandeverydayfortenyears,"Mrs.Shawsaidmatter-of-factly.Derekwasastonished.Hecouldnotconceiveofanyoneeverprayingforanotherhumanbeingfortenyears.

Derekwasamazedbutassumedthatwastheendofthestory.Mrs.Shawhadprayed,showingherselfadutifulwifeandChristian,butnaturallynothinghadhappened. But Derek was wrong. "At the end of ten years," Mrs. Shawcontinued, "Iwas praying alone in a room.My husbandwas in the bedroom,sitting up in bed, propped up on the pillows, coughing up blood. As I was

praying for his healing, an audible voice spoke to me and said, `Claim it!' Iansweredoutloud,`Lord,Iclaimitnow!"'

WhatMrs.ShawtoldDereknextwasalmostmorethanhecouldbelieve.Shesaidthatwhensheclaimedwhatshehadprayed,herhusbandwasimmediatelyhealed.WhenMr.Shawlater returned tohisdoctor, theman toldhimthat thelungthathadbeenaffectedbytuberculosiswasnowstrongerthanthelungthathadneverbeenaffected!

DereklistenedwithcompleteconcentrationtoeverythingMrs.Shawsaid.Herwords stirred him to the core of his being.He sensed a question being posedfromwithin,as thoughhisownsoulwasrising insearchofananswer.Wordsformed in hismind: Is thiswhat you've been looking for?Maybe it is,Derekthoughttohimself,maybeitis.

ThesemattersswirledinDerek'smindasheenteredtheShaw'shouse.Itwasasmall but cozy affair that radiatedwarmth-awarmth thatmust have remindedhim of an Irish farmhouse he once knew.After being introduced to the otherguests,hewasseatedatthetableandwasjusteyeingthefoodwiththeeagernessofanunderfedsoldierwhenMr.Shaw-obviouslynowinperfecthealth-led thegathering in prayer. Derek had never eaten ameal at which someone offeredthanks toGodfor thefood.Typically,hehad thefleeting thought thatperhapssuchpracticeswerecommonoftheworkingclass.Thenhelostthematterinthejoyoffood.

When the meal was done, everyone remained at the table, and there wasanother timeofprayer, this timewitheachpersonat the tablepraying in turn.Derekhadonlyjustheardhisfirstblessingofthefood.Hehadneverinhislifeprayedaloud,andsoonitwouldbehisturn.Hismindwasblank,andhewasabit nervous.He simplyhadnothing to say.When it camehis turn, though, hefoundhimself cryingout, "Lord, Ibelieve;help thoumyunbelief."Hismouthsnappedshut,andhecouldsaynothingmore.Hesatinastonishmentwhiletherestoftheguestsvoicedtheirthanks.

Years later, Derekwould look back on thismoment in his life and expressdeepgratitudeforthegoodthatwasdonehimintheAnglicanchurch.Thoughasachildhehadbemoanedallhismanyhours in religiousservices,asamanherealized that vast portions of the Word of God were embedded in his soulwhether he intended them to be or not. The constant repetition, the publicreading of Scripture, and the constant catechizing inChristian truthmay havebored him at the time, but they clearly planted the early seeds of a faith thatwouldshapethecourseofhislife.Derek'sprayerattheShaws'tablewouldnotbethelasttimethathespokethewordsofascripturethathedidnotknowlivedinhim.(SeeMark9:24.)

BeforeDerekand theothersoldier returned to theirbarracks, theShaws toldthemthatanearbyAssembliesofGodchurchwasholdingarevivalserviceonthe followingTuesdayand invited the soldiers togowith them.Derekneitherknewwhat theAssembliesofGodwereorwhat a revivalwas,butheeagerlyagreedtoattend."Ifthisispartofthewholething,"hesaidaloud-tohimselfasmuchastotheShaws,"I'mforit."

ThroughouttherestofthatSundayandalldayMonday,Derekponderedwhathe had experienced. He had agreed to attend church with his argumentativebunkmate only because he had nothing better to do. When he arrived at thechurch,hefoundlittleincommonwiththehymnstheyhadsungandevenlessincommonwiththepreacher'ssermon.Buthecouldnotdenythatthesepeople,allof them,hadsomething in their lives-something that radiated from their souls-that he did not have and that he no longer wanted to live without. AndMrs.Shaw!Whatawomanoffaithshewas,andwhatastoryshehadto tellof thegoodnessofGod.Derekwasstillsurprisedathisafter-dinnerprayer,butnow,uponreflection,hewasnotsorryhehadprayedit.Lord,Idobelieve,hethought,oratleastIwanttobelieve.Helpme!

Tuesday night arrived, and Derek, again clad in his khaki army uniform,accompaniedtheShawstotheAssembliesofGodmeeting.Again,therewastheenergeticopeningprayer.Again,thereweretwosongsfromthehymnbook,eachsungtwice.Andagain,therewasadramaticsermon,illustratedbythetheatricsofasincerebutramblingpreacher.This time, thesermonhadsomethingtodowith how Enoch was taken away by the Lord, and the preacher used the

illustrationoftheBritishgovernment'sCriminalInvestigationDepartmentusingdogs to find an escapee. Derek understood that the dogs lost the scent at thepoint where Enoch was "taken away," but that was about all that Derekunderstoodfromthe"manythemes"ofthesermon.

Thenitcame."Everyeyeclosed,everyheadbowed," thepreachersaid.Andagain,thesenseofthemomentseemedtobe"Ifyouwantthis,raiseyourhand."Derek pondered and felt largely unmoved. Then it struck him that in the lastmeetinghishandhadbeenputup forhim.Now,he sensed,hemustput ituphimself.So,heraisedhishandandagainthecongregationseemedtorelaxandagainthepreacherclosedhismessage.

Derekfeltnothingandwasnearingdisappointmentwhenhemetthepreachershakinghands at the exit.Thepastor rememberedDerek from the service andwanted tomake sure that the young soldier's commitmentwas clear. "Doyourealizethatyouareasinner?"themanaskedboldly.

"Yes,"Derekrepliedcautiously.

"DoyoubelievethatJesusChristdiedforyoursins?"thepastorasked.

Alwaysthemanforlogicalhonesty,Derekshotback,"Totellthetruth,Ican'tseewhatthedeathofJesustwothousandyearsagohastodowiththesinsofmylife,"andthenwalkedoutintothenight.

Derekpassedseveraldays in frustration.He later said,"Ihadsteppedoutofmyoldlifebuthadn'tquitesteppedintoanewone."HewantedwhathesawinthelivesofthesegodlyYorkshirepeople.Yet,itseemedthathecouldnothaveit. When he asked the Shaws and their friends to explain their spiritualexperiences, he could barely understand what they said. A confusingcombination of lower class English, Yorkshire accent, and church jargonunderstandableonlybytheinitiatedpreventedhimfromfollowingtheirpath.Itdidnothelpthathissystematic,front-to-backstudyoftheBiblehadnowlandedhim in theBookof Job.Derek found job, his friends, and their angryGodoflittlehelp.Hewastemptedtodismissthiswholematterofreligionasmerelyacondition of psychology and social class-a view popular among wags atCambridge.

Still,hecouldnotdenywhathe told thepreacher: "I ama sinner." IfDerekhad ever known hewas a weak, immoral, uncleanman, it was now. He alsocouldnot denywhat he saw in theShaws and the people at church.They tooadmitted theywere sinners and, inmany cases,worse sinners thanDerek hadever considered being.Yet, they said they felt clean now, and they looked it.Theirfacesbeamed,theirspeechwaslikepurewater,andtheyseemed-whatwastherightword?-innocent!Yes,thatwasit.Nomattertheirpriorlivestheynowseemed to possess an endearing innocence.What Derek would have given tohavehisinnocenceback,toridhimselfofthehardenedcynicismthatfilledhissoul.

After days of this inner wrestling, Derek was worn out. He had exhaustedhimselfwithevaluatingandanalyzing.Hecouldnotreasonhiswaytotherealityhesought.Butperhapstherewasaway.TheShawsandtheirpastorfriendshadnotproposeda truth tobeanalyzed.Theyofferedarelationshipwithaperson.Derekcouldanalyzeallhewished,butheknewhecouldnotenterarelationshipjustbythinkingaboutit.PerhapsthisJesuswasreal,andperhaps,ifHewasreal,Hemight justmakeHimself known ifDerek invitedHim. Itwasworth a try,anyway.

Derek knew what he wanted to do. He waited until late one night wheneveryone in the barracks would be asleep. It was particularly important thatDerek's roommate,DonaldSmee,shouldbeasleep.HewasJewish,andDerekdidn'tthinkhewouldappreciateanymessingaboutwiththisJesuspersoninhisroom.

When allwas quiet,Derek pulled a canvas, army-issue stool in front of thelargewindowontheeastwallofhisroom.Ithadbeenastrokeofgoodfortunethat thiswindow lookeddirectlyoutonto theNorthSea, andDerekhad spentmanyhoursfeedinghissoulonthebreathtakingviewfromthisveryspot.Nowitwasnight,andwhilehecouldonlydimlyseethereflectionofthemoononthewatersbelow,hecouldheartherhythmicbeatingofthewavesagainsttherockyshoreofScarborough.

Weshouldpicturehimatthisverymoment:HeiswearingonlyaT-shirtandboxer shorts. He pulls the canvas stool to the window and tries to pray. No

words come: no miraculous scripture sounding itself through his lips ashappenedattheShaw'stable.Hewaitsandtriestoprayagainbutdoesn'tknowhow. Then a flock of seagulls float on a seaside breeze just outside of hiswindow.Theybegintoscreech,anditdistractshim.ThosewhohavebeentotheplaceknowthatthescreechoftheScarboroughseagullisdeafening.Derekgetsupfromhisstool in frustrationandwaits.Five, tenminutespass,and then theseagullsmoveon.Derekfeelsabitfoolish,distractedfromGodbyabunchofstupidbirds.Stillinhisunderwear,stillonthestool,stillatthemoonlitwindow,hetriestoprayagain.

But he cannot. For more than an hour he tries, but there is nothing. He isfrustratednearlytotears.

Andthenithappens.

He feels it first in his arms. They rise toward the ceiling, his palms turnedupward.

Whypalmsupward?hewondersnearlyaloud.

Avoicesoundsinhissoul.Itispowerfromonhigh.

This power-this electric, radiating force-moves fromhis hands, up his arms,andthroughhistorsotohislegs.It iscirculatingthroughhimlikeanelectricalcurrent, or perhaps it iswashing over him like thewaves of the sea he hearsoutsidehiswindow.Hecannot tell,andhedoesnotcare.Hewants itnever tostop.

Words form on his lips. Again, they are words from the Bible he does notknowheknows. "UnlessYoublessme, Iwillnot letYougo!"Buthecannotstop."IwillnotletYougo,"herepeats."IwillnotletYougo.IwillnotletYougo."

Over and again he says the words. As he does, this power intensifies andbeginstopushhimback.Hishandsareraised,andheisstillseatedonthestool,butjustbarely.Heisfallingback,andyetheisnotfalling.Heisyielding.Andnowheisawarethatthisisnotjustsomespiritualelectricityheisfeeling.Itis

thepresenceofaperson,apersonwhohesensesistheanswerforhislife.

"IwillnotletYougo.IwillnotletYougo.IwillnotletYougo."

Derek falls, almost floats backwards from the stool to the floor, his handsraised,hislipsneverceasingtoofferthecryofhissoul.

Then thewordschange.Realizinghe is in thepresenceof theonewhomhehassought,hebeginstocry,"MakemeloveYoumoreandmore.MakemeloveYoumoreandmore."

Herepeatsthisoverandoverasheliesonhisbackinhisunderwear,hispalmsraisedtotheceiling,hiseyesfilledwithtears.

"MakemeloveYoumoreandmore.MakemeloveYoumoreandmore."

He is weeping and praying. He cannot help himself, and he cannot helpwakinguphisroommateDonaldSmee.

Itistheweehoursofthemorningnow,andCorporalSmeeawakestofindhisnormallystaidroommateonhisbackweepingandprayingwithhishandsraised.He tries to talk toDerek,butDerekdoesnothear.He realizes themanon thefloorisinanalteredstate.

In disgust, Smee says toDerek, "I don't knowwhat to do. I suppose it's nogoodpouringwater on you."Derekhears himbut also hears that inner voice:Watercan'tputthisout.

Smeegoesbacktobed,andDerekcontinuessobbing.Soonthissobbingturnsto laughing. Then, the inner voice again: Men must not blaspheme the HolySpirit.ImmediatelyitentersDerek'smindthatthismustbetheHolySpirit.Hethinksthiswhilehisbodycontinuestorespondwithlaughing,sobbing,andpleasforthethirdpersonintheroomnevertoleavehim.

Thenhecantakenomore.Laughingandsobbing,hecrawlstowhatpassesforhis bed, a strawmattress on the floor. Still unable to control hiswords or hismood, he curls up on themattress to gain some bodily control and continuesmumbling,"HelpmeloveYou.HelpmeloveYou."

Timecondenses,andDerekcontinuesinthisfetalpositionofprayerforwhatmight be hours orminutes.Then, he falls asleep-thewindowopen, thewavescrashing,andthepersonhehasjustmetstillnear.

Thenextmorning,DerekPrinceawokeas though in anotherman's skin andanotherman'ssoul.Hewasdifferent,new,changed.Hewas in thesameroomwiththesameopenwindowandthesamecanvasstool.Yetashepulledonhistrousershe realized thathewasalmost involuntarily talking toGod.Thenightbeforehehadnotknownhowtopray.Now,hecouldnotstop.Scriptureshehadnever intentionally learnedformed themselves intoprayersandmoved throughhis lips involuntarily.Hecouldnotdrinkacupofwaterwithoutgiving thankswhenhehadoncebeenunabletoofferthanksforafeast.

Hewentoutintohisdayandbeganhisduties.Hekepttellinghimselfthathewas stillDerekPrince in the army inScarborough.Thisheknew,butnothingelse seemed normal. Usually his sentences were punctuated with graphicswearingandsexualreferences.Now,withoutgivingathoughttoit,henotonlydidnotswearbutalsohadnodesiretodoso.

Moreover,theweepingandlaughingofthenightbeforehadquietedabitbutwerestilljustbeneaththesurface.Tearsformedashefeltafreshthatpresence,this timenot inaroomwithhimbut insidehim.Then,withoutchoosingtodoso,thegentlecryingwouldformitselfintogigglesandofakindthatseemedtofreehissoulwitheverysound.Alldaylonghemadeexcusestopullaside-intothemen'sroom,off tohisbarracks-tofindaprivateplace togivevent towhatfeltlikeanewstreamofcool,happywaterpouringfrominsidehim.

Theeveningcame,andhefollowedhabittothelocalpubtoenjoyhiseveningsherry.Hewas an innocent, unaware ofwhat hadhappened to himorwhat itmightmeantohismannerofliving.Hewasinthegripofanexperiencehecouldnotdeny,couldnotinterpret,andcouldnoteverwishtoescape.Distractedly,heapproachedthedoorofthepub,andwhenhedid,hisfeetstoppedworking.Hesimplycouldnotcommandhislegstowalkthroughthedoor.Becomingusedtotheunusual,hesimplyturnedfromthedoorandwalkedbacktohisbarracks.

Heknewhewaschanged,buthehadnowayofknowingjusthow.Sittingon

hiscanvasstool,heopenedhisBibletoreadagainfromtheBookofjob,andhiseyesfellinsteadonPsalm126:1-2.

WhentheLORDturnedagainthecaptivityofZion,wewerelikethemthatdream.Thenwasourmouth filledwith laughter, andour tonguewithsinging:thensaidtheyamongtheheathen,TheLORDhathdonegreatthingsforthem.

For the first time in his life, Derek read in the pages of Scripture an exactdescription of somethinghewas experiencing.Hewas amazed: that people inthepastknewwhatheknew,thattheBiblecouldbecontemporary,thathewaslivingthelifeofafreedcaptive.

Assoonashecould,DerekmadehiswaytotheShaws'hometotellthemofhis experience.They tearfully laughedwithhimandprayed their thanksgivingaloud.TheyhadaskedGodtointerveneinthelifeoftheiryoungsoldierfriend,andHehaddoneso.Now,theprofane,hard-drinkingsoldierwhocouldnotseeaconnectionbetweenthelifeofJesusChristandtheproblemofhisownsinwaslaughinguncontrollablyintheShaw'sparloratthefeelingofbeingfree.

Over the following weeks, the Shaws met with Derek as often as possible.They taught himwhat they knew of Scripture and helped him understand thepassagesthatdescribedsalvationandthepowerfulpresenceoftheirGod.ItwasJesuswhohadappeared tohim, theyexplained.ThissameJesuswhodied forDerek'ssinshadcomeintoDerek'sroomthatnighttocleansehissinandenterhisheartforever.Now,hewasbornagain,saved,deliveredfromthekingdomofdarkness.HehadenteredthekingdomofGodnow,andtheBiblewouldbehisguide.DerekwentbacktochurchwiththemandtoldthestoryofthatnightonthecanvasstoolwhereGodmethiminhisunderwear.Henevergotthroughthetalewithout the same laughterand tears floodinghimagain.Thecongregationcelebratedwithhimandtookhimasoneoftheirown.

One evening, the Shaws satDerek down after ameal and told him of theirexperiencewith theHolySpirit. "This being isGod in spirit form," they said,"andwhenapersonhasbeen freedasyouhavebeen freed,whenhe is saved,there is anotherwork thatGod does to give that person power. It iswhat theapostlesreceivedon theDayofPentecost,and it iswhatGodwantsallofHis

peopletohave."Dereklistenedintentlyandyetuncritically.Asmuchashehadsharpenedhiscriticalfacultiesthroughtheyears,theybarelyfunctionednow.Heread the scriptures the Shaws showed him about this "baptism" that theHolySpiritgives,and thoughhedidnot fullyunderstand them,hewantedwhatevertheShawshad.

When he agreed to welcome anything God wanted to do, the Shaws stoodaroundhimandprayedwiththeirhandspressedgentlyaboutDerek'sshouldersandhead.Phrasebyphrase, they ledhiminaprayeraskingGodforHisHolySpiritandaskingforanylanguagethatSpiritmightgive.Derekfeltagainwhathehadfeltinthebarracksonthatnight.Thistimeitmovedfromthetopofhishead down his body to his feet. When this radiating force covered himcompletely,hesuddenlyrealizedthattheprayershehadbeenmumblingquietlyin English while the others prayed now had turned to a language he did notknow. Derek knew that it was indeed a language, one with structure andinterconnection.Heknewahalfadozenlanguagesalreadyandcoulddiscernthepatternofalanguagewhenheheardone.Thisonewasrising,withouthistellingittodoso,fromhisdeepestsoul,throughhismouth,andtowardtheheavens.HeprayedinthisnewlanguageforsometimewhiletheShawsthankedGodaloudthatDereknow"hadtheSpiritandspokeintongues."

Derekwasnowamangloriously inconflictwithhimself.Allofhisbreeding,education, and culture had flowed behind him like a river,moving him in itscurrents towardapresetdestination.Now, though,Derekhadsomethinglivinginhim,coursingthroughhimthatmadehisformerriverseemashallow,muddytrickleincomparison.Hedidnotknowwhatitwouldmean,butheknewthelifehehadbeenpositionedtolivesincebirthwouldneverbehisagain.Whathehadfoundwasmorethananexperience;itwasaworld,beneathandbeyondtheonehehadknown,andhehadchosentomakethatworldhishome.

5

DiscipledintheDesert:LessonsofaLifetime

oYOUBECAMEaChristian,Derek,butwhataboutClare?Didyoulosecontactwithherduringthewar?

"No,shecontinuedtowritemewhileIwasatBoyceBarracksandScarborough.Shewasn'ttoorepentantaboutwhatwehaddone,andherlettersmorethanhintedatmereturningtoher."

"HowdidyoufeelaboutthewholematterafteryoubecameaChristian?"

"I felthorribly,ofcourse, andnot longaftermysalvation I receiveda letterfromheraskingmewhat thechildshouldbenamed.IknewthenthatIhadtodealwiththematter.SoIgotpermissiontogoonleavetoIreland.Thiswasnosmall achievement because Ireland wasn't in the war and wasn't part of theUnion.Peoplewent to Ireland to escape the draft in those days the samewaysomeAmericanswent toCanada toescape theVietnamWar.Mycommander,ColonelDanMcVicker,wasn'tsureaboutmyrequestatfirstbutthendecidedtorisklettingmego."

"SoyouwentbacktotheRiley'sfarminDundalk?Whathappened?"

"AfterIgreetedeveryoneItoldSeanwehadtotalk.HeandClaresatwithmeintheparlor,andItoldhimthatthechildwasmine.Thereweretearsandabitofanger,buthewasverygracious.Beforetheconversationwasover,Seanforgavemeandagreedtoadoptthechildashisown.Idon'tthinkClarewastoohappywithmefortellingSean."

"Didyouholdthechild,Derek?"

"Yes, I held him. He was a rather handsome baby. In fact, I attended hisbaptismwhileIwasthere.TheynamedhimGavinDavidMontroseRiley."

"Howdiditfeeltoholdyourson?"

"Myfeelingswereofrelief,mainly,andIwashappyaboutthechildhavingagoodhome.Ofcourse,IfeltmorethanatwingeofguiltatwhatIhaddone,andClare's brazen, somewhat bitter attitude only made the situation moreuncomfortable.Still,thereissomethingaboutholdingyourownchild..."

"Youknow,Derek,itstrikesmethatthosemomentsGavinwasinyourarmsaretheonlytimeinyourlifeyouhaveeverheldachildthatwasyourownfleshandblood.

"Yes,thatistrue,Isuppose.AlthoughGodgavemesuchwonderfuldaughtersthatIneverfeltitaloss."

"YoushowedalotofcharactergoingbacktoIrelandtoconfesstoSean."

"I never thought of it thatway, butwhatever I had thatmademe do itwasfromGod.Ihadn'tbeenaChristianverylong,butIknewonething:Iknewthatif I didn't deal with the situation righteously, my life would never amount toanything."

WhenDerekPrincemetJesusandwasbaptizedbytheHolySpirit in1941,hejoined,perhapsunwittingly,amovement thathadbeensweepingtheworldfordecades. Some called it "theRenewal" and some called it "Pentecost," but nomatter its name, itwas even then redefining theChristian church in amannerfewmovementseverhad.

After the followers of Jesus first received the gift of theHolySpirit on thatcelebrateddayinJerusalemsometimearoundA.D.30,supernaturalphenomena

becamecommonplaceintheearlychurch.UnderstandingthisHolySpiritasthepower to continue themiraculousministry of Jesus Christ on earth, the earlychurch raised the dead, healed the sick, drove demonic spirits out of humanflesh,spokeinspirituallanguages,andreceivedrevelationsfromGod.Inotherwords, they didwhat Jesus had done, and the astonishing growth of the earlychurch was due in large part to the miraculous works of believers inconfirmationoftheirspokengospel.

AftertheearlycenturiesofChristianity,thesesupernaturalphenomenaseemedtodecrease.SomeChristianshave suggested thatmiracleswereonlygivenbyGodtohelpthechurchinitsinfancy.OncetheBiblewaswritten,theycontend,believers had awritten record to confirm theirmessage and no longer needed"signs and wonders." Others contend that the Christian church became socorruptedunderConstantineandthedominationofthestatethatagrievedHolySpiritceasedtooperatethroughataintedpeople.

Whatever thereasonfor their infrequency, the truth is thatmiraculousworksnever fully died out in church history. In almost every generation, at least aremnant continued to experience the same "power from on high" the apostleshad first known on the Day of Pentecost. Church fathers like Irenaeus,Tertullian, Novatian, andAnthony,who livedwell after the first apostles hadpassed from this world, all claimed victorious confrontations with demons.Ambrosetoldofbelieversspeakingintonguesandbeinghealedthroughprayerinhisday.AugustinerecounteddozensofhealingsinTheCityofGod,andmenasdiverseasSt.FrancisofAssisi,IgnatiusofLoyola,andMartinLutherwroteunashamedlyofdivinehealing,themiraclesoftheHolySpirit,andthepowerofthe gospel to destroy demonic forces. During the Scottish Reformation of thesixteenth century, JohnKnox issued prophecies thatwere confirmed time andagain, in one case even correctly predicting the destruction of an entireunrepentanttown.

Somewhatlaterinhistory,therevivalsthatsweptEnglandandAmericaunderthepreachingofJohnWesleyandGeorgeWhitefieldhadanovertlysupernaturalcharacter to them. Not uncommonly, the ground would shake during theirpreaching, sinnerswould think themselves on firewhen no flamewas visible,andhealings,thoughrare,occurredaswell.

These revivals under the leadership ofWesley andWhitefield, often called"the Great Awakening," created streams of renewal that continued to flowthroughthechurch.MenlikeCharlesFinneyandDwightMoodyinAmericaandCharlesSpurgeonandAndrewMurrayintheBritishdominionsledrevivalsfordecadesduringthe1800s,riversofrefreshingthattheyunderstoodflowedfromthe pioneering preachers of the Great Awakening. Supernatural phenomenaattendedtheministriesofeachofthesemen.

Though Pentecostal phenomena clearly continued through the ages, nothingthat the church had experienced since the days of the apostles could haveprepared it for thegreatcrashingwavesof revival thatannounced thedawnofthe twentieth century.The sweeping supernaturalmovement thatDerekPrincejoinedin1941wasunlikeanythingChristianbelievershadeverknown.

It is hard to know exactlywhen it all began.Most scholars agree that therewere early pinpricks of light among the Wesleyan renewals and brush arbormeetingsofthelate1800s.TherewerealsosmallerrevivalstobefoundinpartsofAfricaandAsia.ThebeginningofthenewPentecost,though,seemstohaveoccurred just as the new century was born and in a place few could haveexpected:inanoldmansioncalledStone'sFollyinTopeka,Kansas.

Someyearsbefore,anevangelistnamedCharlesParhamhadbegunaschoolinStone's Folly to trainministers. Though never large in attendance, the schoolmadeupforitsmeagersizewithspiritualpassion.ParhamusedonlytheBibleasatextbook,andheexpectedeverystudenttospendhoursinprayerandfastingaswellassharetheirfaithpubliclyasoftenaspossible.

InDecember1900,Parhamgavehisstudentsanassignmenttocompletewhilehewasawayonbusiness.TheirtaskwastodeterminewhattheBiblesaysaboutthe biblical evidence for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. After studying thematter,allthestudentsagreedthattheanswerwasspeakingintongues.Severaldays later, onNewYear's Eve, the studentswere conducting a "WatchNightService,"anall-nightprayermeetingdesignedtodiscernthewillofGodforthenewyear.At11:00p.m., a thirty-year-old studentnamedAgnesOzmanaskedthestudentstolayhandsonherastheearlyapostlesdidsothatshecouldspeakin tongues. Just as the clock in the school's hallway struck in the new year,

Ozman began speaking in tongues. She continued for three days, apparentlyunable to speak English. Other students soon received the same gift, as didParham.Newsofthephenomenaspreadquickly,andsoonsimilarepisodeswereoccurringaroundtheworld.

In1903,aPentecostal-stylerevival inWalesprovedso transforming that theentire nation took notice. Conversions were widespread, prayer meetings andsong services sprang up spontaneously, and an emphasis on personal holinessandpuritychangedentire industries.During the revival,miningofficialsnotedthatproduction in themineshaddroppeddramatically. Investigationsas to thecause revealed that miners caught up in the national revival were no longerwilling to swear as they once had, a happy trend except that the mules theycommanded couldn't understand the miners' wishes without the use of foullanguage. Policemen, bored by the low crime rate and empty jails, formedsinginggroupsandroamedthelandspreadingtherevivalmessage.

In1905,aworkofsimilarimpactsprangupinAmericaatAzusaStreetinLosAngeles. Led by a legally blind black man named William Seymour, thisstorefront revival was known for such displays of power that people merelywalkingdown the street during themeetingswereknockeddownunconsciousandrosetofindthemselvespermanentlychanged,muchasDerekPrincewouldbeyears later.The revival lasted for threeyearsanddrewhugecrowds.Manywho attended the revival from other nations returned home to give birth toPentecostalismintheirnativelands.

ThePentecostalmovementwasmarkedbythebeliefthattheHolySpiritwascontinuing to do in the new century exactlywhat theBook ofActs describedHimdoinginthefirstcentury.AmongPentecostals,asenseoftheHolySpirit'spresenceintheirlivesandtheirmeetingswascommon.Thosewhowerewillingreceived the baptism of the Holy Spirit, a special application of power toministertoothers,andspokeintonguesasadivineaidtotheirprayerlife.Giftsof the Spirit were practiced as well, so that healing, prophecy, and specialdiscernment about spirits became tools employed by the faithful to strengthentheir corporate life and help liberate lives bound by sin and religioussuperstition.

Though the Pentecostals quickly grew in strength and influence, they wereseldomaccepted by the established churches.They seemed too fanatical, theirservices toounstructuredandexcessive.Pentecostalpreacherswererarelywelleducated, their sermons often amounting to ecstatic exhortations that nomainline churchman could understand or respect. It did not help thatPentecostalsquicklydescendedintostrictcodesofbehaviorthatseemedsillytothewatchingworld.Movies,radio,highereducation,dancing,andalcoholwerealldeemedsinful.Womenwereexpectedtoweartheirhairinahigh,tightbunand leave no skin below the chin exposed other than the hands.Makeupwasthoughtharlotry,soPentecostalwomenoftenpinchedtheircheekstogaincolor.All of this brought howls of laughter from outsiders who already foundPentecostal worship services-with their dancing, rolling on the floor, handraising,andshouting-delightfullyfoolishenough.

When Derek Prince joined the Shaws' Pentecostal church in the openingmonths ofWorldWar II, there had already been a dozen new denominationsformed to foster the movement: the Assemblies of God, the Nazarenes, theChurchofGod,thePentecostalChurchofGod,andAimeeSempleMcPherson'sChurch of the Foursquare Gospel to name a few. The movement was stillgrowing by 1941 but was held in disrepute by mainstream society, viewedlargelyasanextremeformofreligiousemotionalismamongthelowerclasses.

The spiritual mentoring that Derek received from the Shaws in the monthsfollowinghisconversionwassweettohissoul.Insimple,endearingYorkshireterms,theytaughthimwhattheyknewofChristandHisways.YetDerekknewthat his time with the Shaws would soon end. The thundering war on theContinentcalled,andheunderstoodthathemustsoonplayhispartinit.

In September of 1941, Derek learned that his unit was being shipped tonorthernAfricaaspartoftheNo.1ArmouredDivision.ThewarhadnotbeengoingwellforBritainsinceshefirstjoinedthehostilitiesonSeptember3,1939.The incessant bombing of London by Nazi planes, the costly "Battle of theAtlantic," and the humiliating evacuation of Dunkirk had all taken their toll.

OnlytheemergenceofWinstonChurchillasprimeministerandthedefeatoftheItalians in Ethiopia brought encouragement to the British people. Now, thediscerningrealizedthatnorthernAfricawouldsoonbethestageforsomeofthemostdecisivebattlesofthewar.Derekwasabouttobeinthethickofitall.

Ittookmonthsforhistroopship-ironicallynamedTheCityofParistomakeitsway toSuezwhereDerekwas tobeginhisAfricanadventures.ToavoidNazisubmarines,theshipsteamedacrosstheAtlanticnearlytothecoastoftheUnitedStates before turning southward to round theCape ofGoodHope. For a brieftime,theshipputinatDurban,onthecoastofSouthAfrica,andthisoccasionedtwomemorablemomentsinDerek'slife.

While the ship was in port, Derek had the unusual experience of playinginterpreterduringarebellion.Aboardhisshipwere305membersoftheFrenchFreeNavy.Notknown for theirmilitarydiscipline, theseFrench sailors foundtheconditionsaboardshipdeplorableanddecidedtomutiny.Theysucceededinoccupying theupperdeckof the shipbefore theywere checkedby theBritishnavalguard.Astandoffensued,madeworseby the fact that the ship'scaptainspokenoFrenchandthemutineersspokenoEnglish.SomeonetoldthecaptainthatPrincecouldhelp,andDereksoonfoundhimself trying tohelpbothsidesunderstandeachother.Atonepointinthenegotiations,thecaptainthreatenedtoimprisonDerek for the insulting thingshewas saying.Derekgently remindedthe officer that he was merely interpreting the French sailor's words. Themutineersweresoontalkedintosurrendering,andDerekreceivedthegratitudeofall.

WhenDerek left the ship towalk the streets ofDurban, he fell in among agroupofChristiansoldierswhodecided toholdanevangelisticstreetmeeting.More than a few of them were surprised to find that Derek was a believer.Thoughtheyhadbeenonshiptogetherfortwomonths,Derekapparentlystayedto himself so much that the other believers had taken no notice of him. "I'msurprised to see you here," one fellow soldier told him before inviting him tosharehistestimonyatthemeeting.WhenDerek'stimecametospeak,hetoldofhisexperienceat theScarboroughbarracksandof thechange thatcame inhislife.Thecrowdwassomoved thatagroupofPlymouthBrethrenmissionariesinvited him to share in their open-air meeting, as well. Several Africans

committedtoJesusafterDerekspokeinthissecondmeeting,andtogetherthesetwoinformalgatheringsmarkthefirsttimeDerekeverspokeofthegospelinaforeigncountry,aforeshadowingofmuchthatwastocome.

Derek arrived at Suez onDecember 9, just in time to hear the news of theJapanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He did not have long to ponder it. Afterprocessing, the 1st Lightfield Ambulance Unit was confined just outside ofAlexandria,andDerekquicklybeganlearningthewaysofthedesert.Hebecameskilled at digging a three-foot-deep square hole in the desert floor and thenerectinghistentoverit.Thisallowedforacooler,lesssandyexistencebelowthereachoftheharsh,drywind.Helearnedtomakehisteawithaslittlesandaddedaspossible, andhe learned toprotecthis skin from theblistering sun.Healsobecame accustomed to the rumors, the loneliness, the crude humor, and thealternatingfearandboredomofabattlefieldcamp.

Perhapsbecausehewaslonelyorperhapsbecauseshepliedhimwithletters,Derek spent more than a few hours writing to Clare. It seems an oddinconsistency.Hehadunderstoodhisrelationshipwithherassinandconfessedasmuch to his cousin, Sean.But now, in the howling emptiness ofEgypt, hepouredhisheartout toher.His letterswere filledwith scripturesandwithhisreflectionsonlifeintheSpirit.Heaskedherifshewasbornagainandshesaidshe was, though he sensed she was simply trying to win him with the rightanswer.ItisnothardtoimaginethathisthoughtsturnedtothecoolgreenvistasofIrelandandthehomeypleasuresoftheRiley'sfarmhouse.ItisalsonothardtoimaginethatinhislonelinessDerekfoughtoffmemoriesofClareherselfandofthetimetheyhadsharedtogether.

There is an Arab proverb that says the desert contains as much life as thedeepestocean,butonemustsimplyknowhowto find it.Whatever theBritisharmyintendedforDerek'sexperienceinnorthernAfrica,itislikelythatDerek'sGodintendedtoteachhimtofindlifebeyondtheparchedsurfaceofthisworld.InthenearlythreeyearsthatDerekwouldspendindesertplaces,hewouldlearntosustainavitalspiritualexistencewithout theaidofachurch,apastor,closeChristian friends, or anyof the supports thatmostChristiansknow.Hewouldthrive,though,andlearnthelessonsoffaiththatwouldnotonlysustainhimbutalso the many millions who would feed from his experience in the years to

come.Inessence,hewasdiggingwellsofrefreshingforhisgeneration.

DerekjoinedtheBritishforcesinnorthernAfricaatacriticalmomentinhistory.From the beginning of the war, both sides of the conflict had realized thatcontrolofnorthernAfricameantcontroloftheSuezCanal,thevastoilreservesof theMiddleEast,andaccess towhatChurchillcalled the"softunderbellyofEurope."Initially, ItalianforceshadpouredintoAfrica throughLibyawith theintentofcontainingtheBritishinEgypt.TheItalianshadquicklybeendefeated,though,andHitlerlostnotimesendingtroopsinhopesofconqueringtheregion.Hischosencommander for the taskwas thebrilliant strategistErwinRommel.The British attempt to defeat Rommel would not only determine much ofDerek'slifeinnorthernAfricabutalsoleadtooneofthemostcriticalbattlesofthewar.

Derek'sdivisionremainedinSuezforonlytwoorthreeweeksbeforemovingwestward.Formorethanfourmonths,BritishforcespursuedRommel's"desertrats"acrossnorthernAfrica, toaplacecallElAlgheila inTripoli.Busyat therearof theadvance,Derekseldomknewwhatwashappeningat the front.Hisresponsibilitywastooverseeateamofmenwhohadjoviallynamedthemselves"Prince's Pioneers." There were ten of them, eight stretcher bearers and twodrivers,whose job itwas to collect thewoundedmen fromnear the front andtend themasbestpossiblewhile transporting themto the fieldhospital. Itwasfar froma cushybillet at the rear.Therewere landmines, sinkholes, and evenunexploded shells embedded in the bodies of the wounded. Derek saw thehorrorsofwarinawayfewmendo,yethisgraceandwisdomcausedhismentorally to him and trust him. Already he was showing himself an exceptionalleaderofmen.

Everyfourorfivedaysthedivisionwouldmoveforward.Derek'smenwouldriseearlyonthesedaysandquicklyfixtheirbreakfast.Thismightbeabitofteaand a little bread. If they had bartered wisely with the local tribesmen, theremightbesomebananasorcurrantjelly.Theywouldchecktheirequipment,filltheirkitbagswiththepropermedicinesandbandages,rolltheirblanketsaroundtheir utensils, and mount the truck. All the while, Derek would be shouting

warningsandinstructions:aboutsandintheequipment,aboutscorpionsintheirboots, about the fuelingand repairof the truck.Then, as theymade theirwayalongthebone-breaking,nearlunarsurface,Derekwouldstartupconversationsto lift the spiritsof themen.Heonceasked themall todescribe their favoritemealbackinEngland.Eachmantoldhismouth-wateringfantasy,andthentheyall insisted Derek tell his. He described, with the most agonizing care, aSeptembermorningbreakfaston the terraceofacountryhouse.Hismen livedontheimageforweeks.

Theirdailydutiescenteredaroundthesimplemattersofsurvivalinthedesert:water,food,shelter,andtransportation.ComfortstheyhadthoughtlesslyenjoyedinEnglandnowbecameissuesoflifeanddeath.Eachdaytheymadesuretheyhadwater.Therewas rarely enough.When theywere fortunate, theypassed anaturalwellandfilledupeverycontaineravailable.Somedaystheyhadonlyacuportwoofwater,andthesedaysinspiredfear.Wouldtherebeanywateratalltomorrow?Foodwasmeager,evenwiththebestintentionsofthequartermaster,andeachmanquicklybecameagaunt,brown-nearskeletal-versionof themanhewas in England. Shelter proved less of a problem except thatwhen itwaserectedbadly,themenfrozeatnight,couldblisterunderthesuneveninthefirstfewhoursof themorning,andmightalsodrawanyvarietyofdesertcreatures.More than one night's sleep was interrupted by the scream of a man bittenpainfullybysomeunidentifiedspiderorsnake.

Thematteroftransportationwaslessanissuebecauseoftheirtruck,buteventhispresentedachallenge.Theirthree-tonlorrywasoftentrappedinthesandorinneedofrepair.Whenthishappened,themenriskedbeinglostorleftbehind.Ononeoccasion,Derek'screwwasorderedtogofindwater.Theydroveoverahilltowardawell,andwhentheyturnedtowhattheythoughtwasthewaybacktocamp,theyrealizedthattheyhadbecomedisorientedanddidnotknowwheretheywere.At thismoment,Derek shined.He uttered a prayer, considered theangleofthesun,andledthemenbacktosafety.Episodeslikethisendearedhimtohismen,fortheyknewthatmanymenhaddiedhorribledeathsinthedesertforfarlessgrievouserrors.

InMay 1942,Rommel counterattacked and began driving theBritish forcesbacktowardtheeast.ThisbeganthelongestretreatinBritishhistory,stretching

over sevenhundredmiles of burning sand. Itwasmiserable going.Therewaslittlewaterandlessfood.Thearmynearedchaosattimes,andfearriddledthetroops.Tomakemattersworse,Derek'struckrolledoveramine,andthoughnooneinsidewashurt,thetruckwascompletelydestroyed.ThismeantthatDerek'smen had to walk, carrying their food, water, medical gear, and personalpossessionsbyhandacrosstheblisteringdesertfloor.

Derekwas sustained in times like these by the disciplines he haddevelopedsincearrivinginAfrica.HehadreadenoughoftheScripturesandsensedenoughfromtheHolySpirittoperceivethatGodintendedtostriphimandrebuildhiminthedesert.BarrenplaceswereoftentheworkshopofGod,heunderstood.Nooneofconsequencehasescapedthewildernessseason.DerekwelcomeditandleanedintothelessonshisheavenlyFatherpresseduponhim.

Inalandofmeagerfoodandwater,DereklearnedtodrawsustenancefromtheBible.Heunderstoodtheconceptofmanna,thatwhattheancientIsraeliteshadreceived in natural form in their desert experience nowmen could find in thewrittenWord of God. The Bible wasn't like human literature. Its wordswerefilledwithGod'sSpiritandwerealive,radiatingthemeaningandpowerofGodin the human heart as no human words could. Derek gave every moment hecould to theBibleand foundhimselfchanged,cleansed,andstrengthened inawaythatmadethedeprivationsofthedesertlessbiting.

Derek also began discerning thewill of theHolySpirit.He had often heardmenspeakofhearingGod'svoice,anditmadehimuncomfortable.EvenwhentheShawsspokeof the"leadingofGod,"hewasunsureof theirmeaning.Butnow,inthedesert,withlittlesoundbutthehowlingbarrennessandthecompanyofhisownthoughts,Dereksensedanotherconsciousnesspressingitselfintohismind. Itwasn't a voice but itwasmore than a feeling, as though therewas aseparatemindattempting tomake itself known inhis thoughts. It began as anawarenessofawill, something likeanunformed idea.Then,wordsgrewfromthe impression of this will until he had understanding of a specific idea, athought that someone outside himself had communicated as though he wereinside him. He soon came to understand that this was the voice-the will, thethoughts,theimpressions-oftheHolySpirit.

He started attending to this "Voice," and when he did, he found himselfentering intoakindof relationship.Whilehe readScripture, thisVoicewouldremindhimofanotherpassageorraiseaquestion.SometimeshefeltthestrongimpressiontoreadtheBibleinacertainplace,andlaterinthedayhewouldfindthat what he had read applied perfectly to the situation he was in or someconversation hewas having. Sometimes theVoicewas instant and urgent.Heoncehadastrongsenseofurgencyaboutwherehewasabouttoputhisfoot.Heobeyedtheimpression,stoppedwalking,andlookeddownonlytoseetheraisededgeofalandmine.ThispracticalnatureoftheHolySpiritimpressedhim,andherealizedthatlifeismeanttobelivedundertheconstanttutelageofthisVoice,theexpressedwilloftheHolySpirit.

Inessence,Derekhadentered intoa schoolof thisHolySpirit.Between theinstructionofScriptureandthemoment-by-momentguidanceoftheHolySpirit,hefoundhimselfpositionedforthelessonsGodwishedtoteachhimthroughthemundaneofhislife.Therewasthenight,forexample,thatGodusedblanketstoteachhimaboutthespiritualdeathofthebeliever.Everysoldierwasissuedfourblankets as insurance against the numbing cold of the desert night. One ofDerek'sblanketswasahuge,thickaffair,twicethesizeoftheusualarmyissueblanket.

Eachnight,Derekwould lay theblanketscarefullyon the sandygroundandenfoldhimselfcarefullyintothelayers.Onenight,Dereklayinthismanner,buthismindwastroubled.Whydidhehavetostayinthearmy?WhyhadGodlefthim in this miserable desert? Couldn't he do more good elsewhere? Thesequestions, and the feelings of irritation they produced, washed over him.Suddenly,hefelt/heardtheVoice.Herealizedthatbelowtheheavypressofhisblankets, hewas in the position of the crucified Jesus: arms outstretched, feettogether,headstretchedabovehisshoulders.

The Voice surfaced Galatians 2:20, a scripture he had recently read: "I amcrucifiedwithChrist:neverthelessIlive;yetnotI,butChristlivethinme:andthelifewhichInowliveinthefleshIlivebythefaithoftheSonofGod,wholovedme,andgavehimselfforme."Derekunderstoodimmediatelythemeaningof God: "Dead people don't complain. Be quiet and live the life of a newcreature."Derekrepented,relaxed,andslept.

Onanothernight,heexperiencedasimilarlessonashelaydowntosleep.Heagain found himself under the press of his blankets, but this time he waswrappedtight,hisarmspinnedathissides.Heseemedunabletomoveandfeltas thoughasupernatural forceheldhimfast.Hestruggled toget freeand thenfelt/heard theVoice again.He realized hewas in the exact position of amanbeingcarriedout forburial.Thencame the scripture as it hadbefore: "Buriedwithhiminbaptism,whereinalsoyearerisenwithhimthroughthefaithoftheoperationofGod,whohath raisedhim from thedead" (Col.2:12).Again, thelesson:"YougaveupyourlifewhenyoutookonthelifeofJesus.You'reminenow.I'lldowithyouasIwill."

Topressthemessageofdeathtoselfintohisheart,hebegantofastregularly.Every Wednesday he would do without food. The men of Prince's Pioneersbegan to callWednesday "Ramadan," after theMuslimmonth of fasting. Themen found it strange that a man already living on slim rations in the desertwouldchoosetoeatevenless,buttheygrewtorespectDerek.Helivedwhathebelieved and did so in a simple, unpretentious manner. As most men have,Prince'sPioneershadseenemptyreligiousshow.Therewereevenmenintheircamps who talked religion all the time but whose lives never measured up.Derek's quiet devotion, intelligence, and firm grasp on the natural worldwontheir respect. Every evening, when they planted their handmade flagwith thewords "Prince'sPioneers"on it into the sandasa joke, they realized thepridetheyincreasinglyfeltintheirunusualleader.

Derek'sfastingmovedhimmoredeeplyintothethingsoftheHolySpirit.Hefoundhimselfprayingintonguesmoreconstantly.Infact,hisprayerintonguesor"intheSpirit"becameaconstantstreamofexpression.ThoughDerekdidn'tunderstandthesoundshemade,heknewtheycamefromdeepwithinhim,thathehadn'tformedthesyllablesinhismind,andthathehadreceivedthisstreamofindiscerniblelanguagewhentheShawslaidhandsonhim.Notlongafterhisfirstexperiencewithtongues,herealizedthatsometimesheunderstoodwhathewassaying.ItwasjustasthoughsomeonewasspeakingFrenchorGerman,bothlanguagesheunderstood.Uponoccasion,hewouldbeprayingintonguesandanunderstandingofthesoundscametohim.

Thefirst timethishadhappeneditwasashesatinthePentecostalchurchin

Scarborough. A twelve-year-old girl behind him was praying in tongues, andDerek, new to the experience, listened carefully. After a few moments, herealized that he could understand what she was saying. He began saying thewordsaloudinEnglish:"Amen,LordJesus,comequickly.Comequickly,LordJesus,comequickly."Heturnedtolookatthegirl,andwhentheireyesmet,hesaw that she knew he had been saying in English what she had said in anunknownlanguage.

Therewereothertimesthatthisinterpretationofspirituallanguagehappened,andoneinparticularwouldprovetobeofhugeimportancetothecourseofhislife.Hewas getting ready for bed one nightwhen his prayer language-a veryclear, fluent,powerful, rhythmic language-arose fromhisheart intohismouth.He began to speak the syllables aloud, and very soon after he began tounderstandwhathewassaying.

Derekwasunsureofwhatitmeant,buthehadasensethatthewordspertainedto his destiny, towhat hewould later describe as the "calling" of his life.Heknew too that thewords had been given in the formGod normally usedwithhim-ElizabethanEnglish.Derekpreferredit,foritwasclearer,moreprecisethanmodernEnglish.Scholarthathewas,helikedknowingthat"ye"pertainedtoagroupbut"thou"pertainedtoanindividual.Eachtimeheinterpretedhisprayerlanguage,hehearditintheShakespeareanstylehesoloved.

Now, in thedesert ofAfrica,Derek learned topray in tongues and interprethimself as a normal part of his Christian life. Because praying in tonguesrequired nothing of his mind, he could do it quietly while he worked. Dayswould go by with Derek praying for hours and hours in tongues beyond hisconcentrated prayer times in English. Then, suddenly, it would happen. He

wouldbecomeawarethatameaningwasformingitselfinhismind,framedbythe syllables he had been streaming in a nearwhisper, perhapswhile packingsupplies or servicing the truck. It was God speaking to him through his ownwords.Ononeoccasion,GodwouldexplainapassageofScripture.Onanother,GodwouldwarnDerekaboutsomepracticalmattersuchastheneedtorestforadayortonoticeaholeinthewatertanks.Withtime,Dereklearnedtolistenandobey,alwaysscanningthesilenceforthe"entrance"oftheVoice.

SometimesthatVoicecameincomfortingtonesofinstruction,andsometimesit came in rebuke. On one occasion, Derek had been complaining in prayer:"God,why aren't You near tome?Whymust I continue in thismonotonous,wearisomelifeinthisdesert?"

Then came theVoiceofGod in response: "Whyhaveyounot thankedMe?WhyhaveyounotpraisedMe?"

Derekknewthatinhiscomplaininghehadgivenrisetoanunthankfulheart,onethatwassuretoblindhimtoGod'sgoodnessandblockthegoodthingsGodintendedforhim.Derekbegantobethankful,singingsongsandprayingprayersfocusedonGod'sgoodness.Ashelatersaid,"Iadjustedmylife,andI learnedthe discipline of giving thanks and praising God in every situation andcircumstance. Do you know what I discovered? My circumstances did notchange,butIdid!WhenIchanged,thenmyviewofmycircumstancesbecamedifferent,too."

WalkingeastacrossthebarrensofnorthernAfricawithadiscouragedarmyinretreat,Derekstrainedtokeephisthoughtsonthescriptureshehadlearned,onthewordstheHolySpirithadspokentohim,andonthelessonshehadlearnedfromhisdisciplinginthedesert.Heknewtoothattherewasmorethanjusthisownwellbeingathand.HisPioneerswerestayingunusuallyclosetohim.Theyknew he had some source of strength from anotherworld, and they needed itnowmorethanever.Theyhadlittleconfidenceintheirothercommanders,butthisCorporalPrincehadshownthathewasmadeofdifferentstuff.Atthemostdesperatetimesoftheirretreat,asoldierwouldturntoDerekfromtimetotimeandsay,"CorporalPrince,I'mgladyouarehere."Hewastheirtouchstone.Forsome,hewaslikeagoodluckcharm.Forothers,hewasthefirstexampleofa

godlymantheyhadeverknown,andtheyneededhim.

Finally, the great retreat ended at a point 150 miles west of Cairo, in anondescriptlittletowncalledElAlamein.Thoughhecouldnothaveknownitatthe time,Derekwasabout toplaywitness tooneof themostdecisivemilitarybattles inhistory.Thevictor in thisconflictwouldcontrol theSuezCanal, thebackdoortoEurope,thecourseoftheMiddleEast,andthewellbeingofasliverof landcalled Israel.Those fewamongAllied leadershipwhoknewwhatwashappening in the laborcampsofGermanyalsoknewthat if theNaziswonthebattlethentakingshapeatElAlamein,theJewsofIsraelwouldbewipedfromthefaceoftheearth.

Astonishingly,itwasatthistensemomentinthewarthatDerekwasgrantedleave.Hewas finally to get a rest after an exhausting year in the desert.Andtherewasmore.HewouldtakethatleaveinPalestine.Thearmyhaddeterminedthathewouldrestfromhismilitarydutiesintheoneplacehemostlongedtogo.Soaftermonthsof sand, sweat, andhardship,Derek foundhimself living in aJerusalemhotel,sleepinglate,eatingwell,andwalkingtheancientstreets.Asarelatively new believer who was only just beginning to understand theconnectionbetweenhisfaithandthelandoftheJews,itwasanopportunityforrefreshingandlearningthatseemedtofallfromheaven.

WhileDerekroamedJerusalem,hecameuponabandofAssembliesofGodmissionaries.Oneof them,anAssyrian,pressedhimabouthisbaptism.Derekadmitted he had never been baptized and, frankly, hadn't seen the need.Truthfully,hefeltalittleoverwhelmedbyallthathehadbeenexperiencing,andthatduringawar.But theAssyrian,SaleemFarhoodHaddad,wouldn't let thematterdieandshowedDerekintheScriptureshowbaptismwascommandedofallJesus'disciples.OnceDereksawthemeaningofbaptismfromthepagesofScripture,heagreed.ItwasanaddeddrawthatthemenofferedtobaptizehimintheJordanRiver.OnAugust23,1942,Derek-donningablackbaptismrobeandstanding in inches of ancientmud-was baptized by Pastor Saul Benjamin, theleaderof themissionaryband. Inhis typicallydroll fashion,Derekwouldeverafterwardreport,"Lotsofpeoplewouldgetexcitedaboutthat.Ididn'tenjoyitatall."Thewordswringasmiletheseyearslater,butDerekrememberedthatwhilebaptismwasaholy thing tobedonebecause Jesus commanded it, hehad felt

nothing. Ever afterward, he would not necessarily expect good feelings toaccompanythedoingofGod'swill.Itwasalessonthatwouldseehimingoodstead.

Once Derek returned to northern Africa, he discovered that the Britishsituation there had grown even more desperate. Rommel had shownunprecedentedbrillianceindrivingtheBritishbackintotheirEgyptianlair.Themenwhomarched in retreat with Derek feared and respected Rommel. TheirBritishgeneral,ClaudeAuchinleck,commandedlittlerespectamonghistroops.Hewasa small,vainmanwhohadmadeamessof the recentcampaign.Oneorderthatheissuedduringtheretreattellsthetale.Knowingthatthetroopshadmade a near mythological figure out of Rommel, Auchinleck wrote to hiscommanders, "You must dispel by all possible means the idea that Rommelrepresents anything other than the ordinary German general... P.S. I'm notjealousofRommel."

Morale was almost nonexistent among the British troops. Derek thought heknewwhy.Hewasdescendedfromalonglineofmilitarycommanders,andhehad some sense of what an officer ought to be. He ought to be a model ofcourage and self-sacrifice.Heought to see to the needs of hismenbefore hisowncomforts.Heought to believe in the fight beforehim, inspire hismen totheirbest,andthrowhimself intobattleat theheadofhis troops.Thiswasthekindofcommanderhisfather,hisuncle,andhisgrandfatherhadbeen.

Yet,Dereksawthatfewoftheofficersaroundhimweremenofconsequence.Theywrappedthemselvesincomfortattherearofthelineandlefttheirmentosuffer. The troops were constantly lectured about preserving water, yet theofficers often drank more water with their whiskey than the average soldierreceived in a day. The troops were constantly harangued about preservinggasoline. Yet when one officer contracted malaria, a common malady innorthernAfrica,hecommandeeredafour-berthambulanceandaone-and-a-half-tontrucktocarryhisbelongingstoCairo.ThenhewasflownhometoEngland,amovecompletelyunnecessaryforamerecaseofmalaria.Weekslater,DerekandhismenlistenedtotheirradiowhilethissameofficerdescribedthehorrorsofcombatinthedesertfromastudioinLondon.Suchcowardiceanddevotiontopersonal comfort drained away what little respect the men had left for their

officers.

Derekwastroubledbywhathesaw.Withamajorbattleloomingandsomuchin thebalance,heknewthatdisasterawaited theAllies ifmatterscontinuedastheywere.Duringtheretreat,hekeptsensingthattheSpirit'svoicewasurginghimtoprayfortheBritishforcesinthedesertandforthewholesituationintheMiddleEast.Heresistedthough,forintheblackand-whitethinkingofayoungbelieverhecouldnotseehowaholyGodcouldworkthroughaleadershipthatwas sounworthyand inefficient.Still, theVoicepressed, and soonhegave inandaskedhisheavenlyFatherwhatprayerheshouldbeprayingforthearmy'sdilemma.He sensed that theHoly Spirit gave him this prayer: "Lord, give usleaderssuchthatitwillbeforYourglorytogiveusvictorythroughthem."Dayafterday,heprayedthesewords,hopingtoseethesituationchange.

Not longafter, he learned thatAuchinleckwas tobe replacedbyLieutenantGeneralW.H.E.Gott.ItwouldnothavebeenlostonDerekthatGottwastheGermannamefor"God."Perhaps,Derekthought,GottisGod'smantorightthismess.HecontinuedtopraytheprayertheSpirithadgivenhimandcontinuedtohopethathewasseeinghisanswerunfold.Severalweekslater,onAugust7,heheard on the radio thatGott had died horriblywhen his planewas shot downnearHeliopolis.

Derekwas crushed.WinstonChurchillwas frantic.He knewmorale amongthetroopswasinadesperatestate,hewasfacingavoteofnoconfidenceintheHouseofCommons,andwhatpromisedtobethedecidingbattleofthenorthernAfrican campaign was looming just ahead. Acting on his own authority,Churchillorderedarelativelyunknowngeneraltotakecommand.HisnamewasGeneralBernardMontgomery.

The son of an evangelical Anglican clergyman, General Montgomery-or"Monty," as his troops would affectionately call him-was a bit of an outcastamong his fellow officers both because of his arrogance and because of hisdevotiontoanewbrandofwarfare.Montybelievedinanewmilitarydoctrinebasedona strategyof advance,overwhelming force, and thepowerofmobileartillery, particularly the tank.He seemed toChurchill theperfectman for thechallengeofElAlamein.

Positioned at a bottleneck between the Mediterranean Sea and the QattaraDepression to the south, El Alamein was the perfect site for a British stand.Rommel had overwhelmed theAllies on the battlefield largely because of hisfavoritetactic:sweepingintotheenemyfromtherear.ButthegeographyofElAlameinwouldnotallowsuchfreewheelingmovement.TheBritishcouldclosethe bottleneck and seize the initiative by first bombarding and then attackingtheirattackers.

Monty saw the matter clearly and took control. In his first order ascommander, he proclaimed, "Therewill be nomore bellyaching and nomoreretreats."Byuseofdeception,diversion,andround-the-clockpreparationnottomentionthearrivalofthreehundredShermantanks-MontypreparedtheEighthArmyforbattle.Ontheeveofbattle,Montysentamessagetoallthemeninhisarmy: "Everyone must be imbued with the desire to kill Germans, even thepadres-oneforweekdaysandtwoonSundays."

Themenlovedsuchirreverentbravado.Thoughtheycouldbarelystomachtheusualsortofofficer,thisMontylovedhistroopsandwantedtowin.Hisfightingspiritmovedoutintothebattlelines,andwhenthefirstbombardmentbeganonOctober23,hismenwereasreadyforbattleasanyBritishunithadbeensincethestartofthewar.

ThebattlelasteduntilNovember4beforeRommelstartedhisretreat.Itwasabloody, torturous fight.Monty'sEighthArmy lost some thirteen thousandmenwhile inflicting twice thatnumberofcasualtiesonRommel's smaller forces. Itwas a stunning victory, one that protected theMiddle East fromNazism andearnedMontythelastingtitle,"MontgomeryofElAlamein."

Derekknewlittleofthedetailsofthebattle.Hewasbusyinthereartendingthewoundedandthedying.Allthewhilehehadseenthetransformationofthearmy under Monty, but he still wondered if this new, brash general was theanswertohisprayer.

Severaldaysafterthebattleended,DerekwaslisteningtoaradiowhenaBBCcommentatorbegandescribingthesceneatMontgomery'sheadquartersasithadbeen on the eve of the battle. Monty had issued a statement to his men thatDerekhadneverheard.Itread,"LetusasktheLord,mightyinbattle,togiveus

the victory." When Derek heard these words over the radio, the radiatingpresencehehadfirstfeltintheScarboroughbarracksdescendedonthetopofhisheadandmovedthroughhisbodytothebottomofhisfeet.Atthatmoment,theVoice said very clearly, "That is the answer to your prayer." Derek wept,overwhelmedthat theCreatorof theuniversewaswillingtochangethecourseofhistoryinanswertotheprayersofalowlysoldierinthewildernessofAfrica.

ElAlameinwas the turningpoint in thewar forEngland.AsChurchill latersaid, before El Alamein the British failed to win a single battle against theGerman armies; afterward, they were never again to taste defeat. The battlerepresented a critical turning point for Derek, as well, but for a far differentreason.Hecametounderstandthatthecourseofnationscouldbeshapedbytheprayers of God's people. What an astonishing revelation it was. Derek hadknownlittleofChristiansinhistime,havingonlyhadamatterofmonthswiththeShawsand theirchurchbefore leavingforAfrica.Hecouldnot judgewithcertainty,butmostoftheprayershehadheardwereforpersonalneedsandthesalvationofindividuals.ThiswascertainlyGod'swill,butnowhesawthattherewasmore.PerhapsGod intended thatHiswillonearth shouldbeexecutedbythe prayers of believing people. Perhaps the Ruler of Nations unleashed Hispurposes for the nations of men through the intercession of those who had avisionforsomethingmorethanjusttheindividual.ThesenewideascirculatedinDerek'ssoulandfedintohisreadingofScripture.HisconceptofGodexpanded.Hebegantoseehistory,andnotjustbiblicalhistory,inanewlight.Morethanever,heburnedwithasenseofdestiny,withamessageheknewthepeopleofGodinhisgenerationneededtohear.

AlmostimmediatelyafterElAlamein,Derekdevelopedapainfulskinconditiononhisfeet.Hisdoctorsstruggledtoreachadiagnosisandsuggestedincreasinglycomplex-sounding diseases until they finally settled on chronic eczema. Theheat, the sand, the lack of bathing, and themiles of walking all conspired tonearly crippleDerek.He tried to continue his duties knowing that his officersvaluedhimanddesperatelyneededhis skills. In time, though, they reluctantlysawthatifhewasevertoheal,hewouldhavetobeinahospital.

Derek returned to the hospital in Cairo, but because his condition was notcritical,doctorsquicklymovedhimtoasecondaryfacilityatElBallah.Now,farfromhismen,hisduties,andanysenseofpurpose,Derekmethisoldnemesisagain: the smothering loneliness that fedablackdepression. It reached tohimthroughthesickeningsmellsofanarmyhospital.Ittookvoiceintheagonizingmoansofwoundedmen.Itlashedathimthroughthecold,impersonalmannerofthe overworked hospital staff. "You are alone," his enemy told him, "and youalwayswillbe."Derekwastemptedtoagree.

Justas theblackness threatenedtoenfoldhim,sheappeared.Cladinablackbonnet affixed to her head by a large bow and wrapped in a sweeping blackfrock,hernamewasMrs.Ross,andshewasnottobedenied.ShehadbeenthewifeofaSalvationArmybrigadiergeneralinCairowhenhehadunexpectedlydied. According to tradition, she took her husband's rank, and now, in herseventies, she had become a juggernaut, unfettered by human opinion,undauntedbyconvention,andwiththatburningsenseofmissionthatwidowedwomenoftenfindintheirlatteryears.

WhatsetMrs.Rossapartwasnotjustherabrupt,commandingmanner,buthercompletedevotiontothebaptismoftheHolySpiritandthevalueofspeakingintongues.ShewasanoddityamongherSalvationArmycohorts,manyofwhomwouldnothaveagreedthatSpiritbaptismandtongueshadsurvivedtheapostles.Clearly, Mrs. Ross didn't care what they thought and preached the need forspiritualpower andadivineprayer language thewaymosther fellowsoldiersforChristpreachedsalvation.

Somehow,thisone-womancrusadeinblackheardaboutayoungsoldierailingaloneinanElBallahhospitalanddecidedtogotohim.NevermindthatnearlyfiftymilesofdesertroadlaybetweenTheSalvationArmyheadquartersinCairoand theyoungman's bed.Herdecisionmade, shemiraculously found a car, adriverfromNewZealand,andayoungAmericanwomanfromOklahomawhoalsoservedinTheSalvationArmy.FueledasmuchbyMrs.Ross'sindomitablewillastheywerebygasoline,thethreecoveredthemilestoElBallah,foundthehospitalDerekwasin,andnearlykickedinthedoor.BeforeDerekknewwhatwashappening,Mrs.RossannouncedshehadcomeforCorporalPrince,gothimup,dressed,andoutthedoorbeforeanyoneofauthoritycouldobject.

Thefourof them-Derek,Mrs.Ross, thedriver,andtheAmericanwoman-sattogether,squeezedtightly intothetinycar.Mrs.Rossannouncedthat theyhadcometoprayforDerek.TheyoungAmericanwomanalsosaidsomethings,butDerekcouldn'tmakeoutherOklahomaaccentandneverunderstoodawordshesaid.Nomatter.Mrs.Rosscommandedeveryonetoprayer.Derektriedtofocus,still unsteady from the pace of recent events, and soon realized that theAmericanwomanwasvibrating:not shaking inawayshemighthavechosen,butvibrating inawaybeyondhercontrol.ThenDerekbeganvibrating,asdidMrs.Rossandtheunsuspectingdriver.Thecar itselfvibratedviolently thoughtheenginewasturnedoff.Mrs.Rossbegantopray,asdidtheAmericanwoman.Then the three who could, with the driver surely in shock, began to pray intongues.Afterafewmoments,DerekandMrs.Rossstopped,buttheAmericanwomancontinued, andDerek soon realized that he couldunderstandwhat shewas saying in a heavenly language.He never forgot thewords: "Consider theworkofCalvary,aperfectwork,perfect inevery respect,andperfect ineveryaspect."

Soonafter,theprayermeetingended.Derekreturnedtohisbed,andMrs.RossandhertwocompanionsreturnedtoCairo.Asheponderedthemeaningofitall,Derekrealizedthatsomethingnewwaslivinginsidehim.Itwasanidea,butanideathatseemedtopulsatewithpotentialpower.HethoughtaboutthewordshehadunderstoodfromtheAmericanwoman'sprayerandrealizedwhatGodwastryingtoshowhim:healingispartofJesus'workonthecross.GoddidnotjustsendJesustothecrosstogivemensalvation,buttomakethemwholeaswell.

ThethoughtthrilledDerekandthenseemedtocrashhimtothefloor.IfGodhas provided healing, he reflected, thenwhy am I not healed?Perhaps I don'tbelieve as I should. Perhaps I don't have faith. And on the wings of thesethoughts,theblacknessbegancreepinginattheedgeofhisconsciousness.

Itwas as thisbattleworeon inhis soul thathehappenedonto thewordsofRomans10:17:"Faithcomethbyhearing,andhearingbythewordofGod."Thefirsttwowordscapturedhim.Faithcometh.Hereadthemagain.Faithcancome,he thought. Faith can arrive where it wasn't originally. If aman doesn't havefaith, it can come tohim.Hewas starting to hope.Newborn though itwas, itpressedbackagainsttheencroachingblackness.

Then Derek, ever the questioning scholar, asked the critical question: "Buthow does faith come?"He returned to the sentences in the Book of Romans:"Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by theword ofGod." Then he saw it.Faith grows from the seeds ofGod'swords planted in the human heart. Faithgrows.Itarises,anditdoessofromaman'shearingoftheWordofGod.

Derekknewwhathehadtodo.HehadtodevourGod'sWord,andhehadtofocusonthepassagesthatgavefaithforwhatheneeded-healing.SohedecidedtostartatthebeginningoftheBiblewithabluepencilinhandandmarkallthepassagesthatpertainedtohealing.Ashewoulddelightinsayingfortherestofhis life, "Of course, I ended upwith a blueBible.God's provision of healingleaptfromeverypageofScripture."

Buttherewasaproblem.WhenDerekheardthewordhealing,hethoughtofthehealingofthesoul,butneverthehealingofthebody.Hewaswrestlingwithhis knowledge of Plato. Spiritual thingswere otherworldly, nonphysical, Platohadtaught.Truthlayintheinvisiblerealmoftheidealbutneverinthenaturalworldoftheform.DerekwouldstruggleagainstaPlatonicmysticismhiswholelife, but, on this occasion, God gave him a clear correction. He came uponProverbs 4:20-22. For themanwho gave himself toGod'sWord, the passagepromised "health to all [his] flesh."Derek knew therewas no confusing fleshwithsoul,andmore,thetranslationofthewordhealthinthemarginofhisBiblesuggestedmedicinemightbethemeaning.So,Derekthought,theWordofGodismedicineforthehumanbody.Notjustgeneralnourishmentforthesoul,buthealingspecificallyforthebody.

ThesubjectofmedicineactivatedDerek'straining.Howismedicinetaken?heaskedhimself.Theanswer:threetimesdaily,aftermeals.So,hedecidedtotaketheWordofGod likemedicine after everymeal. Formonths, he paused afterevery meal and absorbed the words of Scripture with the mindset of a mantaking an antidote on a precise schedule.At first, therewasno change.Derekcontinued undaunted. Then, his doctor noted a change: the eczema wassubsiding. Derek, encouraged, began taking bigger doses of Bible. Withinmonths,hisconditionhadlargelydisappeared.Finally,thedoctortoldhimthatwhilehewasnot fullyhealed,he couldbe releasedonhisown responsibility.Thenextday,Derekwalkedoutofthehospital,hishomeformorethanayear.

The combination of his healing through Scripture and the deliverance ofBritishtroopslargelythroughprayeratthebattleofElAlameinwasworkingadeep change in Derek's heart. His three years of Christian life had been awonderful season of learning how to love Jesus and live in harmonywith theHolySpirit.Now,thelessonswerechanging.Godhadbegunteachinghimhowtowalkinpower,howtoapplythevictoryofJesusonthecrosstotheconditionofmankind.Dereksensedthattheselessonswerenotmeantforhimalone,andheleanedintothem,sensingthateachexperiencewasaspiritualwellhewoulddrawfromagainandagain.

ItwasgoodthathewasthinkingofhislifeastheclassroomoftheHolySpirit,becausejustdaysafterleavingthehospitalhegotordersforSudan.IfEgyptwasbad,Sudanwasworse,butthenewsdidn'thavethedepressiveeffectonDerekthat it might have on anotherman. He had become intriguedwith life as theuniversity of God, and he sensed, somehow, that Sudan was merely the nextcourseinthecurriculum.

He traveled by boat fromCairo to theAswanDamand then took a train toKhartoum.Itwasthemostdesertplacehehadeverseen,andhehadseenmany.Hewasassignedtoamedicalpoolandfoundhislifetightlyregimented-hisfoodmeagerandhisdutiesextensive.Still,hecontinuedtopracticethelessonsGodhad pressed into his life: the discipline of fasting, the power of Scripture, thenecessityof thanksgiving, the impactofprayer,and the leadershipof theHolySpirit.

HewasnotinKhartoumlongbeforehereceivedorderstoAtbarah,amedicalreceptionstationtothenorth.Thoughhewashappytoescapetheregimentationof life inKhartoum,heknew thatAtbarahwasa remote,backwaterplace thatmightevenbeworse.Stillhegavethanks;stillheprayed.

Hewasconfused,atfirst,withwhathefoundathisnewposting.Itwasasmallmedicalfacilitywithcleanrooms,strawbeds,andreadylinensandsupplies.Buttherewerenopatients.ItlookedasthoughthesicknevermadeittoAtbarah,but

thesupplytrucksdid.Derekdidn'tmindabit.Hehadbeensleepinginsandorinrough field hospitals for three years. In this new remote outpost, he cleanedhimself,putonafreshlylaunderednightgown,andsleptonarealbed-oratleasttheclosestthingtoitinSudan.Hewashumbledbytheluxury,surelyagiftfromGod.He restedashehadnot inyears, readhisBible, andwaited for thenextlessonofGod.

It came one night shortly after hewent to bed. For some time he had beenfeelinganinnerheavinessofcompassionfortheSudanesepeople.Itwasn'tjusttheir poverty; it was the emptiness of theirMuslim faith thatmoved him.Heknew enough about Islam to know that it offered no real salvation, no realconnectiontothetrueGod,andnorealhealingfortheheartorthebody.Hewasgrieved, and in time he realized that hewas feelingmore than his own soul'stenderness.Itwasasthoughamorecompassionateheartwassharingitsburdenwithhis.

Thesefeelingsgrewsostrongonthisnightthatherosefromhisbedandbeganpraying for theSudanese people.Tears flowed as he askedhisGod, the sameGodwhointervenedatElAlamein,tointerveneforthesedearpeoplewholivedundersuchhorribleoppression.AsDerekprayed,hesensedafamiliarpresencein the room,onehe firstmet thoseyears ago inhisScarboroughbarracks.Hekeptpraying,andsoonhenoticed thathiswhitehospitalgownbegan toglow.Themoreheprayed,thebrighteritgot,andDerekcametounderstandthatGodwasgivinghimanexternalsignofan invisible reality.Hewasbeinggivenananointing,anapplicationofpowerorspiritualabilitytoprayforMuslims.

Thisexperience introducedhimtoadeeper levelofspiritualwarfare thanhehadeverknownbefore.He foundhimself constantlybattling inprayer for theMuslimworld,wrestlinginhissoulbeforeGod.Thisintensitywasparticularlysevere during Ramadan, the thirty-day period each year when Muslims fastduringdaylighthoursandawaitthekindofrevelationsMuhammadfirsthadinthesixthcentury.During this time,Derekfoundhisprayer lifehinderedbyanintenseheaviness.Hecametoconcludethathewasworkingagainstthespiritualdarkness assigned againstMuslimsworldwide during Ramadan. It all becamecleartohim.IslamwasbornintherevelationofanevilspirittoMuhammad.Itwas only logical that this same spirit would oppress those who welcomed it

duringtheholiestmonthinIslam.Derekrealizedthatonlythroughaggressive,concertedprayercouldthisIslamicspiritofdeceptionbebroken.Itwasalessonthatprofoundlyshapedhislife.

ItisnothardfromthisvantagepointtoenvisiontheimportanceofwhatDerekwas experiencing. He was then in the middle of an Islamic stronghold. If hecouldhavelookeddownthecorridorof time,hewouldhaveseentheriseofamilitant Islam on the very ground he was walking. He would have seen aresurgenceofslaveryandthedeathofmillionsthroughtribalconflict.Hewouldhaveseenstarvationandpainand theradicalizingofsomeof theworld'smostheinousterrorists,menlikeOsamabinLaden.AndhewouldhaveseenthattheriseofangryIslaminSudanwouldjoinitslikethroughoutthenationstobecomethe most serious challenge to Christianity and freedom the twentieth centurywould ever know. That Derek was walking the land of Sudan in the 1940s,tearfully interceding for Muslims and pioneering intercession against theloominganti-ChristianforceofresurgentIslam,issurelyinretrospectamongthemorestrategicallypropheticactsofhislife.

ButtheuniversityofGodmovedon.DerekwassoontransferredtoJubaytwhereheworkedinasmallhospitalthattendedItalianprisonersofwar.ItwasDerek'sjobtooverseethestaff,whichmeantthathewasputinchargeofasmallgroupof Sudanese workers. This is what brought him into contact with Ali DawirAdroub.

It is a testament toDerek's character that he evermade room in his life forfriendshipwithaSudaneseman.TheBritishhaddonemuchgoodwherevertheirflaghadflownintheworld,butfriendshipwiththenativeswasnotamongtheirlegacies. Derek had arrived in Jubayt on a train that did not allow wogs-thederisive termfor thedark-skinnedmenEnglandruled-in thepassengersection.Hehadbeen taughtnot toeatwith thesewogs,not to trust them,not toallowthemintohisquarter,andnot tobemanipulatedby them.Theywerebasicallystupid, lazy, and primitive, the army orientation insisted, and only throughBritishindustrywouldtheyeverthrive.

ItislikelythatDerekrememberedsimilaropinionsabouttheIndiansheknewinthelandofhisbirth.Fortunately,hehadnotabsorbedthem,largelybecausehis father was an exceptional man. Captain Paul Prince had preferred thecompany of his Indian engineers to his fellow British officers and said sopublicly.Dereklearnedfromhimandsawthroughtheblindingculturalracism.AtEton,hecausedarowwhenheaskedwhyawhitemancouldn'thavelunchwith an Indian.Such traditionsdiedhard inEngland,butDerek, thanks tohisfather,wasaheadofhistime.

From the beginning, Ali had impressed Derek as a smart, friendly, capableman. He was, as Derek later said, "an enjoyable rogue" who spoke only"soldier'sEnglish"butusedfacialexpressionsandhandgesturestoingeniouslymake his meaning known. He made his fellow Sudanese workers kick backportions of salary to him by insisting, "I got you your job." Still, he wascharmingandendearedhimselftotheEnglishhospitalstaffwhoviewedhimasacutememberoftheuntouchableclass.

Derekhad foundnoconnectionwithAli despite theirweeklymeetingsuntilAlihappenedtorevealthathebelievedinSatan,oneofthepointsofdoctrinesMuslims sharewithChristians.Derek said that he believed in Satan also, andthisimpressedAli.Englishmenrarelyspokeoftheirfaith,butthistallonewasclearly different. Nothing more was said though, and the two resumed theirroutine.

Afewweekslater,AlishoweduplateforhisregularmeetingwithDerekandexplainedthathehadbeenattheclinictohaveawoundedlegexamined.Derekhadanimpression.Hehadneverprayedforanyonetobehealedbefore,butthephrase"layhandsonthesickandtheywillrecover"wentthroughhismind,andheknewwhathemustdo.HeaskedAliifhewantedhimtoprayforhealing.Alisaidhedid,andDerekverygingerlyplacedhishandsontheman"asthoughhewas a bomb likely to explode" and prayed a very formal prayer. Derek feltnothing,Alishowednoresponse,andtheywentabouttheirbusiness.Thenextweek,though,Alireturnedtosaythathisleghadbeencompletelyhealed.Derekwas as amazed as Ali but acted as though such things happened all the timeamongChristians.

Thehealingbroke the ice,and the twomenbegan tomeeteveryday.DerekreadtoAlifromJohn'sGospel,rephrasingthewordsintosimplerterms.Aliwasfascinated.Henotonlycouldn'tread-meaningthathehadneverreadtheQuranofhisownfaith-buthecertainlyhadneverheardthewordsofJesussoclearly.

Inkeepingwith thehospitalityofhisculture,Aliwanted tohonorDerek forhiskindness.Derekhadsaidhewouldliketolearnhowtorideacamel,soAlishoweduponedaywithtwocamelsintowandwasdelightedtofindthatwithinminutes Derek was running his animal like an expert. Next, Ali suggested apicnic.SinceDerekwasinchargeoftherations,heprovidedthefood,andAli,again,broughtthecamels.Thetwomenwenthalfaday'srideintothewild,butastheysettleddowntoeattheyrealizedtheyhadnowater.NearbywasastreamofthekindthataSudanesewoulddrinkfrombutwhiteswouldn'tgonear.Alipointedtothestreamandapologizedthattherewasnothingelsetodrink.DerekinstantlyrememberedthescripturethatsaidnothingthatyoudrinkwillbyanymeanshurtyouanddecidedthatifAlicoulddrinkthewater,socouldhe.(SeeMark16:18.)

Aliwasamazed.Herewasawhitemanwhonotonlyprayedwithpowerbutalsobrokeconventiontobefriendablackmanandevendrankwithhimfromthesamestream."Whyareyoudifferentfromotherwhitepeople?"Aliasked.

"BecauseIambornagain,"Derekexplained,andontheridehomehetoldAliwhatthismeant.

Whentheyarrivedbackatthestation,DerekaskedAliifhewantedtobebornagain.Ali said he did, andDerek instructed him to askGod to save him thateveningatsunsetwhenhereturnedtohishut.Dereksaidhewouldprayaswell.

Thenextmorning,DerekaskedAliwhathadhappened.Ali's downcast facetold the story, and Derek, sensing the Spirit reminding him that Ali was aMuslim, asked, "Did youpray in the nameof Jesus?"Ali said he hadn't. "Allright,whenyougo toyourhut tonight at sunset,"Derek insisted, "pray in thenameofJesustobebornagain."

Thenextmorning,whenAlireturned,Derekknewwhathadhappened."Yougotit!"heproclaimed,forAli'ssmilesaiditall.

The change in Ali quickly became evident to everyone at the station, andpeopleflockedtoDerektoaskwhathadhappened.ThestationcommanderevensentforDerektoask,"WhathashappenedtoAli?"Derekdelightedtoexplainthenewbirthtotheofficerandcouldnothelpexpressinghisdeepgratitudefortheprivilegeofreachinghisfirstconvert.

Notlongafter,DerekbaptizedAliinaswimmingpoolwithbothEnglishandSudanesehospital staff lookingon.Thechange inAlimadeothershungry forthe same, and over the followingweeksDerek prayedwith and baptized bothblack andwhite seekers alike.Derekwas overwhelmed thatGodhadhonoredhiminsuchaway,andhesensedthatsomethinglastinghadbegun.Teachingthegospeltoothers,prayingfortheirneeds,helpingthemgrowinChrist-thismightwellbehislife'swork.Hefeltasthoughhewasbornforit,andthisgaverisetoasenseofdesignanddestinyhehadneverbeforeknown.

AshonoredashewastobeatoolinthehandsofGod,Derekwasalsoweary.He was nearing four years of hard service in desert regions and backwaterstations.Heneededabreak,andheknewit.Heputinforleaveanywherenearwaterandawayfromfightingandhospitals.Hisrequestwasgrantedbutwithanexpected twist: he would go on leave to Palestine. Again his gracious Godallowed him to take leave from his duties in the land of his Lord's birth, andwithin days he found himself resting in the hills of Jerusalem and recoveringfromhisAfricanhardships.HehadbeentoPalestineoncebeforeonleave,butthistimeitfeltdifferent.Therewasamagneticpull,aforcethatemanatedfromthe landandseemedtoenvelophim.Didhe,somehow,belonghere?WasthisthenextstepinthepathofGod'swill?

OnhislastfewdaysinJerusalem,hetoldanolderChristianladywhathefeltabout the pull of the Holy Land. Perhaps, he said, he would come back toJerusalem one day. Maybe after the war he would choose to live here. ThewomanhadlivedinthisancientlandformanyyearsandknewsomethingDerekdid not, something that would become, in time, a banner over his life. "Oh,youngman,"shesaid,"youdonotchooseJerusalem.Jerusalemchoosesyou."

6

Palestine:LandofLoveandLonging

EREK,WHENDIDyoufirstseeLydia?"

"It was in 1944 while I was working at a medical supply depot at KiriatMotzkin,asmallvillage justnorthofHaifa. InSudan,aChristiansoldierwhohad been to Palestine toldme, `If youwant a real spiritual blessing, there's alittlechildren'shomeinPalestine,justnorthofJerusalemthatyouneedtovisit.It'srunbyaDanishlady.SoldiersaregoingtherefromallovertheMiddleEast,andGod ismeeting them in awonderfulway.' Sincemy duties at the supplydepotdidn'tkeepmeverybusy,InotonlyhadmoretimeforprayerbutfoundopportunitytomakemywaytoLydia."

"Whatwasyourfirstimpressionofher?"

"Myfirst impressionwasn'tofherbutof theatmosphere inherhome.Therewasnearlyavisiblepresenceallaboutthehouse.Itfeltlikedewdescendeduponyouwhenyouentered.Itwasrefreshing,aninstantfeelingofpeaceandfaith.Aspiritofprayer,really.Icanonlydescribeitas'holiness.'OnceIfeltit,Ineverceasedtolongforit."

"Butwhatabouther?Wereyouattractedtoherimmediately?"

"Yes,butnotinaromanticway.Aftersomanyyearsinthedesertwithoutawomanabout,Iwascertainlydrawntothehomelifeofawomanwithdaughters.ButIwasdrawnmoretohermanner.Shewasblue-eyed,blonde,andbuxomasScandinavianwomentendtobe.SheradiateddeepfaithandloveforJesus.Thatiswhatfirstdrewme."

"Did you feel one with her in a spiritual sense before anything romantichappened?"

"Yes.FromthemomentIfirsttoldheraboutmyyearsinthedesert,aloneandlivingontheWordofGod,Ifeltsheunderstood.ShehadbeenalonewithGodin a hostile land, too, and we found in each other-I suppose the phrase usedtodaywouldbe-soulmates."

"Whendidyoustartfeelingsomethingmorethanfriendshipforher?"

"Ican'ttrulyrecall.IremembertellingherthatIthoughttheLordwantedustoworktogether.WhenIfirstmether,Ifeltcompassionforherasaladyaloneintheministry.Ideterminedtoprayforher,andwhenIdid,IfeltGodsaid,"Ihavejoined you together under the same yolk and in the same harness." Probablyfoolishly,ItoldherthisandsaidthatIthoughtGodwantedustoworktogether.That'swhenshefamouslysaid,"Well,Godwillhavetoworkonbothendsofthechain."

"But,Derek,didyouwantherthenasamanwantsawoman?"

"Doyoumeansexually?"

"No,thatwouldhavebeeninappropriate.Imeanromantically."

"IthinkIfeltitfirstjustaftertheLordtoldmeweweretobeyoked."

"So,itwasasthoughyourmanlyfeelingsforhercamealongwiththewordoftheLord."

"Yes,verymuchso."

"Didyoufindheragedauntingatall?"

"No,Iknewshewasolder,ofcourse,butitdidn'tseemtomatter."

"Older?Shewasolderthanyourmother,nearlythreedecadesolderthanyou!"

"Yes,butitjustdidn'tweighuponmymind."

"You knowwhat psychologists would say today: youweremarrying her toworkoutissueswithyourmother."

"Iknow.I'vehearditall.Butittrulywasapure,holyworkoftheLord."

"OK,letmebeanosyAmericanforamoment.Didyoukissherorholdherhandbeforeyouweremarried?"

"Yes,weheldhands,andIthinkIkissedherseveraltimes."

"Andwhatwasthatlike?"

"Itwaswonderful,butIthinkIwillkeepthosememoriestomyself."

"Fairenough.ButDerek,whenItakeintoaccounttheagedifferencebetweenthetwoofyouandthefactthatyouwereactingonthewordoftheLordwhenyou proposed to her, I wonder if you desired her. I mean, did you want herphysicallywhenyoumarriedher?"

"Yes,Idid.Verymuch.Verymuchindeed."

In 1915-the year thatDerek Princewas born, that fateful yearwhen a violentnewworldwasrisingfromthewreckageoftheold-therewasatwentyfive-year-oldwomaninDenmarkjustthenbeginningherworkasateacher.HernamewasLydiaCamillaAgneteChristensen.ThoughshewouldnotmeetDerekPrinceforanotherthreedecades,shewasjustlaunchingoutuponthetorturousjourneyoffaiththatwouldplaceherathissideuntiltheendofherlife.

ShewasthedaughterofawealthyfactoryownernamedJensChristensen,andhisprosperityhadassuredherthecomfortsoftheDanishupperclass.Tendedbyservants and lacking for nothing, she had graduated from the best schools,excelledinsportsandmusic,andbecomeadarlingofhersocialset.Farfromthespoileddilettanteshemighthavebecome,heradvantageshadinsteadfashioned

her into an exceptionalwoman. Shewas hardworking, intelligent, and driven;intentuponmakinghermarkintheworldandenjoyingthegoodlifealongtheway.

Forthefirstfifteenyearsofhercareer,shedidjustthat.Shebecameanexpertin domestic science-now called home economics-then a rising field in theschoolsofEuropeandquicklyemergedasoneofthemostrespectededucatorsin Denmark. Most every school in the land wished to establish a domesticscienceprogram,andforLydia thismeantprestigeandprosperity inreturnforher expertise. Her quick mind and commanding manner served her well. SostellarwerehercontributionstoherfieldthatthekingofDenmarktooknoteandawardedheramedalalongwithhernation'sgratitude.

Assheenteredherlatethirties,sheshouldhavebeencontent.Allthesuccess,esteem, and fulfillment that she had ever envisionedwere hers.But therewassomethingwrong.Shewas agonizinglyunfulfilled.At first her discontentwasbutahauntingsenseofemptiness.Itnaggedat theedgesofhermindbutonlyoccasionally. In time, itbecameanobsession.Sheseemedunable toenjoyherpleasures as she once had, and though she performed her duties well, she nolongerfeltjoyinherwork.Thedeathofherfatherin1925turnedherthoughtstospiritualmattersandforcedhertoconfrontherinneremptiness."Surely,"sheinsisted to a friend, "there is somethingmore to life than just a career and anapartment,nicefurniture,andapensionattheendofitall."

This question and others like it drove her to matters of the Spirit. She hadgrown up in the Danish state church like most everyone else she knew. Herfamilyprayedtheprayersandsangthesongs,butitallleftherfeelingthatshehadfulfilledadutywithoutengaginganythingreal.Desperate,shebegantoreadherBible,andasshedidsooneday,shesawJesusinfrontofher.Hesatinherroomsilentlyandlookedatherwithanotherworldlytenderness.ShemeltedatHisfeetandfeltherheartrisingtoHimasthoughitwouldflyoutofherchest.Heremainedonlyamoment,butitwaslongenoughforLydiatoseeHisface,feelHispower,andbeforeverchangedbyHisradiatinglove.

Herlifenowconcentratedcompletelyuponthisman.Shestartedtobelieveit,all of it: that Hewas the Son of God, that Hewas born on earth to a virgin

namedMary, thatHe taughtmenhow toknowHisFather,and thatHediedacruel death, which in some way removed the cancer of sin for those whobelievedHehaddoneit.HenowwasherLord,herSavior,herMaster,herKing,andherLover.Hisways,Histruth,andHisplanbecameherconsumingpassion.

Searching for a people who would understand her experience, she fell inamongPentecostals,a tribeshehadonceregardedasbackwardanddull.SoonshewasfilledwiththeHolySpirit,spokeinothertongues,andwasbaptizedinwaterinherpastor'skitchen.Shealsobegantohavevisions,toseeimagesthatwererealbutweren'tphysical.Oneinparticularheldherfascination.Awoman,dressedinwhatshelaterlearnedwasJewishdress,dancedbeforeher.Somehowshesensedthatthevisionsignaledanewpathforherlife,andbeforelongsheknewwhatshemustdo:leaveDenmarkandserveGodintheHolyLand.

What ensued certainly ranks among thegreat talesofmissionarywomen. In1928,Lydia traveledwithdifficulty to theHolyLandandlived,at first,as theguestofwelcomingChristians.Thensherentedasmallroominthebasementofafriend'shouse.WithlittlemoneyandnoknowledgeofArabicorHebrew,shelivedby faith, trustingGod for everything sheneeded.ThoughGodnever leftherdestitute,hercircumstances-livingaloneinadankbasementonprayerandaBiblepromise-wereafarcryfromthecomfortsshehadknowninDenmark.

Shehad takenupresidence ina troubled land,markedbyeconomic turmoil,Arab riots, Britishmismanagement, and religious division. Shewas a womanalonebutundaunted.Hersavinggracewasthatshelearnedquickly.Creatingherownversionofthelocallanguage,shesoondiscoveredhowtobarterforfood,how not to hang her laundry on the Sabbath, how not to expect Europeanmanners fromArabmen,andhow to livea lifeofcomplete relianceonGod'sprovision.Mostofall,shelearnedhowtoknowthewillofherMaster.

It was this will that led her into the life of Tikva. One day a man namedCohen,ownerofasmallrestaurantonJaffaRoad,appearedbeforeherandaskedherto takehisdyingbaby.Lydiahadnointentionofagreeinguntil,again,herMaster called.Relenting, she took the girl in, prayed for her healing, saw herbecomeashealthyasanychild,andmadeyoungTikvaherown.Tikva-itmeant"hope"inHebrew.Lydiacametounderstandthatherchildwasalivingsymbol

ofthehopeshehadinGod.

Soonshewouldhavemoresymbolsthanshehadeverdreamed.Afteramoveto the conservative Jewish area of Jerusalem called Mahaneh Yehuda-whichmeans "Campof Judah"-Lydia realized thatGodhadnot sent her to theHolyLand to stay for a fewyears. Instead, she hadbeen sent tomake the landherown:tobea"watchmanonthewalls,"anintercessorforthepeaceofJerusalemand a witness to God's love for the Jewish people. Once she embraced herpurpose,Godbegantogivehersonsanddaughters.

ItstartedwhenLydiadiscoveredthatTikvahadsisters,andtheytooneededahome. Soon Peninah and Ruhammah joined Lydia's little family, but theirMahanehYehudaapartmentquicklyproved toocramped for the fourof them.They needed a house, and after a careful search, Lydiamoved the girls to anArab village just north of Jerusalem called Ramallah. It would be from thisunlikely place that the story of Lydia's life and ministry would go to the farreachesoftheworld.

In time,otherchildrencame toher.Somewould stay fora shortwhileuntiltheirparentscouldcareforthemagain.Somewouldcome,stayforawhile,anddieinLydia'sarmsofhorriblediseasesanddeformities.Otherswouldcomeandlive with her permanently. Soon her house became known as the DanishChildren'sHome.Shehad,quitewithoutintendingtodoso,becometheheadofanorphanage.

Yetitwasforherministryasmuchasforherwillingnesstotakeinunwantedchildren that sheultimatelybecameknown.Shewasawomanwho listened tothevoiceoftheHolySpiritandwholovedprayer,theScriptures,andthegracethatGodoftenpouredthroughherforothers.AnArabwomanmightcometothedoortodeliversomeoilthatLydiahadordered,butbeforethewomanturnedtogo, Lydia had explained the gospel of Jesus Christ and prayed for her to behealed. A Jewish mason might rework the stones on Lydia's steps while theimpassioned Dane prayed aloud for a blessing on his business. Miracleshappened, and Lydia sometimes had supernatural insights into people's needsandproblems.SoontherewasaconstantstreamofArabvillagerswhocametoseetheEuropeanladywhoheardfromGod.

Then therewere thesoldiers.As thecloudsofwargatheredover theMiddleEast in the late 1930s, weary, lonely soldiers began coming to the house inRamallah.Theycameatfirstbecausetheyfoundakind,olderwomanandahotcupof teawaiting for them. In time, theycamebecause theyknew their soulswere in need. Lydia was a one-woman church. She taught her eager youngsoldiersoftheScriptures,prayedforthemtobedevotedtoJesus,assignedthemstudies in theBible, and put them towork. She ledmeetings forworship andintercession, prayed for the sick and the empty, rebuked the immoral, andchallenged the lazy.Always sheurgedher charges tobe filledwith theSpirit,livebyfaith,andsharethegospelwithothers.FormenfarfromhomewhowerefacingdeathinthebarrennessofAfricaandtheMiddleEast,theDanishlady'shousebecameanoasisofrefreshingforbodyandsoul.Bywar'send,hundredsofmenfromdozensofnationshadpassedthroughLydia'shome,fedonherlifeinChrist,andeitherdiedinbattleassuredoftheirsalvationorreturnedhometoliveforthegloryofGod.

It was as one of these war-weary soldiers that Derek Prince first entered thehome of Lydia Christensen. Though the story of their meeting and eventualmarriagewould transform into legendwith the passing years, there is anotherstorylinethatmustalsobeinsertedtomakethedramacomplete:thestoryofthedaughters.AlwaysinthebackgroundofthePrincestoryaretheeightdaughterswholivedwithLydiainRamallah.TheirindividualjourneysintoLydia'shome,their varyingpersonalities, and the shifting tide of theirmemories through theyearsarecentraltotheDerekPrincestoryandtothemeaningthatstoryhasforgenerationsyettocome.

The daughter who has received the most attention throughout the years isTikva,thechildofwhomLydiawroteinherpartialautobiography,Appointmentin Jerusalem. Tikva was the miracle child-the first among Lydia's adoptedfamily-theonewhonearly died,washealed, andbecame the symbol ofGod'saffirminggraceinLydia'searlyministry.

She was the daughter of Eliezer and Hadassa Cohen, orthodox Jews who

owned a Jerusalem restaurant but seldom had a peaceful marital moment.Choosing tokeep theirsons,EliezerandZvi, rather than theirsicklydaughter,theygaveTikvaintoLydia'scare.Thentheychangedtheirmindsandkidnappedthe girl time and again until they finally settled thematter in their hearts andgaveherupforgood.Eventhentheyoftenbrought toysor tried to takeTikvaaway tomeetother familymembers.Lydia finallyput a stop to it all, and theCohenseventuallywalkedoutoftheirdaughter'slifeforever.

Tikvawouldalwaysbethepretty,outgoingdaughter,theonesomesuspecteddrewthesoldierstothehouseinRamallahasmuchasLydia'sministry.Picturesof the family in the early days showTikva ever at hermother's side.Shehadraven black hair that cascaded thickly to her shoulders, long enough to drawattentionbutnotso long thataPentecostalmight thinkherunchaste.Hereyesweredark,alluringpools,andshehadafull,stronglyfemininefigurethatmusthavekeptmore thanonevisitingsoldiermesmerized.Yet shewasalsodeeplyintelligent,passionatelydevotedtoJesus,andmorehermother'sconfidantethananyotheruntilDerekarrivedonthescene.Indeed,Tikvawassoattractiveandmature for her age that Lydia's daughters suspected that Derek kept comingaroundbecausehehaddesignsonthisbeautifulHebrewgirl.

Intime,Tikva'stwosisters,PeninahandRuhammah,cameunderLydia'sroofaswell.Theywereofvastlydifferentpersonalities.Sweetandgentle,Peninahhadoftenbeenthoughtslowinherearlyyearsbecauseshehadbadeyesightandpainfullyunderdevelopedlanguageskills.Asaresult,shehadbeenkeptoutofschool foryearsat a timeandoften treatedwith impatience.Shewas, though,thesensitiveone,theonewhoseimpressionablesoulretainedwellintoherlateryearsanalmostpoeticsenseofJewishlifeinthoseearlydays.Likemanyoftheother girls, shewas deeplymystical and had astonishing spiritual experiencesthatimpressedthemanyvisitorswhocametotheChristensenhome.

By contrast, Ruhammah was fiery, precocious, bold, and defiant. She oftenpressedLydiatotheendofherself,forthefactisthetwowereverymuchalike.There were differences, though. Lydia was stern, and Ruhammah wasmischievous.Lydiawasdevotedtothehouseholdroutinesthatonemightexpectofadomesticscienceexpert.RuhammahwasdevotedtothethrillofoutwittingLydia. Upon one occasion, when one of the other girls was sick, Ruhammah

tooknotethateverydaytheailinggirlreceivedagenerousportionoficecream.The next day, Ruhammah snuck into the sick girl's bed and opened wide inhopesthatLydiamightmistakehermouthforhersister's.ThiswasRuhammah'sway,onethatcouldalternativelyenrageordelightLydiathroughtheyears.

After the threeCohengirls came toher,Lydiawelcomed little Johanne intoher growing family. Johanne's parents were two young lovers who werepreventedfrommarryinglargelybytheboy'suncle,awealthypharmacyowner.Desperate tobe together, the twodecidedtoconceiveachild in thehopes thatthis would win them permission to marry. It was not to be, though, and thepregnantgirl foundherselfalone,despised,andfacingthecareofachild. Inawaythathasbeenlosttohistory,LydiaenteredthestoryandinsistedthatthegirlhavethebabyinJaffaHospital.Apparentlytherewassomeconversationaboutputtingthebabyupforadoption,butwhenthechildwasbornandLydiawenttothehospital toseeher,shewassmitten.Asshelater told thatchild,"Iwent toseeyou,andIfellinlovewithyou.Ilookedatyourfaceandsawthosebeautifulgreeneyes.Icouldnotletyougo."

LydialovedJohanne,assheclearlydidallherdaughtersandperfectedtheartofassuringthemthattheywereasdeartoherasiftheyhadcomefromherownbody.Once a young Johanne fretted at the thought of her lifewithout Lydia."Whatmighthavehappened if I hadneverbeengiven toyou?" sheaskedhermothertearfully.

"Don'tthinkaboutit,"Lydiaassured."Itwasordainedbeforethebeginningoftime.Imaynothaveborneyouinmywomb,butitwasundermyheartwhereIcarriedyou."

Soon,thereweremoregirlsforLydiatoloveastenderly.Magdalenewasnext,thedaughterofaTelAvivrabbinamedKatz.ShewasquiteliterallyplacedonLydia'sdoorstepinthehopethattheDanishmissionarywouldtakeherin.Lydiarefusedatfirstandtoldthefamilysoinforceful terms.Magdalene'ssweetnessmeltedher,though,andLydiasoonfoundherselfmakingaplaceforthegirl.Ofall of Lydia's girls, the one the others speak of with reverence and respect isMagdalene.SheabsorbedbothLydia'swillinggenerosityandthehospitalityofherMiddle Eastern culture. It made her one of the kindest people any of the

Christensen girlswould ever know.Her lifewould not be easy, but along heroften-troubled journey she would leave both altars of devotion and wells ofrefreshingforthemanyshelovedsodeeply.

The onlyArab among Lydia's girls joined the family not long after. YoungKirsten'smotherhaddiedofahemorrhagewhilegivingbirthtoher.Thoughherfathercamefromagoodfamily-hewasthemayorofherhometownofElBireh,and his brother was an attorney-he had trouble caring for the girl and askedLydia to take her in. Kirsten would grow up straddling two worlds-Lydia'sEuropeancultureandtheArabworldofhernativefamily.Inthepressbetweenthetwo,sheabsorbedthebestofbothworldsintohergentle,gracioussoul.

As a girl,Kirstenwouldoftenhave to leaveLydia's house andher adoptivemother'sWesternways tovisit her first family.Her father,BajeesFaraj, livedwithhisownfamilyinthesingleroomofahousecarvedintothesideofahill.Farmanimalslolledonthefloorjustbelow.AfterafewweeksofimmersioninArabvillagelife,KirstenwouldreturntoLydiaandbecomeaEuropeanagain.This arrangement continued until Bajees Faraj attempted during one of hisdaughter'svisitstoarrangeamarriageforthegirl.Kirstenwastwelveyearsoldatthetime,though,andLydiasoondecidedthatthevisitswithherfathershouldstop.ShewouldremainaEuropean.

Kirsten's memories of life in Ramallah are among the clearest and mostendearing of all the girls-evidence of her poetic, Arab soul. She was able torecall even late in life, for example,watching theCatholic girls in the villagemake their way to their confirmation. With childish envy Kirsten saw herschoolmates march through the streets in their immaculate dresses, and shelongedtobeCatholicherself.Itwasnottoomuchofastretch.LydiagotalongwellwiththenunsinRamallahandoftencommentedthatshethoughttheyweretruly born again. Kirsten's soul yearned to belong to this mysterious, ornatereligionandyearnedmostforthewhiteglovesandritesofpassageherCatholicschoolmatesenjoyed.

Kirsten also recalled throughout her life the beauty of Christmas as Lydiacreatedit.TheScandinaviansareknownfortheirloveofChristmas,andLydiawas no exception to her countrymen. Kirsten recalled all her days that the

Christmastreewasadornedwith littleDanishflagsandprettywhitecandles,avisioncertaintoimpressthesoulofachild.ShealsorememberedtheimpatienceshefeltwhenshewasbarredalongwithhersistersfromthelivingroomwhileTikvaandLydiawrappedpresents,usuallyheart-shapedbagsfilledwithsweets.Thenallthefamilywouldstandaroundthetreeandsing"0ChristmasTree"inArabic.Itwasatenderscene,sweetlyrememberedbyanorphanedArabchild.

KirstenwouldhavetheclosestrelationshipofallthegirlswithLydia'smaid,Jameela. Blind in one eye and rejected for this deformity by her Arab peers,Jameela attached herself to Lydia and her growing band of girls. Her fatherownedthehousewhereLydialivedinRamallah.Infact,JameelalivedintheflatjustbelowLydia'sandwasthereforeanever-presentforceinthegirls'lives.Shewasalsoaconstantsourceofentertainment.SheirritatedLydiabyflirtingwiththevillagemen,lyingwithoutremorse,andusingwhatshelearnedofthegospelinnovelways.Shewasafraidofcats,andwhenaparticularlyblackonecrossedtheroadoneday,shecourageouslyprotected thegirlswithherbyshouting,"IstretchoutmyhandinJesus'name."ShehadheardthewordsinoneofLydia'ssermonsandwassurethecatwouldinstantlydisappearasshespokethem.

Jameela would always feel an affinity for Kirsten because they were bothArab. She saw it as her duty to make sure that the bright-eyed child wasn'tneglectedamongtheotherJewishandEuropeangirls.ItwasnotuncommonforKirstentofindapieceofcandyoroneofherfavoritefoodsheldinreserveforherandforherclothestoreceivespecialattentionfromanever-vigilantJameela.It was to Kirsten that Jameela would turn with her stream of lightheartedcomplaints about Lydia, to Kirsten that she would teach Arab lore, and toKirsten that she would look, even in old age, for understanding of puzzlingWesternways.

Lydia was busy raising five little Jews and one Arab, then, when two tinyEuropeansenteredherlife.Thefirstofthese,Anna,cametoherwhenshewasjust ten days old. A sixteen-year-old German Jew had become pregnant andknewshewasinnoconditiontocareforachild.Shegavethenewbornto theDanish woman at the children's home and went off to join the Haganah, thebudding Jewish defense force. Anna was blonde, hazel-eyed, and precocious.Oftendescribedbyhersistersas"abundleofjoy,"shewaseverthedarlingof

the neighboring Arabs who were fascinated with her Germanic features andgregariousways.

Itwasnot longafterAnna joined the family thatLydia receiveda call fromNazareth. It was from a Scottish nurse named Lockhart. She had becomeentangledinanaffairwithaBritishofficerandplannedtomarryhimuntilshediscoveredthathewasalreadymarried.Thenshediscoveredshewaspregnant.Devastated,shedecidedtogivebirthtothechildandputitupforadoption.Thusthe call to Lydia, who immediately took Tikva and Johanne with her to thehospital in Nazareth to meet the newest addition to their family-a baby girlnamedElisabeth.ThenewbornbecamethedarlingoftheChristensenhousehold,acute,blonde,sweet-temperedchildwhomtheothergirlslovedtoentertain.

These, then, were the faces and the stories that met Derek Prince when hebeganhisregularvisitstoLydia'shomeinRamallahin1945.Everymomenthespentwiththisunusualwomanandheramazingdaughterswaslikeimmersioninacompletelydifferentuniverse.DerekhadgrownuptheonlychildofaBritisharmyofficerwhowasinturnmarriedtothedaughterofaBritisharmyofficer.He had spent most of his youth away at school: Hawtrey's, Eton, and thenCambridge.Histimewithwomenhadbeenminimalexceptwhenhewasbeingimmoral, and his time with children was virtually nonexistent. Now he spentalmosteverysparemomentwithninewomenranginginagefromonetofifty-five,andhelovedit.Healsolovedhowitwaschanginghim.

Hewould arrive at the home in the late afternoons, and almost immediatelysomeonewouldputhimtowork.Therewerefloors toclean,meals toprepare,andevenclothestowash.Routinely,babyElisabethwouldfindDerekandcrawluphisleguntilshestoodwobblingwithadeathgriponhistrousers.Buthehadseldombeenaroundchildren,andhedidnotknowwhattodo.Thegirls,halfindisgustandhalfinamusement,wouldshoutforhimtopickherup.Hedidbutheldherasifshewereasmellycat.OneofthegirlswouldinevitablyrepositionElisabeth on Derek's shoulder and show him how to support her back.Immediately, the child would begin reaching for Derek's prominent nose orpullingonhislipstoseehisteeth.

Derekwasused to relativequiet brokenonlyby thegood-natured chatter of

men.He now found himself in a swirlingworld of feminine noise.Tikva andJohannemight be practicing the piano. Jameela and Lydiamight be having aspirited debate in the kitchen about the properway to cook the lamb.Kirstencould be chattering away in Arabic with a neighborhood child, both excitedabout the plums they had gathered from the tree in the front yard. Anna andElisabethmightbescreamingforattention.Theothergirls-Magdalene,Peninah,andRuhammah-wouldalmostcertainlybecallingtoeachotherabouthowbesttodothenextchore.Anditwouldbenothingunusualforallofthiscommotiontotakeplacealongsideafullvolumesoldiers'prayermeetingintheparlor.

There were slips and bras hanging on laundry lines and the smells of girls'ointmentsandperfumesthroughoutthehouse.Tensionbetweentwogirlswouldbe attended with a kind of screaming and tears that Derek associated with aGermanassault.Hemarveled at thedinnertimechatter.Henotedwith interestthe emerging womanhood in the older girls. He was fascinated by Lydia'sdescriptionsofherrelationshipwithJesus,realizingashelistenedthatawomanexperiencesspiritualthingsinadifferentwaythanamandoes.Hewaslearningtoseetheworldthroughfeminineeyes.Itwasaneducationhispasthadseldomprovidedbutthathisfuturewouldurgentlydemand.

IfDerek'sfrequentvisitstoLydia'shomewerechanginghiminpleasantways,theywerealsosettinghimingreatertensionwithhislifeinthemilitary.Duringworking hours, hewas still amedical orderly atKiriatMotzkin supply depot,andhewasstillchafingundertherestrictionsofarmylife.Infact,mattershadrecentlygrownworse.Hiscommandingofficeratthedepothadbeguntoresentthe Bible reading that Derek enjoyed during his breaks. The officer chastisedDerekforhis"religiousextremism"anddideverything inhispower todisruptDerek's routine.WhenDerekhadfinallyhadenoughof thisman'sharanguing,hedecidedtoaskforatransfertotheBritishhospitalinJerusalem.ThiswouldnotonlyendhisunbearablesituationwiththeofficerbutalsoputhimclosertoLydiaaswell.Thetransferwasgranted,landingDerekinthelastassignmentofhis army career. He would serve at No. 16 British General Hospital on theMountofOlives,afacilitythatwasonceaguesthouseoftheGermankaiser.

Before Derek left Kiriat Motzkin, though, he received one of the mostimportant revelations of his life. Moved by Lydia's ministry and devotion toGod,hehadbeguncontemplatingmorefullyhisownlife'spurpose,thereasonfor all he had experienced, and all of the hopes that burned so fiercely in hisheart. As he held these dreams before his God, he found himself praying intongues,and,asoftenhappened,themeaningofwhatheprayedformeditselfinhismind. Thewordswere clear, andDerek never forgot them: "I have calledthee tobea teacherof theScriptures, in truthandfaithand love,whichare inChristJesus-formany."

Derek rolled the words over and over in his mind, drawing from them theunderstanding that he would spend his life teaching God's truth to others.Perhaps this was why he had walked such a winding path-through the bestschools in England, through the betrayal in Ireland, through the years in thedesert,andnowinthelandofhisLord'sbirth.Hewasbeginningtounderstand.Hehadbeeninschoolforhiscalling.Buthewondered,now,whenthatcallingwould begin. Derek was in the crucible that all great men endure. He waspressedbetweenadrivinginnersenseofpurposeandanouterlifethatkeptthispurposebound.Sohedidwhathemustdo:thenextthingathand.HeperformedhisdutiesattheBritishhospitalontheMountofOlives,and,whenthosedutiesweredone,heboardedthebusthatcarriedhimtoRamallah.

ThemonthsthatDerekcameandwentfromLydia'shomeweretransformingforhim.HeandLydiasharedtheScripturestogetherandprayedconstantly.Andthey talkedby thehour.Shewas surely enjoying the companyof an educatedEuropeanwhosepassionforGodmatchedherown.HewaslearningsomeofthelessonshisBiblecollegeinthedeserthadnotcovered.Helearned,forexample,ofthekindoffaiththatlookstoGodforeveryneed.LydiahadbeenforcedtotrustGodtomeetthekindofneedsDerekhadrarelyeventhoughtabout.Whenfoodwasscarce,Lydiaandhergirlswouldpray.Withoutfail,abasketofeggswouldappearonthedoorsteporashopkeeperwouldsendfoodthathecouldnotfind room for on his shelves. Lydia and her girls lived in expectation of themiraculous.This includedmiraculous healing aswell.Time and again, one ofthe girls would develop an ailment, and Lydia would gather her family forprayer. The ailment would disappear, sometimes instantly. This was Lydia'sworld-aworld inwhich spiritual thingswere normal-andDerek eagerly drank

fromthewellofherbattle-testedfaith.

AsLydia andDerekgrewcloser, theybegan talking about their dreams andtheirfuturehopes.DerekfoundhecouldsaythingstoLydiathathehadneverfeltfreetosaytoanyoneelse.Inasense,hewasunpackinghissoultoanotherhumanbeing for the first time.Lydia felt it, too, andwasmovedwhenDerektoldherof thewordshehadreceivedfromGod,ofhowhewascalled tobeateacher,andhowhis teachingwasmeant to reach theworld.Heknewsharingsuchthingsmightmakehimsoundboastful,butLydiaseemedtounderstandandtreatedthesetreasuresofhisheartwithtenderness.

ItwasduringoneoftheirintimatetalksthatDerektoldLydiaofClare.Lydiahadalreadysuspectedsomething.OnthefewoccasionswhenDerekstayedtoolatetocatchthelastbusbacktoJerusalem,hesleptonthesweepingverandaofLydia's home.Each timehe did, he put the picture of a baby boy by his bed.LydiawonderedwhothechildwasandsuspectedthatDerekhadadifficultstoryto tell. When he told her of Clare, of his confession to Sean, and of thecorrespondencehe'dhadwithClareovertheyears,Lydiawasmovedbutwarnedhim about his ongoing contact with Clare. It was unclean, she said, and heshould end it. They had sinned together, and though they had confessed, theymustfollowuprepentancewithobedience.ItwaswrongforDerektomaintainacorrespondence with another man's wife, particularly one with whom he hadimmorally conceived a child. Derek saw the wisdom of her words andwroteClaresoonafterwardtotellherthattheirrelationshipmustend.Reluctantly,sheagreed,andthetwoneversaworheardfromeachotheragain.

This conversation about Clarewasmore than just a soldier seeking counselfromanolderwoman.DerekandLydiaweresurfacingthesubjectsthatmenandwomen dowhen they are approachingmarriage. Derek felt the need to comecleanaboutClarebecausehewasbeginningtofallinlovewithLydia.She,ontheotherhand,gaveDereksolid spiritualcounselbut laterconfessed toTikvathatthetaleofClaremadeherjealousandthatshehadtroublegettingitoutofhermind.ShetoowasnurturingagrowingaffectionforDerek,andinawaythatmusthavesurprisedherfifty-five-yearoldsoul.

Lydia'sgirls sensed that somethingwashappeningbetween theirmotherand

the handsome young soldier, but they did not knowwhat itwas.Often in theevenings,DerekandLydiawouldsitbesideeachotherinthelarge,ornateparlorof theChristensenhomeand talk intimately,sometimesevenholdinghandsastheydid.Thegirlswouldoftensneakoutofbedandwatchtheirmother'sstrangebehaviorthroughthewindowsofthelargeFrenchdoorsthatseparatedtheparlorfrom the rest of the house. Then, amazed and giggling, they would run backdownthehalltotheirbedsbeforetheirmotherfoundthemout.

It was not long before all mysteries were revealed. Lydia sat all eight girlsuponherbedoneeveningandtoldthemthatDerekhadaskedhertomarryhim.The Christensen girls couldn't believe their ears. All this time they thoughtDerek was pursuing Tikva. Now their mother was telling them that thishandsome young soldier was actually interested in their fifty-five-yearoldmother.Andhewantedtomarryher,forheaven'ssake!

Thegirlsbarelyknewwhat tosayand, in thewayof theyoung,objected tohow the marriage would disrupt their own lives. "Mommy," Tikva appealed,"you can't have aman in this house." Shewas thinking of a home filledwithninewomenandhowamanwouldmeanalwayshaving tobe fullyclothedoralwayskeepingdoorsclosed.Andwhatofthebathroomandthelaundry?Canamanbeincludedinthesethings?

LydiawaspatientbutexplainedherselfinwordsthatbetraymorethanjustherfeelingsaboutDerek."Iamgoingtogetolder,andyougirlswon'tbethere,"shesaid tenderly, "but I need a bit of happiness.WithDerek, Iwill have it."Thegirls protested, butLydiawas resolved.Herwords, though, are revealing.ShehadbeenservingherGod inPalestinefornearly twentyyears,and thoughshebelieved that doing her spiritual duty was its own reward, she was clearlyunfulfilledasawoman.Perhapsshehadtriedtoputherwomanlyneedsonanaltarofsacrifice.Perhapsshehadeventriedtoenvisionherselfsingleandaloneuntil the end of her days and all to the glory of God. Clearly, the picturedisturbed her, and she knew that she was, in some deep and unspoken way,unhappy.Whenshe toldherchildren that sheneededa"bitofhappiness," shegavethemarareglimpseintoherheart,theheartofaspiritualwomanwhowasneverthelessfullyawoman-withalltheneedforloveandprotectionthatevenastrong woman craves. Knowing herself, then, and knowing her feelings for

Derek,whenheaskedhertomarryhimshesaidyes.

Hehadaskedratherclumsily, though.The twohadbeensitting in theparloroneeveningwhenDerekgotup,walkedacrosstheroom,andaskedLydiaifshewould be his wife. She said yes, and then the two just stared at each other,neithersureofwhatoughttocomenext.Derektookherhands,kissedthem,andthensatbesideher.Almostimmediately,thetwodiscussedtheiragedifferences.Thentheydiscussedtellingthegirls.Andthenitwasdone.DerekreturnedtotheMountofOlives, andLydiabeganplanningher chatwithherdaughters.BothDerekandLydiafoundthemselvesgigglingattheoddnessoftheirrelationshipand,inthewayoflovers,attheirexcitementabouteachother.

In a manner common to expatriates, Derek and Lydia had two weddingceremonies.ThefirstwasaninformaloneledbyaJewishbelieverinthehomeofMrs.Radford,aChristianmissionarywomanwhohadbefriendedLydiawhenshe first landed in Palestine. The ceremony had very nearly been canceled.Though the date for thewedding had been set forweeks, Lydia arose on themuch-anticipateddayandsawthatitwassnowing.Announcingtohergirlsthatitwas"toocoldtogetmarried,"shedecidedtopostponethewedding.Thiswasclearly a case of bridal nerves, endearing in a woman of Lydia's age. Herdaughtersprevailed,though,andthesimpleceremonytookplace.Itmighthavebeenahappieroccasion.TheolderChristensengirlssat in thebackduring theceremonyandcried,not for thebeautyof themomentbutbecause theyfearedtheywerelosingtheirmothertothisBritishstranger.

Derek andLydia consummated theirmarriage that night, but this leftDerekwithsurprisingfeelingsofguilt.Hehadnottoldhiscommandingofficerofhiswedding,andhewonderediftheunionwaslegal-orevenmoral,forthatmatter.ItdidnothelpthatafterseveraldaysofsharingLydia'sbed,Derekhadtoreturntohisbilletatthehospital.Forweeks,eitherhecommutedtoRamallahorLydiatook thebus to Jerusalem tomeethernewhusbandat their appointed spot: infront of Barclay's Bank near the Damascus Gate of the Old City. ThearrangementbegantofeelabitseedytoDerek,andhewonderedifhewaslivinginsin.

This continued for more than a month until the marriage was finally

solemnized by the British District Commissioner on April 17, 1946. Derek'spakkah-trainedBritishsoulwassetatease:hewaslegallymarried.Themarriagecertificate issuedby thatcommissioner is revealing.Derek is listedasa thirty-year-old Englishman serving as corporal in the Royal Army Medical Corps.Lydiaislistedasafifty-six-yearoldDanish"spinstermissionary."TikvaCohen,Lydia's eighteen-year-old Jewish daughter, is recorded as the witness to themarriage. Clearly, an unusual family entered the British record on that springdayin1946.

Apparently, the strangeness of the situation occurred to Derek's father, too.When Derek wrote him about the marriage, Paul wrote back asking aboutLydia's age. Derek replied that a proper gentleman does not inquire about awoman's age. Paul then apologized and offered his blessing, though theexchangemusthavelefthimwondering.

ItwasnotlongafterwardthatDerekdecidedtoleavethearmy.Hehadbeencontemplatingthemoveforsometime.Thewarhadendedtheyearbefore,andDerekhadwatchedmanyofhisfellowsoldiersreturntocivilianlife.Moreover,hehadprovensoskilledathisworkthattheBritisharmy,typically,hadgivenhim the responsibilitiesof a sergeantyetwith thepayof a corporal.Hehadafamilynowandneededtheadditionalmoney.Heappealedforapromotionbutwasdenied.

HetookthisasasignfromGod.HehadlongsensedthatheandLydiawerebroughttogetherforministryasmuchasforlove,andtheministryheenvisionedwasimpossibleas longashewas in thearmy.Hewaswillingtostay, though,untilhefoundthatthearmywouldn'tpayhimfortheworkhewasdoing.Itwastime to get out. But whom should he tell? He looked around, considered thematter carefully, and realized that the person responsible for processingdischargeswas-CorporalDerekPrince.SohefiledhisownpapersandonJune6,1946,wasdischargedfromtheBritisharmy.

Almost immediately,Derekdeveloped a crisis of conscience about the threepoundsaweekhewasreceivingasafellowatKing'sCollege,Cambridge.Hewasn'tdoinganyworkforthemoney,andthisbotheredhim.Itsaysmuchabouthischaracteratthetime.HewroteKing'stoaskthemtostopsendingthemoney,

but they refused. This was the way of things, they explained. Derek wasdisturbedbutthenrememberedthatKing'sCollegehadbeenfoundedbyHenryVI,whowantedtopropagatetruereligion.Derekrealizedthatnow,withLydia,thiswasexactlywhathewouldbedoing.Hisconscienceclear,hehappilyspentthemoneyonhisnewfamily.

Dereknowentered the lifeof anewlymarriedman, a fatherof eight, andamissionary.Whereashisdayshadoncebeenfilledwithwoundedmen,militaryorder, and the clerical responsibilities of a British hospital abroad, he foundhimselfattemptingsanityintheswirlingworldofLydia'shome.Heroseinthemorningtoanewwife,childrenthatrangedoverseventeenyearsinage,andahome thatwasmoreministry center than refuge. The barracks gaveway to ahousefilledwithhangingfemininegarments.Dressingthewoundsofwargaveway to changing the diapers of children.The frustrating routine of theBritisharmygavewaytotherigidandlong-establishedroutineofLydiaPrince.Itwasnot an easy transition. Derek gave it his best. He learned to clean to Lydia'sstandards and to tend the youngest children without being too present in thebedroomsoftheoldergirls.Hecooked,hewashed,hetended,andhebargainedin the shopsofRamallah.With timehebecameadutiful husband, father, andfriend.

Healsobecameateacher.Beforehisarrival,thegirls'homelifewaslargelyamatter of Bible reading, praying, and singing. Derek added to this byencouragingthegirlstomemorizetheBible,buthetookthingsevenfurther.HemadetheBibleliveintheirimaginationsbytellingthemtheage-oldstorieswithdramaandfire.Onceheawakenedtheirimaginations,heintroducedthemtothewritings ofCharlesDickens and then to the classics. The older girls began toread broadly, a luxury often eschewed by Pentecostals. Derek could not haveknown that some Christians disdained great literature as carnal. No one sonarrowwasthere inhisdesertseminaryto tellhim.Sohereadandtaughtandopenedthegirls'mindstoliterarywonderstheyhadneverknown.Morethanoneof the Prince daughters remembers Dickens read aloud in Derek's Cambridgedictionasamongthegreatpleasuresoftheirlives.

ThegirlsalsodelightedwhenDerekandLydiadancedtogether.TheyalreadyknewthatLydiahadlonglovedmusic.Therewasawind-upgramophoneinthe

house, andHandel'sMessiah-Lydia's favorite piece-often blared from it.WhatsomeofhergirlsdidnotknowuntilDerekarrivedwasthatLydiaalsolovedtodance,somethingagoodPentecostalalmostneverdidotherthaninchurch.ButLydiahadlearnedtoenjoydancingyearsbeforeinDenmark,andsheneverlostthe passion. Amazingly light on her feet for a full-figured woman, she couldmovewithastonishinggraceonadancefloor,andhergirlsshriekedwithgleewhensheandDerekdancedtoabitofthejazzsometimesairedontheBBC.Itwas not just the dancing that delighted the girls, though. Itwas the change intheirmother'sspirit,thenewlightnessinherstepaswellasherheart.

ThegirlsalsodelightedinDerek'smanlyways.Hismorningshavefascinatedthem,andtheycalledeachothertotheopenbathroomdoortowatchhimsmearawhitesubstanceonhisfaceandthenscrapeitoffagain.Derekletthemsmeartheir faceswith thesamesubstanceandeven let themscrapehis facewith thesharp little device he used. Everything about him intrigued them, from hisphysicalstrengthtothehaironhischesttohiscalmingcontrolofacrisis.Theyhadneverknownastablefatherbefore,andhechangedthemwithhismasculinewaysasmuchastheychangedhimwiththeirsweetnessandlove.

WeshouldfreezethismomentinDerek'slife.Itis,inasense,thecalmbeforethe storm. He has left a lonely childhood, a wintry academic career, and theimmorality of his Christless years behind. He has endured the furnace of theAfricandesert and theanvilofGod'sdisciplining school,only toendbothhisarmycareerandhislifeasasinglemaninasmallvillagejustoutsideofthecitythatgavefaithtotheworld.Heisnowhusbandtoawomannearlytwicehisage,fathertoeightadopteddaughters,andministertoallwhomaketheirwaytohishome.Itwouldnotbehardtoimaginethatheiscontent,orperhapscontentforthemoment.Forheknowsthatheismadeforsomethingmore,thatthewordoftheLordandhisownsenseofdestinyprodhim,stirhim,sothathecanneverfullysettleuntilthestreamofrevelationthathaspouredintohisheartpoursinturnthroughhislifetoaneedyworld.ThewordoftheLordhastoldhimhewillgotothenations.ButthewordoftheLordhasalsotoldhimhewillnotknowhoworwhen.He is still, then.Patient.He loves, he teaches, heprays, andhewaits-waitsforapromiseddayofdestiny.

MajorR.E.Vaughan-Derek'suncle

PaulandGwendolynDerek'sparents

Derek'sparents'weddingpicture

Derekwithhismotherathischristening,sixweeksold

Derekinbabycarriage,eightmonthsold

DerekinIndianclothing,twoyearsold

PortraitofDerek,agetwo,India,1917

Offtoboardingschool,agenine,1924

DerekatEton,sixteenyearsold,1931

Portrait,sixteenyearsold

EtonCollegeschoolyardshowingchapelandLupton'stower

CambridgeUniversity,1930S

PortraitofDerek,inhisearlytwenties

Derekinarmyuniform,WorldWarII,1942

DerekinSudanwithtruck,early19405

IntheSudan,early1940s

Derek,Lydia,andgirlsinRamallah,1946

DerekandLydiainRamallah

DerekandLydiainDenmark

MembersofDerek'schurchinLondon

PreachinginHydeParkSpeakers'Corner,1950

PreachinginHydePark;MagdaleneandRuhammahinbackground

DerekinKenyawithAfricanbaby

BaptizingayoungKenyanboy

VillagersbytypicalKenyanhut

Derek,Lydia,andJoska,1960

TheFt.LauderdaleFive(lefttoright):ErnBaxter,DerekPrince,CharlesSimpson,DonBasham,BobMumford,early19106

PreachingatWestminsterChapel,London,1970s

PreachingatCornerstoneChurch,SanAntonio,1974

Zimbabwe,late19106

DerekandRuth,1985

Teaching,198os

TeachinginEurope,198os

Lublin,Poland,1996

DPMRetreatinBlowingRock,NC,1999

WalkinginJerusalem,2001

7

EretzIsrael:PresentattheCreation

EREKPEEREDINTENTLY into thedistance,his eyesmistybutsearchingashescannedtheJudeanwildernessthatseemedtoliejustoutsideourwindow.Perhapshewasmentally roaming the streets of postwarRamallahorperhapshewasrememberingthosefirstyearswithLydia.Itwashardtotell,butitwasclearheneededaquietmoment,andIgaveittohim.

Ashesippedhisever-present teaandlet thememoriesflow,I thoughtaboutthepointtowhichwehadcomeinhisstory.Iwasfascinatedbywhathemusthavebeenthinkinginthoseearlyyears.Whatwasitliketobeathirty-year-oldmanwitheightdaughtersandawifetwiceyouragelivinginthebackwatersofPalestine?Whataboutall thedreams, thehopes, themanlyambitions?Washefrustrated?Washedisappointedortempted?Didhewishforsomethingmore?

Igavehimhismoment to reflect, and then Iasked, "Derek,around the timeyou married and got out of the army, can you remember ever stopping tocontemplateyourlife?Canyourememberliftingyourheadfromthepressoftheimmediateandtakingstockofwhereyouweregoing?"

Derek'sfacelookedthewayitalwaysdidwhenIpressedhimtotalkabouthisfeelings.Therewasa flashofconfusion thatbetrayed itselfmostly inhiseyesbefore a quiet, pained lookwashed over him as he dug into his soul. Then itcame:thatcalmsenseofsatisfactionthatregisteredlargelyaroundhismouth.Itwasthelookofateacherwhoknewhistext.IthinkDereklovedthismoment-theannouncement,theproclamation,thenewperspectiveonanoldexperience.

"Yes,Ido,"hesaid."Infact,Ihavedescribeditinoneofmybooks."

"Really," I replied,amazed. Icouldn't rememberanythingso introspective inthebookshehadwritten."Doyourememberwhichbook?"

Hethoughtforamomentandsaid,"No,Ican't.ButIrememberdescribinganeveningontheMountofOlives."

Then it came to me. "You mean the night on the Mount of Olives youdescribed in The LastWord on theMiddle East? The time you saw into themeaningofIsrael?"

"Yes,that'sit."

I reached for a copy of the book nearby and scanned the section Derekmentioned. But then I grew suspicious. I didn't think Derek would tell mesomethinguntrue,butIdidthinkhemightsendmetoastoryhehadtoldoverandagainratherthanspeakfromtheheart.Iwantedthemeaningnotthesermon,andsoIpressed.

"Derek,canyourememberthatnightintermsyouhaven'tusedinasermonorabook?Canyoutellmeaboutitasthoughithappenedlastnight?"

He looked atmewith a slight air of exasperation, but then seemed resignedandclosedhiseyes."Itwasona finenight inAprilof1946,andIstoodonasaddleofland..."

"Derek," I interrupted. "You'regivingme thebook.Canyou takeamomentandseethatnightinyourmind'seye?Iknowitishardsinceyou'vetoldthissomanytimes,butI'mhopingtoseeitthroughtheeyesofathirty-year-oldsoldierratherthananearlyninety-year-oldminister."

Derekthenopenedhiseyesandstareddownatthecupinhishands.JustwhenIthoughthewasgoingtotellmehecouldn'tremembermorethanhewrote,hesaid,"Iwasthinkingaboutwhatwasnext,not just inmylifeor thelifeof thegirls,butintheworld.Itfelttomelikethegreatcataclysmofthewarhadjustended and all the world was returning to normal. But I had a sense thatsomethingwasabouttohappen,andIwasthinkingaboutwhatitallmightmean.Thecourseoftheworldseemedtobefloodingthroughmethatnight."

"Wherewereyouasyouthoughtthesethings?"Iasked.

"Iwas standing high above Jerusalemon a little landing just in front of theAugustaVictoriaHospital.Thiswas thenamefor thehospital Ihadserved in,No.16BritishHospital,duringthewar.Thewholeareaappearslikethelarge,curvededgeofamountain.Thehospitalsat in thatsaddleof landImentionedbetweenMountScopusonthenorthendandtheMountofOlivesonthesouth.Theviewfromtherewasmagnificent.TheOldCityspreadoutbeforeme,andIfelt how dearly I loved it. I remember specifically how brightly the moonreflected off theDome of theRock and the silver dome of theMosque ofAlAksa."

"Tellmewhatyouwerethinking,Derek."

"Well,asIsaid,IwasthinkingaboutthefuturewhenitfelttomeasthoughIstopped thinking in linear time and I thought only in the dimensions ofJerusalem.Itwasasthoughmythoughtsabouthistoryandourtimesdissolvedintothegeographythat laybeforeme.Bibleversesbegantofloodthroughmymindabout Israeland thespecific featuresofJerusalem.Passageafterpassageseemed no longer descriptive of an ancient land but of present realities, asthough Iwas reading a travel guide formodern Israel out of the pages of theBible.I'vedescribedallthisinthebook,though."

"Iknow,Derek,buttellmewhatitmeanttoyouthatnight."

"I had this deep feeling thatworld history andmy lifewere bound togetherthroughthegeographythatlaybeforeme.Idon'tknowifIcanexplainit.ItwasasthoughIwastryingtothinkaboutthefuture,andmyspiritwastellingmethatthe future was here, in this place. It seemed that the Bible, history, and thecourse of my life were all overlaid on the geography of Israel, that they allbecameone.IknewthenthatmylifewasintertwinedwithIsraelandthatIsrael,insomesense,determinedthehistoryoftheworld."

"Can you remember if you concluded anything when you walked off thatlanding?"

"Yes, I remember feeling thatwhateverwas next for theworld, the nations

wouldhavetodealwiththelandofIsrael.AndIrememberfeelinghowthankfulIwastobethere,howIwasn'tatallremovedfromtheflowofhistory,butIwasat thatmoment in themiddleofbiblicalprophecyandat thefocalpointof thetimes."

"TousethewordsofEsther,didyoufeelthatyouhad`cometothekingdomforsuchatimeasthis'?"

"Yes, and it seemed to settleme.Nomatter thepromises aboutmy life thatGodhadgivenme,theywouldcometopassonlyinconnectionwiththisland."

"Inasense,then,youandthelandofIsraelwereone?"

"Yes,mydestiny,Iknew,wastiedtothedestinyofIsrael."

WhenDerekandLydiaPrincebegantheirnewlivestogetherinthequietArabvillageofRamallahin1946,theycouldnothaveknownhowtheirworldwouldsoonchangeandchangeviolently.Historywasconverginguponthem,ahistorytheywouldspendtherestoftheirlivestryingtofullyunderstand.Theywerenotalone.FewintheworldatthattimeknewmuchabouttheMiddleEast,andevenfewerunderstood the journeyof theJews throughhistoryorwhat that journeymightmeanfortheirage.Itwasafailurethatwouldhavetragicresultsfortheplansof theworld's statesmenbutwhichwouldultimately lead to thebirthofmodernIsrael.

TheIsraelthatplayedthestagetotheministryofJesusChristceasedtoexistin A.D. 70 when Roman armies answered a Jewish rebellion by destroyingJerusalem.The ancientTempleofSolomonwasdismantled, theholy citywasburned,andtheJewishpeoplebegantheircenturiesofglobalwandering.Thusendedthekingdomwhosehistoryhadprovidedthevehicleofbiblicalrevelation:the rise of a people under patriarchs, the fashioning of a kingdom undermisbehavingkings,thecruelcaptivitiesbyAssyrianandBabylonianarmies,therestoration to the landunderPersians, and thedominationbybothGreeceandRome. Their heritage destroyed, the Jews moved out into the nations of the

worldandbegantolivetheirfaithdivorcedfromtheirland.

Thiswascalledthe"Diaspora,"the"dispersion,"andnoonewelcomeditmorethantheChristians.ForcenturiesaftertheJewishnationwasnomore,ChristianpriestsandbishopspreachedthattheJewshadcrucifiedGodinhumanformandthushadcomeunderacurse. In fact, thechurch taught that the Jewsbore themarkofCain:theywouldalwaysberootlesswanderers,despisedupontheearth.TheJews,then,shouldbehatedandbetrayedandalltothegloryoftheJewishSonofGod.

So it was for centuries. In theMiddleAges, for example, tortured theologyjoinedwithsuperstitiontoassurethedevastationofarace.Ifdiseaseravagedavillage, it must mean that God was displeased with the Jews. If a baby wasmissing,itwassurelybecausetheJewshadstolenthechildtodrinkitsblood.InsomeregionsthelawcounteditnothingtorapeaJewishwoman,takeaJewishlife,or razeaJewishvillage. Indeed, thesecrimeswereoften transformed intovirtues,particularlyifpracticedbyacrusadingEuropeanarmyonthemarchtoretake Jerusalem for itsGod.And, later on, if the Jews refused to believe theChristiangospel,Christianswereurgedtoattackthemandmakethemconverts.Hadn't that priestMartin Luther said it should be done?Hadn't their Catholicmajesties of Castile and Aragon, Ferdinand and Isabella, ordered it beforedriving the Jews from their land? Weren't these Jews the Christ-killers, theverminwhopollutedtheworld?

Infairness,notallChristiansbelievedsuchthings.FromtimetotimeChristianvoices would arise in protest. The Jews are still God's people, they wouldproclaim. Didn't Paul say in the Book of Romans that he hoped for theredemptionof Israel?Aren'tChristians grafted into a Jewish tree?Might it bethatGodintendstorestoretheJewstotheirlandasHeseemedtopromiseintheancientwritings?Butthesevoiceswerequicklysilenced.Theyweretoomuchachallengetotheprevailingtheologies,toomuchanindictmentofthehistoryofthechurch.

It fell, then, toaMuslimempire togrant theJews the first lastingprotectiontheyhadenjoyedsincethefallofJerusalem.TheOttomanEmpire,whichruledtheMiddleEastformorethanfourhundredyears,treatedtheJewsmorekindly

thantheChristiandominionseverhad.ThiswasbecausethesultanswhoruledtheOttomanEmpirefromConstantinoplewereMuslimswhoreveredtheQuran,theholybookofIslam,whichteachesthatChristiansandJewsaretobehonoredas a "people of the book"-meaning a people who revered the Bible, a bookMuslims also esteem. So the Ottoman Jews lived in relative peace from thefifteenthuntilthetwentiethcentury,aprivilegeroutinelydeniedtheirEuropeankin.

The Ottoman Empire came to an end, though, in the bloodletting ofWorldWar I.The sultanswhoonce ruled became the fiefdomsofEuropean powers.Though the Arab peoples were promised autonomy by the Europeans as arewardforthrowingofftheOttomanyoke,theyfoundattheendofthewarthatthey had been duped. A secret treaty called the SykesPicot Agreement hadquietlygrantedArablandstothevictoriousEuropeanpowers.TheMiddleEastwouldneverbethesame.TheoldLeagueofNationsgrantedtheBritishandtheFrench"mandates,"or temporarycolonialadministration,overformerOttomandomains,andimmediatelythetwopowerstooktheirpensandcreatedthreenewArabcountriesIraq,Syria,andLebanon.

Then theBritish tookanareaknownas"southernSyria"andcreatedwhat itofficiallycalled"Palestine"inEnglish,"Falastin"inArabic,and"PalestineAl"in Hebrew. The portion to the east of the Jordan River was split to form anautonomousemiratethenknownasTransjordan,laterrenamedtheKingdomofJordan.AsWinstonChurchilloncefamouslysaid,"IcreatedTransjordanwithastroke of a pen on a Sunday afternoon inCairo." The area to thewest of theJordanRiver-withtheholycityofJerusalematitsheart-becamethefocusforallwhoyearned for a Jewishhomeland: for secular Jews in themoldofTheodorHerzlwhotiredofEurope'soppression,forBritishRestorationistswhodreamedofamessianicIsraelinthelandoftheirLord,forwearyJewsofeverykindwhodreamedofalandoftheirown.

All thesefoundhope in thewordsofwhatcametobeknownas theBalfourDeclaration, a simple document that had passed between Lord Balfour, theBritish Foreign Secretary, and Lord Walter Rothschild, the head of a famedJewish family, in 1917. The document contained a promise: "His Majesty'sGovernmentviewwithfavor theestablishment inPalestineofanationalhome

for the Jewish people." At the end of the First World War, Jews and theirsupportersaroundtheworldthrilledatthethoughtthattheancientlandofIsraelwasinthehandsofagovernmentthatintendedtogranttheJewsahomeland.

Butitwasnottobe.TheideaofaJewishhomelandenragedtheArabmajoritywest of the Jordan River. In 1922, at the time the Britishmandate came intoeffect, there were more than 589,000 Arabs but less than 84,000 Jews in theland.Nevertheless, theArabs fearedJewish immigrationmightcost them theircontroloftheregion.Riotsbrokeout,firstin1921andthenin1929.Jewswerekilled by the dozens, as were British soldiers. By 1939, the British were soweary of policing the region that they issued the MacDonald White Paper,severelyrestrictingJewishimmigration.ThismerelyemboldenedtheArabs,sentZionistgroupsunderground,andleftmanyworldleadersbelievingthatseparatehomelandsforJewsandArabsweretheonlyrealsolution.

ThencameWorldWarIIandHitler's"FinalSolutionoftheJewishQuestion"(EndlosungderJudenfrage).MorethansixmillionJewishlivesweresnuffedoutby Nazi hands, and several millionmore were left homeless and destitute bywar'send.Jewisheyesturnedagaintotheancient landofIsrael.Surelynowitwastimeforthepersecutedwandererstohaveahomeoftheirown.SurelythesepeoplehadwontherightforahomelandinplaceslikeAuschwitzandDachau.Whowoulddaredenythemaftersomuchsuffering?

The answer came quickly: the Arabs. During the war years and just after,manyArabnationshademergedfromcolonialruleand,withBritishprompting,formed theArabLeague tocoordinatepolicybetween their states.This leaguewasvehementlyopposedtoaJewishhomelandandlobbiedinthecapitalsoftheworldagainstit.Whentalkfailed,violenceprevailed,andswirlingcloudsofwarbegan to form just as the frustratedBritish asked theUnitedNations (UN) todecidethefateoftheJewishpeople.

ThemountingtensionsbetweenArabsandJewswerefeltineachvillageandhouse of Palestine.Menwhose grandparents had often supped together beganeyeing each otherwith suspicion.Womenwhohad taken food to each other'shomeswhenchildrenweresickorrelativesdiedweresoonunwillingtospeak.Itwas a heartrending, disorienting time, but it was nothing compared to the

devastationthatcamesoonafter.Intime,tensiongavewaytobloodshed,andthechildrenofancientfriendsbegangunningeachotherdowninthestreetswithoutremorse.

Inthelatterpartof1946,thePrincefamilywaslivingalargelyArablifeinthelittlevillageofRamallah.Totheircredit,theyhadrefusedtoisolatethemselvesfrom the surroundingculture, asmissionaries sometimesdo, and instead felt astrong connection to their neighbors and to the traditions of the local people.ThiswasnotonlybecauseLydiaandhergirlshad lived inRamallahformorethan a decade, but also because the people of Ramallah were largely GreekOrthodoxChristians. The Princes and their neighbors, then, shared a commonfaith,celebratedthesameholydays,andbelievedmanyof thesamedoctrines.They also shared an admiration for the beautiful cathedral that stood in thecenter of Ramallah, a symbol of the ancient faith of the land. Kirstenrememberedsittinginthiscathedralforhours,raptinadmirationofthebeautifulstained glass windows, particularly the one depicting Abraham's sacrifice ofIsaac.

The Prince family felt very much at peace in their Arab world. The girlsplayedwithArabchildren,LydiashoppedintheArabmarket,andDerekdidhisbest to pass timewith the neighboringArabmen.Giftswere exchangedwiththeirArab neighbors on holy days, and the gracious rules ofArab hospitalitywereobserved.DerekevendelightedthroughouthislifetorecalltheverysimpleMiddleEasterndiet that thefamilyenjoyed in thoseearlydays:"coarsebread,oliveoil,powderedhyssop,milk,eggs,and,foratreat,asackoforangeswhichcouldbehadfortwoshillings."Onspecialoccasionsandwhenmoneyallowed,theremightevenbeamealoflamb.Clearly,thePrincefamilyfeltverymuchathome both in Arab culture and with their friends in the Christian village ofRamallah.

It was not long after Derek and Lydia married, though, that they began tonotice a change. Ramallah began to feel less friendly. The once welcomingsmileswerehardertofind.GroupsofmenwhohadoncegreetedDerekwarmly

onthestreetremainedclosedandgavehimlittlemorethananover-the-shoulderglance.ShopkeepersLydiahadknownforyearsseemedchillyandbusinesslikeat best.Derek andLydiadiscussed this change andquickly realizedwhatwashappening. Itwas the same thing thatwashappening all throughoutPalestine.ArabswerebeginningtoresenttheJews,sensingthatworldeventsmightmeanaJewish homeland where Arabs had lived for centuries. And here were thePrinces,afamilywithsixJewishgirls,livinginanArabvillage.

JustasDerekandLydiawereponderinghowtorespond,aneartragedymadetheirdirectionclear.OnJuly22,1946,Tikvatriedtoboardacrowdedbusthatwas bound for Jerusalem. The driver turned her away because there was noroom. A few hours later, she and her family learned that this same bus wassitting in front of theKingDavidHotel, headquarters of the British forces inJerusalem,whenabombexploded.Aguerrillafactionknownas theIrgun, ledbyMenachemBegin,hadsetoffthebombinhopesofdrivingtheBritishoutofPalestine.MorethanninetyArabs,Jews,andBritonswerekilledinthebombing,includingmanywhowereon thebus.HadTikvabeenaboard,shemighthavebeenkilled.

Therewereotherdarkomens.TheIrgunkilledtwoBritishsergeantsandthenbooby-trappedtheirdeadbodiestoinflictevenmoredamage.ThenewsofthisshockedtheWesternworldandfilledthevillagesofPalestinewithfear.Therewere more bombings and assassinations. Both Arabs and Jews seemed to begearingup for some immense,unnamedconflict that lay justahead.Certainly,thepeacefullifethePrincefamilyhadknownwascomingtoanend.DerekandLydia knewwhat they had to do: theymustmove the girls into the safety ofJerusalem.

Derek began searching immediately andmade repeated trips into the city tofind a new home. Each time he returned empty-handed. The girlswould prayeven harder, Derek would voyage out again, and still there was nothing.Everyonegrewconcerned.The tensionwasheightening in the streets.Finally,Lydiafeltajoltoffaithfillherheart."Let'sbelieveGodwillsendpeopletoourdoor,"sheurged.SothefamilyprayedthatnewsofahomeinJerusalemwouldcometotheirdoor.Twoshorthourslater,anAssyrianbuilderappearedontheirdoorstep.He had heard thePrinceswere looking for a house, and he had just

builtoneinJerusalemthattheycouldrent.ThefamilyrejoicedatthenewsandsharedtheirastonishmentathowrapidlyGodhadanswered.

Thenaharshrealityset in. Itwascommonin thosedaysforanewrenter tohavetopaytwoyears'rent-orkeymoney-inadvance.Derekwastroubledbytheneed.Wherewouldtheygetthemoney?Notlongafter,hehadadreaminwhichamanpaidthekeymoney.HetookcomfortfromthisbutstillwaitedeagerlyforGodtoprovide.Hesoonrealizedthathehadaninsurancepolicyfromhisarmydays thathenolongerneeded.Cashingit inwouldprovide just themoneythefamilyneeded.So,DerekcashedinthepolicyandmovedhisfamilyintoanewhomeinUpperBakaaat90HebronRoad.

The house wasmuch grander than any they had known before. The familyoccupied the top two floors,whichwere filledwith large, spacious roomsandnewfurniture.OnthefloorbelowlivedakindJewishfamilyandanArabboywhokept the house for the builder.The two floors thePrinces occupiedweremorethantheyneeded,andaftertheydedicatedtheirnewhometoGod,theyputasignoverthefrontthatread"SwedishBibleandChildren'sHome"inhonoroftheSwedishchurchthatprovidedmostoftheirfinancialsupport.

ThePrince homequickly became a center ofministry just as it had been inRamallah.ThenewneighborsheardthegospelfromthemomenttheymetLydiaonthestreetsandheardthePrinceprayermeetingssoundingfromthewindowson the second floor. Each Sunday morning, a small congregation of Arabsgathered for a kind of informal church the Princes conducted in their livingroom. While the other girls ran a Sunday school for neighborhood children,TikvaorJohanneplayedpianobeforeDerekpreached.HewouldstandbeforeasmalltablewithanArabwoman'sshawldrapedoveritandexpoundtheWordofGodas thoughpreaching to thousands.Ononemorning,hewas talkingabouttheHolySpiritwhenadovelandedonthetable.EveryonetheretookthisasasignoftheSpirit'spresence,asablessingbothonthehouseandonthespreadingofGod'sWord.

Despitetheheighteningtensioninthecity,themonthsthePrinceslivedinthishousewere happy ones. The girlswent to a larger,moremodern school thantheyhadknowninRamallah.Thereweremusic lessons,hoursofplayingwith

Toby, the family dog, in the spacious new yard, and always the delights ofJerusalem. Derek and Lydia found an ever-widening circle of people whoneededtheirministry,andtheystayedbusyprayingforthesick,sharingbiblicaltruthwith the lost, andprayingabout theevents thatwereannouncedover theBBConthefamilyradio.

This relative happiness continued until fall of 1947when, onNovember 29,theUN approved a plan that partitioned theBritishMandate of Palestine intotwo states: one Jewish and one Arab. In the words of Larry Collins andDominique Lapierre in their masterful 0 Jerusalem!, the decision was "amapmaker's nightmare ... at best, a possible compromise; at worst, anabomination.Itgavefifty-sevenpercentofPalestinetotheJewishpeopledespitethefactthattwothirdsofitspopulationandmorethanhalfitslandwasArab.""ThefearandthehatredthathadbeensteadilyrisinginPalestinesincetheendoftheSecondWorldWarnowexplodedintothestreets.

The impact of theUnitedNation's decision upon Jerusalemwas immediate.NeighborhoodsthatwerepurelyAraborJewishlockeddownintoarmedcamps.Neighborhoods thatweremixed, that contained both Jewish andArab homes,were immediately thrown into crisis. Everyone expected violence, and no onewanted to livenext to theirenemy. Inneighborhoodswithamajorityof Jews,the Arabs simply packed up their belongings and fled. The reverse occurredwhereArabswere dominant. The citywas in turmoil, and theBritish seemedpowerlesstobringorder.

Onebyone,DerekandLydiawatchedtheirlargelyJewishneighborsgatherafew belongings and steal away in the night to avoid the snipers who quicklybegan to rule the streets. Naively, perhaps, the Princes had decided that thisconflictbetweenArabandJewwouldn'taffectthem.TheywereChristians,afterall, and their family includedboth Jews andArabs.Whowouldwant to harmthem?

TheanswercameonDecember12.Thatmorning,asDerekandLydiabegantheir daywith prayer in their bedroom, Lydia began to speak in an unknowntongue,whichsoundedliketheword"urgent."DerekreceivedaninterpretationfromGod,thesenseofwhichwasthattheurgencyhadtodowiththesafetyof

the family but that "none shall be lost or scattered." The twowere somewhatalarmedbuttookcomfortinthepromiseofGodandwentonwiththeirday.

ThatafternoonanAustralianpolicemanfromthePalestinePoliceForcevisitedthehouse.HeaskedabouttheaddressofanAustralianladywhowasconnectedto The Salvation Army, and rather than give out the lady's address in suchtroubledtimes,DerekandLydiasentoneofthegirlstoseeifthewomancoulddropby.Whentheladyarrived,thefourhadprayertogether,andthepoliceman-whohadbeenamemberofTheSalvationArmybuthadfallenaway-dedicatedhislifetohisfaithagain.Whentheyresumedpraying,DerekfeltthatGodwasplacingaScriptureverseintohismind:"Ihavedeliveredtheefromthesnareofthefowler"-wordsfromPsalm91:3.

Just as the prayer meeting ended, Johanne burst into the room, pale andtrembling.

WhileDerekandLydiahadbeenprayingthatafternoon,Johannewasmakingher way home from her music lessons. She had been delayed and quicklyrealizeditwasalreadygettingdark.Assheapproachedthehouse,shenoticedatruckfilledwithsoldiersof theArabLegion.Thiswasunusual,butevenmoreunusualwasthattheArabboywholivedonthelowerlevelofthePrince'shousewas talking to theman in charge of the soldiers. Sensingdanger, Johanne ranaroundtothebackofthehouseandwentuptothesecondfloor.Atthefrontofthehouseonthisfloorwasaverandawithalow,stonewall.Bycrawlingonherhandsandknees,shecouldworkherwaytothefrontedgeoftheverandawhereshewouldbejustabovetheheadsoftheboyandthelegionnaire.

Johanne was frightened by what she heard. The boy was giving thecommanderdetailsaboutthePrincefamily:wholivedinthehouse,howmanywere there, howmanyweregirls, andwhat kindof things thePrinces owned.Then the legionnaire asked about the patrols in the area. Routinely, a patrolwouldincludeoneBritishsoldier,oneJewishsoldier,andanArablegionnaire.Theydidn'tdomuchgood,buttheydidpreventthelessercrimesandtheymightserve aswitnesses.The boy said that the patrols ended atmidnight, and therewouldbenosecurityontheroadthereafter.Promisingtoreturn,thelegionnairesdroveaway.

ItwasjustasDerek,Lydia,thepoliceman,andtheAustralianSalvationArmyladywerefinishingtheirprayertime-theoneinwhichDereksensedthewords"Ihave delivered thee from the snare of the fowler"that Johanne burst into theroom and told her tale. Everyone was immediately alarmed. Knowing howenraged the Arabs had become and how Jews had been assaulted and evenmurdered in their homes, thePrinces knew theywere in danger. Immediately,the policeman escorted theAustralian ladyhome and thenwent to the nearestpolicestationtoaskforhelp.Hereturneddejected.Thepolicecouldsendlittlemorethanasmallpatrol,andthatwoulddonogoodagainstanentiretruckloadoflegionnaires.

NowDerekandLydiaknewtheywereindiretrouble.Itwasverylikelythatthe truckloadofArab soldierswould return that night to rape the Jewishgirlsandpillagethehouse.Butwhatcouldtheydo?Therewerefewoptions.Withalargelyabandonedneighborhoodallaboutthemandnosecurityforcestocountontheyhadonlyonechoice:leavetheirhomeandtheirpossessionsforsafety-anddoitimmediately.

Eventsbegantomoveatablurringspeed.Lydiahastilypreparedameal.Shecouldnotknowwhenherfamilymighteatagain.Derektoldthegirlstheyhadtoleave and then instructed them to pack their Bibles andwhat few things theyneededintheirpillowcases.Theoldergirlshelpedtheyounger,andintwohoursthefamilywasreadytogo.AsDerekpacked,hewasthankfulfortwoblessings.First,hewasgratefulthattheAustralianpolicemanhadagreedtostaywiththemuntil theyweresafe.Dereksensedthathewouldbeinvaluable.Second,Derekwasthankfulforwhathadseemedatragedyafewdaysbeforebutnowseemedablessing. The family's beloved dog, Toby, had been run over by a truck andkilled.Derekthoughttohimselfthathadthedognotdied,hewouldnowhavetobeabandoned,onlyaddingtothegirls'distress.

Atnineo'clock, the sadprocessionbegan. Into thedark, deserted streets thePrincesmarchedinaquietsinglefile.Lydialedtheway,withDerekbringingupthe rearand thepolicemanhelping tocarry thesmallerchildren.Thesoundofriflefireoccasionallysplitthenightsilence.Therewasnowayofknowingifasniperhadhissighttrainedonthem.Astheywalked,Derekcouldhearafewofthe girls sniffing back tears, and he wondered if they wept for what was left

behindorfortheunknownthatlayahead.

The trudging band made their way through the blackened emptiness ofJerusalem. Derek and Lydia had decided to seek help at an AmericanAssembliesofGodmission in thecenterof Jerusalem.Theyknew theywouldfindhelpthere,butfirsttheyhadtoentertheBritishsecurityzone.Thiswouldtake somedoingbecause noneof themhad the proper passes.Thankfully, thepoliceman could go in, and he left immediately to meet with the Britishcommander.Whilethefamilywaited,thesentrytookpityonLydiaandofferedher and the two youngest children his seat behind the sandbaggedwall of theguardhouse.

TheironyofthemomentmusthavecrossedDerek'smind.TherehestoodwithhisDanishwifeandhisArab,Jewish,andBritishchildrenapplyingforentranceintothecompoundofhisowncountry.HehadjustlefttheBritisharmytheyearbefore, but now he had to stand outside by a sentry post waiting for anAustraliantogainhimaccesstohisowncountry'sprotection.

Finally, the policeman returned, having gained permission for the family toenter.Theypassed through the barbedwire barricade and continueddown thestillstreetstothedooroftheAmericanmission.Theirwelcomewaswarm.Abitoffoodwasprepared.Mattresseswerespreadabout thefloor,andthechildrenwereputtobed,wearyfromtheirnight'sadventure.Beforetheyslept,DerekandLydiathankedGodthatHehadseenthemtosafetyandaffirmedinprayertheirconfidencethattheirliveswereinHishands.

Word of the Prince's plight spread quickly in the neighborhood surroundingthemission, particularly among theArabs. The nextmorning, a leader of theChristianArabs brought amessage from theMuslim forces stating that if theJewishgirlsremainedinthemissiontheywouldburnthewholehousedown.Itwasnoidlethreat.TheAmericanmissionariessaidtheywouldbehappytokeepDerek,Lydia,andthenon-Jewishchildren,butthattheotherswouldhavetogo.But thiswouldneverdo:DerekandLydiawouldnever split their family.Thesearchforanewhomebegan.

Severaldayslater,DerekfoundaplaceforhisfamilyataBritishmissionontheedgeofoneofthepurelyJewishareasofJerusalem,nearwhatwouldlaterbe

knownas theMendelbaumGate.The familywould be safe fromattack there,buttheywouldalsohaveafront-rowseatforthebattlesthentearingatthesoulofJerusalem.Justbeyondthemissionwasa"noman'sland,"ahousingareathathadbeenvacatedduetothefightingbutwhichatnightbecamethebattlefieldofopposing bands. As soon as darkness fell, the sound of gunfire and bombseruptedfromthefieldsjustoutsidethewallofthemission.Whentheshootingbegan,thefamilyimmediatelygatheredintooneoftheinteriorroomsthatweresafefromshrapnelandstraybullets.DerekandLydialedthegirlsinsingingandgames to keep their minds from the unnerving concussion of the battle justoutsidetheirhome.ItwasinthismannerthatthePrincefamilypassedChristmasof1947andintothenewyearof1948.

Inmid-January,DerekreceivedwordthattheAssembliesofGodmissionarieswhohadhelpedthemonthatfirsthorriblenightwerereturningtoAmerica.TheArabswhothreatenedthehousebeforehadbeendrivenfromtheareabyJewishforces, and themissionaries thought their homewould now be perfect for thePrince family.Derekwasgrateful forGod'sprovision.Their newhomewas alarge, sturdy affair in a section of Jerusalem called Shemaria. Its strategiclocation-onthesoutheastcornerofamainintersectionbetweenGeorgeAvenueandastreetleadingeastwardtotheJaffaGateoftheOldCity-placedthePrincefamilyatthecenteroftheeventsthatwerejustbeginningtocapturetheattentionoftheworld.

Derek,Lydia, and thegirlsnowenteredaphaseof their lives thatwouldbeunlikeanyother.TheywerelivingattheheartofJerusalem,whichwasinturnattheheartofawarforthebirthofanation.Armiesruledtheland,rovingbandsruled the neighborhoods, and snipers ruled the streets. Towalk upright by anopenwindowmightmeaninstantdeath.Thesimpleactofvisitinganearbyshopmeantnotonlynavigatinganever-convolutedsystemofcheckpointsbutalsothepossibility of being shot for taking a wrong turn. Nights were filled with theground-shakingthudofexplosionsandtheever-presentcrackofriflefire.Evenchildrenlearnedtoknowthevoiceofbattle,toknowwhatarmywasfiringandatwhatdistancebytheangrysoundsthatfilledthecity.

TheBritisharmytriedtointerveneinthemountingviolencebetweenArabandJew but to little avail. England had already announced her intention to leave

Palestine,andJewishguerrillaforcesliketheIrgunandtheSternGangharassedBritish troopswithbombingsandassassinations tohasten theday.TheBritishsoldierwasweary, and theBritish resolvewas drained. Perhaps as important,British sympathieswere strongly pro-Arab, a legacy of T. E. Lawrence-betterknowntodayasLawrenceofArabia-thepoliticsofoilandacenturies-oldstreamofanti-Semitism.Englanddidlittletostoptheoncomingbloodbath.

BytheendofMarch,theArabshadcompletelycutoffthevitalroadfromTel-Aviv to Jerusalem, the home of one-sixth of Palestine's Jews. Food becamedesperatelyscarce,andfearofstarvationdrovemanytopanic.Anyediblescrapwasbarteredatexorbitantprices,andhomesrumoredtocontainhiddenrationswere ransacked. Women tried to grow vegetables in flowerpots. By March,JewishleadersestimatedthatinallofJerusalemtherewasonlyenoughfoodtogiveeachresidentjustsixslicesofbread.

At theAmericanmission in theheartof thecity,DerekandLydiakept theireyesontheGodwhohadseenthemthroughsomanycrises.Theyprayed,theyencouragedthegirls,andtheywaitedforthenextactoftheirmercifulGod.Inthemeantime, Lydia grew so concerned about food she once tried to catch adove that frequented the backyard using a string, a stick, and a shoebox.Thankfully,Godhadsomethingbetterinmind.OnedayDerekwasrummagingthroughthebasementwhenhehappeneduponalargelocker.Curiousastowhatsuchamassiveobjectmightcontain,heopened the lid to find that lockerwasfilledwithfood,certainlyenoughtofeedhisfamilyformonths!ApparentlytheAmericanmissionaries had filled the locker against a day of trouble and thenforgottentomentionitwhentheyleft.DerekandLydiaknewthat,onceagain,theirGodhadshownHimselffaithful.

The crisis of food resolved, thePrince homeonce again became a center ofministrydespitethewarthatragedjustoutsidetheirwalls.Latethatspring,twoRussianwomennamedIrenaandSarahappearedatthePrince'sfrontdoorwithanamazingstorytotell.TheyhadleftRussiaafterthewarandcomebyshiptoPalestinetoliveinthelandoftheirfaith.Whentheyarrived,though,theyfoundthat theJewswerecruel to thembecause theywereRussian.Theygrewangryanddepressedandhadagreedtocommitsuicidetogetheronadesignatednight.Astheypreparedtodieonthechosennight,aRussianBaptistpastorknockedat

thedoor,toldthemGodhadsenthim,andthenspenttheeveningtellingthemofJesus,theMessiah.Bothwomenbelieved.

Notlongafter,thewomenheardthevoiceofthisJesustellingthemtofindMr.Prince.TheymadetheirwaytotheAmericanmissionhouseand,throughpoorEnglish,triedtoexplainhowtheyneededhelp.Fortunately,Derek'samazinggiftfor languages had allowed him to absorb enoughRussian to talk to them.HegavethemaRussianBibleandexplainedthebaptismoftheHolySpirit.Whenheprayedforthem,theybothreceivedthebaptismoftheHolySpiritandspokein other tongues.Derekwould always recall that one of them sangher prayerlanguageintonesthatremindedhimofBach.

Word spread that miracles happened when the Princes prayed, and peoplecamefrommilesforhelpofeverykind.AknockatthedoormightbeanArabmaidseekingprayerorabacksliddenBritishsoldierseekingreturntohisfaith.Ononeoccasion,theknockcamefromaJewishsoldieroftheHaganahnamedPhineas.Hewas polite andgracious, but hewanted to know if he could havepermission to put a cannon in the family's back yard. Derek giggled at therequest.Herealizedthattheirhousewassostrategicallylocatedthatitwastheperfect location for aHaganahoutpost.Knowing that if he refused the Jewishauthoritieswouldcommandeerthehouseanyway,Derekagreed.

Now, in addition to all the other people who came to them for prayer orcounsel,DerekandLydiahadsoldiersoftheHaganahvirtuallylivingwiththem.This onlymeantmore opportunity to shareGod's truth, a fact not lost on theyoungergirls.Severalof themdecidedtoplay"church" in thebackyardwherethesoldiersstoodwatch.AtthetopoftheirvoicestheysanghymnsinHebrew,and thenoneof them,usuallyKirsten,wouldmountawoodenboxandpoundout the gospel in unmistakable terms. The soldierswere amused but-probablybecause they were interested more in the older girls than they were in thepreachingofaten-year-old-theylistened.

DerekandLydiaalsolistenedtotheseyoungsoldiers.ForquitesometimethePrince family had been praying about the plight of the Jewish people inPalestine.TheyremindedGodofHispromises,thatHewouldextendHismercyonZionandthatHewouldgatherHispeople"fromtheendsoftheearth."One

day,while the familywas interceding,Lydiasuddenlyprayed,"Lord,paralyzetheArabs!"Derekechoedthecry,andthetwousedthewordscontinuallyoverthefollowingweeksinprayingforaJewishvictory.

Some time later,duringaceasefire, theyoungHaganahsoldiersvisitedwithDerekandLydiaintheirlivingroomandbegansharingtheirexperiencesintherecent fighting. "There's somethingwecan'tunderstand,"oneyoungmansaid."WegointoanareawheretheArabsare.Theyoutnumberustentooneandaremuch better armed than we are. Yet, at times, they seem powerless to doanything against us. It's as if they are paralyzed."When the soldier used thesamewordsthatDerekandLydiahadbeenpraying,thefamilyfeltthatGodwashearingtheirprayers,thattheywereplayingarolethroughintercessioninGod'swillforIsrael.

Despitesuchspiritualvictories,Jerusalemwasincreasinglyadangerousplacetobe.Thefamilybegan tosense thatGodwas telling themto leave.Thiswaseasier said than done. With the British abandoning Palestine and with thecertaintyofviolenceonceIsraelannounceditsbirthonMay14,manythousandshoped togetoutof thecountry.Yet towhomshould they turn?Theonly realgovernmentintheregionwasabouttodepart,andneithertheArabsnortheJewshadsufficientstrengthtofillthevacuum.

EarlyinMay,Tikvafoundawayforatleastsomeofthegirlstomakeitoutofthe country. She learned that the Anglican Church was offering passage toEngland for anyHebrewChristianswhomight experience persecution if theyremained in Palestine. Tikva knew this meant her. Jerusalem had become adifficultplaceforaprettyHebrewChristiangirlwithEuropeanparentsandanArabsister.Tikvahadexperiencedconstantharassmentandquestioningandhadnearly been beaten and raped on more than one occasion.When she learnedtherewasawayout, shewent toLydiaand said, "Mummy, I'vehad it.Can Igo?"Lydiatoldhershecouldifshewouldtakehersisters,andonthenextdayTikva applied for Ruhammah, Peninah, and Johanne to accompany her toEngland.Andpermissioncame.

ThemorningofMay7, 1948,witnessed aheartbreaking scene in thePrincehome.Thefourgirlsleavingtheonlyhomelandtheyhadeverknownstoodina

circleastherestofthefamilytearfullyprayedthatGodwouldwatchoverthem.Then,afterdesperatehugsandlingeringkisses,thegirlsclimbedintothecargoholds of military trucks. Soldiers pulled canvas covers tightly over metalsupportssothatthegirlscouldnotbeseenfromthestreetanddroveofftowardtheportofHaifa.YoungKirsten,cryinguncontrollably, ran through thehousefromwindowtowindowtryingdesperatelytokeepinviewthetrucksthatborehersisters.Buttheyweregone,andwhenKirstencouldseethemnomore,shecollapsedintearsonthefloor,convincedshewouldneverseehersistersagain.

ThefourgirlsmadeitsafelytoHaifaandthenboardedatroopshipcalledTheGeorgic thatwasboundforLiverpool.Theywerealone, theywereawayfromhomeforthefirsttimeintheirlives,andtheyweregoingtoacountrytheyknewlittle about. They were also aboard a ship for the first time, and they soonlearned the agonies of seasickness. For ten days, they steamed across theMediterranean,aroundthecoastofPortugal,norththroughtheAtlantic,andintoLiverpool through the Irish Sea. They sensed that whatever England held forthem,theirliveswouldneveragainbethesame.

OnMay 14, a British officer knocked at the Prince's door and said, "We'removing out. Tomorrow you'll be under the Jews." Derek sensed the historicimportanceof thewords, but hehadno ideawhatpractical import theymighthave for his family. Later that day, he climbed to the roof of their home andlookedoutonJerusalem.Israelisnowanation,hethoughttohimself.Hekeptrollingthewordsoverinhismind.Theywerehardtobelieve.NotsinceA.D.70hadIsraelbeenanationofitsown,andnow,withthestrokeofapen,theBritishwere leavingandthemodernstateofIsraelwasborn.AndIamhere tosee it,Derekthoughttohimself.Whatanhonortowitnessthismoment.Henotedthedate:thefifthdayofthemonthofIyarintheyear5708oftheHebrewcalendar.

EachdayDerekwouldclimbtotheroofofhishousetolookoutuponthecityofJerusalem.HelistenedtothequietwhentheUNimposedaceasefireuntilthesixthofJune.Hewatchedthefightingwhenthatceasefireended.Hehadalreadyseen the Jewish community in the Old City leave under protection of Britishsoldiers.Andhewepttothinkofthedaysofviolenceahead.

Thehardshipsthefamilyenduredinthefollowingweeksarebestcapturedby

Lydia's ownwords. From the time she had first come to Palestine, Lydia hadmaintained a missionary's correspondence with her supporters at home. Inhandwritten letters, she told of her victories, her struggles, and her needs. Intime, these informal letters evolved into typewritten sheets that weremimeographedformailingtosupportersallovertheworld:tofamilymembers,to soldiers who had met her in Ramallah and then returned home, and tochurchesthatsharedhervisionforIsraelandorphans.Inoneofher1948letters,shedescribedwhatthefamilyexperiencedafterMay14.

AftertheBritishleft,openwarfarebrokeout.TheJewsgainedcontrolofalmostthewholeofJerusalemoutsidetheOldCitywalls,andalsoovermanyotherdistrictsofPalestine.Butthemainsupplyroadleadingto Jerusalem fromHaifa and Tel-Aviv remained in the hands of theArabs;andsoitwasnotlongbeforethefoodshortagebecamecritical.Our water supply also was cut off and the small quantity of waterremaining in the city was very strictly rationed. On top of this, theArabsfromtheirpositionsall roundJerusalembegan toshell thecityday andnight. For nearly amonthwe all had to live together in onebasementroom,whichhadpreviouslyservedasourwash-house.

This shelling by theArabLegion announced itself to the Prince family in astartlingmanner.OnMay17,inthemiddleoftheafternoon,ashelllandedjustafewyards to thesouthof theirhomeandexploded.A large fragment fromtheshellflewthroughanupstairswindowofthePrincehomewheretwoofthegirlswere playing. The jagged piece of metal passed right between the girls andembedded itself in a wall opposite the window. When Derek examined thefragment,hediscoveredthat theshellhadbeenmanufacturedinEngland.Thathis daughterswere almost killed by a bombmanufactured in his own countryandemployedinviolationoftheUnitedNation'sdecreesenthimintoafury.

On June11,Derekwrote a letter entitled "AnOpenLetter fromJerusalem,"which described the suffering in Jerusalem, the dangers his own family hadpassed,and thehypocrisyofBritishpolicies in the region.Hisconclusionwaspointed and angry. He charged the British government with prolonging thefighting, with frustrating the establishment of a Jewish state, and withsponsoring theArab shellingof Jerusalem. "In closing,"he thundered, "letmegiveutterancetotwoquestionsthatnowformthemselvesdailyinmymind:Do

thepeopleofBritainknowwhatisbeingdoneintheirnameinPalestine?Ifso,aretheysatisfiedaboutit?"

It was a rare moment of political passion. Throughout Derek's life he hadmaintained a studied distance from governments and politicians.Yetwhen hesaw his own country supporting the enemies of Israel and contributing to thedeaths of so many, he could remain silent no more. By favoring the Arabs,BritainhadbetrayedtheJews,betrayedtheUN,andbetrayedherowncitizens,hebelieved.Hefearedforhisnative land.Hebegan tobelieve that ifEnglanddid not repent of her treatment of the Jews, she would lose her empire and,worse, lose theblessingofGod. Itwasabelief thatwould shapehis theologyandhisministryfortherestofhisdays.

Thepressingneednow,though,wastogethisfamilyoutofIsrael.Hebegantolookforhelp.He'dheardthattheheadmanfortheBritishremaininginIsraelwas aCanadian and that hemight help.When he arrived at theman's office,though, therewasa long lineofpeoplehoping to leave thecountry.For somereason,Derekbypassedthelineandwalkedintotheman'soffice.AsaCanadian,theofficialwasputoffbywhathesawasDerek'sBritisharroganceinpushingpasttheotherswhowerewaiting.Afterchastisinghimforjumpingaheadoftheline,themantoldhimheneededtotalktothemilitarygovernor.

Derek's task now seemed overwhelming. How does one find the militarygovernorofabesiegedcityinthemiddleofawar?Forhourshesearcheduntilfinallysomesoldierstoldhimwherethemanwashiding.Derekmadehiswaytotheman'shideout,and,speakingHebrew,heaskedforhelp.ThemantoldhimthatthenextdaytherewasaconvoyleavingfromtheKingDavidHotel,butthathewouldhavetotalktotheUNofficialsaboutit.

Wearily, Derek made his way to the UN headquarters. His mastery oflanguages now served him well, though. The man in charge was a Swedishcolonel, andDerek told him in Swedish that hewas in Israelworkingwith aSwedish mission. This was true. Lydia's primary financial support had longcomefromalargeSwedishchurch,andthisiswhythehomewasknownas"theSwedishmission."Oncethecolonelheardthatthemissionwasconnectedtohishomeland,hewasdelightedtohelp.HetoldDerektohavehisfamilyattheKing

DavidHotelearlythenextmorning.

Derek returned home quickly. He told the family to prepare to leave. Onceagain,thePrincefamilywouldleaveallbehind.Thistime,theywerehappytheywere going. Lydia sold the remaining food on the street to pay their fare toEngland, and once again the girls packed what few belongings they had intopillowcasestoprepareforthejourneyahead.Thefamilysleptfitfullythatnight.At five the nextmorning, they arrived at theKingDavidHotel. The Swedishcolonelmetthemandloadedthemontothetruckthatwouldtakethemoutofthecity.Thus,DerekandLydiaPrince,alongwiththeirfourgirls,departedonthelasttruckofthelastBritishconvoytoleaveJerusaleminthesummerof1948.

As their truckbouncedalong the road toHaifa,youngKirsten remindedhermother that this was what she had seen in a vision. Lydia remembered. ThefamilyhadbeenatprayersomeweeksbeforewhenKirstenhadseenavisionofa lightat theendofapassageway.Therewasagate,and twofigures inwhitecameandopened thegate.Kirsten jumpedupduring theprayer timeandsaid,"Mummy,Mummy,I'mgoingtoEngland."Lydiawassurprised:"Whydoyousaythis?""BecauseIsawitinavision,"Kirstenreplied,withtheconfidenceofachildrearedonthesupernatural.NowinthetruckenroutetoEngland,Derek,Lydia,andthegirlsthankedtheirGodthatthevisionhadbecomereality.

ThoughthePrincefamilywouldbesafelyinEnglandwhileitlasted,thewarfor the birth of Israel continued until February 1949. It was one of the mostunusualconflicts inworldhistory.SeekingtodrivethenewbornIsrael intotheseawere ten thousandLebanesesoldiers, sixty thousandSyriansoldiers, forty-fivethousandIraqisoldiers,morethanfiftythousandEgyptiansoldiers,andoverninety thousand Transjordanian soldiers. Israel's troops never numbered morethan thirty-five thousand.Yetwhen theceasefireagreementswere signedwitheachoftheArabcountries,Israelwasabletodrawitsownborders.Shehadwonandagainstallodds.Shewouldhaveaplaceamongthenations.AndDerekandLydiaalongwiththeirgirlshadbeenpresentatthecreation.

8

LondontoVancouver:TheDayofSmallBeginnings

DON'TUNDERSTAND."

"Iknowyoudon't.Youareofadifferentgeneration."

"Youmeanthatyouhadnodrivingpassion,nodreamforthefuture?"

"Ihadapassion,butitwastoservetheLord.Yousee,wethoughtdifferentlythen.WewantedtoknowtheLordandliveinHisways.Webelievedthefuturewouldunfoldthroughamoment-by-momentobedience."

"So,youhadnoambition,noburningsenseofdestiny?"

"IcanhonestlysayIhadatotallackofambition.Idon'tmeantosayIhadnohopeorspiritualpassion.Isimplyhadnoambition.Asfordestiny,Ithinkthatword is oftenused today as a substitute for kingdombuildingor thedrive forpower."

"Butdon'tyoubelievethatmenaremadeforapurpose?"

"Yes, but that purpose is to know the Lord. The meaning of life is arelationship.ThefuturecomesfrompursuingHim,notpursuingthefuture."

"You realize, don't you, that the idea of destiny and of a promised future isverymuchtherageinChristiancirclestoday?"

"I do. I remember reading a major Christian magazine and seeingadvertisements about dynamicmenandprophetic conferences and seminars to

know your destiny. It felt like prostitution tome. I felt as though I needed ashowerwhenIwasfinished."

"So,itwasdifferentinyourday."

"Well, I did not havemuch contactwith the organized church until I got toLondon,butIcansaythis:thehopeofmyheartwastoknowtheLordanddoHiswill.Thefuture,Ibelieved,wasHistofashionthroughmyobedience."

When the Prince family left Israel in 1948, they fled to an England in crisis.Britainhadwonthewarbutwaswellonthewayto losingthepeace.Itwasaheartbreakingreality,forthesacrificesoftheBritishpeopleduringthewaryearshadbeendear.MorethanfourhundredthousandBritishsoldiershadbeenlostinbattle,andanothersixtythousandcivilianshaddiedfromtheGermanbombingof their land. Indeed, enemy air attacks had left more than a million homesdamagedordestroyedandmorethanfourbilliondollarsworthofdestructioninLondonalone.

TheEnglishpeoplewerevaliant,though,andtooktheirlossesinstride.Theywelcomedhometheirsoldiers,hauledawaytheirrubble,andbegantobuildanEngland equal to their sacrifices. Tragically, the times soon demanded evenmore.WhenDerekandLydialandedinLondononAugust12,1948,thecountrywas suffering from a horrible economic depression. Prices were steep,unemployment was high, and despair filled the land. The government was incrisis.Foodandgasolinewererationedjustastheyhadbeenduringthewar,andthecoal,rail,andhealthindustrieshadjustbeennationalized.Longlines,emptyshelves,mountingpoverty,andnationalfrustrationbecamethelotoftheEnglishpeople.

This swirlingmiserymade thingsdifficult forDerekandhis family.Thoughtheywere thankful to be safely out of Israel, theyquickly found that the verythingstheyneeded-housing,food,andjobs-wereinfearfullyshortsupply.Theywere also stunned by the confusing unfamiliarity of English culture: the oddcustoms,thestrangefoods,thedifficultdialects.

Thefirstmonthswerepainful.ThefirstfourgirlshadarrivedonMay17andwere immediately separated. Some stayedwithDerek's father, and someweresenttothefamiliesofmenDerekandLydiahadknownduringthewar.Thisdidnotalwaysworkoutwell.Thegirlswereoftenworkedlikemaids.Somefoundtheirlodgingsfarbelowwhattheyhadknownbeforeintheirlives.Johanne,forexample,was sent to staywith a railway stationmaster inLoughborough.Theman'shousewasrightontheplatformofthestationandshookwhenthetrainswentby.Therewasnotoiletandnoindoorplumbing.Onetookabathbysittinginabigtubinfrontofthefireplace.

EvenwhenDerek,Lydia,andtheotherfourgirlsarrivedinAugust,itwasstillimpossibleforthefamilytolivetogether.Therewassimplynowhereforallofthemtostay.Lifebecameanunsettlingmatteroflivingwithfriendsandlookingforahome.Whentheirsearchforaplaceof theirownyieldednothing,Derekdecided to exercisehis academicprivileges as aFellowofKing'sCollege andtooka roomatCambridge.While there,he tookcourses inbiblicalHebrew topreparehimselfforfulfillingthedreamofagainpreachingChristinIsrael.LydiastayedinLondonwiththesmallestgirlstocontinuethesearch.Shewouldspendseveral months moving from the back rooms of friends' homes to smallapartmentsandthenbackintothehomesoffriendsagain.Sheevenlivedforatime in an unheated garage. It is not hard to imagine that her firstmonths inEnglandremindedherofherfirstweeksinPalestineallthoseyearsbefore.

Despite the frustrations, there is a sweet image that emerges from this time.LydiaandsomeofthegirlstookthetraintovisitDerekatCambridgeandspentapleasantafternoonstrolling thegroundsatKing's.Thegirlswereamazedbythelush,greengrassthatstretchedoutlikeacarpetbeforetheornatebuildings.Itwasalltootempting.Severalofthemwalkedoutontothemanicuredlawntoseewhatitwaslike.Theywereusedtothebeige,rockygroundofIsrael.Thispatchofdeepgreenseemedlikeapieceofheaven.Justastheywererevelinginthebeauty,agroundskeeper lookedup toseedark-complexionedgirlswalkingonhislawnandangrilyorderedthemtogetoff.ThenhesawDerek,astriking,authoritativefigureinhisgownandmortarboard.Thegroundskeeperapologizedandleftthegirlstotheirjoy.TotasteofDerek'srankandprotectionmusthavebeenahealingexperienceindeedforLydiaandhergirls,whomusthavefeltlikeunwantedrefugeesallthemonthstheyhadbeeninEngland.

By March of 1949, the family still did not have a place to live. Derek'sfrustrationwasmounting.Inhisnewsletterofthatmonth,hewrote,"SinceIlastwrote,mywifeandIhavecontinuedtosearchforasuitablehomeforourlarge`family.'MywifehasatlastobtainedasmallapartmentoftworoomsinLondon,andsheisnowlivingtherewiththethreeyoungestchildren.Weare,however,continuingtosearchforsomethinglarger,whichwillprovideagatheringplaceforthewholefamily.Wefeelthat ifwecanestablishacenterinLondonfromwhich to work, the Lord will open a door for us amongst the large Jewishpopulationthere."

Finally,byAugust1949,Lydiawasable toreport,"GodhasnowgivenusagoodhouseinthecenterofLondon;andpraiseHisname,initwefound`alargeupper room furnished."' (SeeLuke22:12.)Her joy is understandable.Shehadfound a three-story apartment that with rent controls would cost only threepoundsaweek.Theycouldjustmanageit.NotonlydidDerekhavehisstipendfromKing'sCollege,butalsoLydiahadmadeaquicktriptoalargeAssembliesof God church in Copenhagen, which had agreed to support them asmissionaries.Moneywouldbenoobstacle.TheapartmentwasinthecenterofLondon,notfarfromHydePark,andofferedmorespacethantheyneeded.Whatwasmore,asLydiasaid, the topfloorwasfurnishedandjust thesize toallowlargegatherings.Lateinthesummerof1949,thePrincefamilymovedintotheirnewhomeat77WestbourneGrove.

Oncethechildrenweregatheredfromaroundthecountry,thefamilythankedGodforHismercyandsettled into theirnewlives.Therewereroomstocleanand furniture to buy. Lydia and the older girls had to learn to cook theprepackagedfoodoftheLondonshops,afarcryfromtheraw,simplefoodsofRamallah. Each day had its routine. The older girls rose first to prepare thefamilybreakfast.Lydiausuallystayedinbedandwaitedforhermorningmealtoappear,aluxuryshehadlearnedtoenjoyaftercomingtoEngland.Derekwouldroutinely rise,bathe, and thenkneel at a chairwith ablanketoverhishead tocommunewithhisGod.Whenhefinished,hestudiedScripture,dealtwith thefamilycorrespondence,andjoinedinthecleaning.Itwasnotuncommonforhimtodon an apron andwashdishesor scrub theninety-five stairs that led to theapartment. The girls learned to avoid sharing duties with Derek since histhoroughnessineverytaskmadetheirworktaketwicetheusualtime.

Whiletheoldergirlswenttoschool,therewasmoreworktodoforthosewhowere left behind. Someone had to do the shopping at the nearby PortobelloMarket. Lydia,who loved sweets,would also send one of the girls across thestreettothepatisserieforwhatcametobeknownasher"morningsweet."Therewerebillstopay,Biblestudiestoprepare,andnewsletterstowrite,mimeograph,andmail.Asthedayprogressed,DerekandLydiawouldpraytogetherandtakelong walks at nearby Hyde Park to discuss God's purpose for their strategiclocation in thismost strategic city of theworld.Eveningwould bring its ownbusyness.Whentheoldergirlsreturnedfromschool,thereweremealstocook,homework to do, and children to hurry off to bed. Inmanyways, the Princeslooked like anyotherLondon family.Thisverynormal looking routinewouldnotlastlong,though.

Itwassoonafter thefamilysettledinto theirWestbournelives that thepathoftheir futureministrymade itselfknown.OnefallSundayafternoon,DerekandLydiawereenjoyingalong,conversationalwalkinHydeParkwhentheynearedthe famous Speakers' Corner. Since 1872, this section of the park had beendevotedtothecelebrationoffreespeech,allowinganyonetosoundforthonanysubject he desired. It was not uncommon, then, for passersby to witness animpassioned speaker addressing a raucous audience with the London policestandingnearby.DerekandLydiahadpassedSpeakers'Cornermany timesontheirwalksandhadbeguntobarelynoticethealmostdailycommotionthere.

ThisparticularSundayafternoonwasdifferent,though.Asthetwopassedthenotorioussite,theynoticedthatayounggirlwastryingtoaddressthegatheredcrowd.Shewashavingadifficulttime.Whileshespoke,menpulledatherhairandshoutedobscenities.Thecrowdlaughedandurgedthemenon.Thegirlwasresolute,though,andcontinuedproclaiminghermessagedespitetheabuse.Thepeople were too distracted by the antics of the men to listen, but Derek andLydiadrewclosertohearwhatshewassaying.

Thegirlpressedonwithhermessagewhilethemenbecameincreasinglyrudeanddisruptive.Finally,Dereksteppedforwardtostandthemendown,andwhen

hedid,he realized that thegirlbravelypreaching to thisunhearingcrowdwashis own daughter, Ruhammah. In broken English, she was trying to tell thecrowd that theywere all "selfish-ed" and that their souls were in peril. Tearsfilled Derek's eyes as hemoved to his daughter and tenderly asked her if hecouldspeak.Ruhammahwassurelyrelievedbothtoseeherparentsandtohavesomeonetakeherplacebeforethethreateningcrowd.

Derekbegantospeak,andthecrowdgrewquiet.ImmediatelytheyrecognizedtheCambridgediction.Theyrealizedthiswasalearnedman.DerekrebukedthegatheringfortheirtreatmentofRuhammahandthencontinuedhermessage.TheBritishpeoplewereindeedselfish,heassured,andlostintheirsins.Theyneededasavior,andGodhadprovidedone.TheyhadonlytobelieveintheworkofthisSaviortobefreefromtheevilthatfilledtheirsouls.Derekfinishedhistalkwitha prayer and offered to speakwith anyonewho had questions. Some did, andDerek stood with Lydia and Ruhammah for a while afterwards helping thosewhostayedbehindtounderstandhismessageandwhatitmeantfortheirlives.

AsDerekwalkedhomethatday,hesensedthatsomethingdeeplymeaningfulhad just happened. He was proud of Ruhammah, of course, but there wassomething more stirring in his soul. Soon it came to him. Perhaps this wassomethinghewasmeanttodo.Helaughedatthethought.MonthsbeforewhenheandLydiahadfirstpassedSpeakers'Cornerhehadcommentedtoherthathewouldneverwanttopreachthegospelinsuchanundignifiedway.Now,henotonlyhaddoneit,buthewasalsobeginningtobelievethatGodwasleadinghimto do it again. Perhaps this was why God had placed them in the heart ofLondon.PerhapsRuhammah,inherguilelessway,hadbeenGod'sinstrumenttoshowthemtheway.

A few days later, Derek returned to Speakers' Corner and preached again.Oncemore,thecrowdgrewquiet,listened,andthenbowedtheirheadsasDerekfinishedinprayer.Oncemore,somelingeredafterwardforprayerandcounsel.AsDerekwalkedthesixteenminutesfromthefamouscornernearMarbleArchtohis homeonWestbourneGrove, hewas sure thatGodwas tellinghim thiswastheway.Aslaughableasitwas,thiswasGod'schosenmethod:toreachthecityofLondonbysendingaCambridgedontopreachthegospelfromthecornerofacitypark.DerekknewhisGoddelightedindoingtheunusual.Hisjobwas

tosimplyobey.

Andsoitbegan.Eachweek-onWednesday,Saturday,andSundayDerekspenttime in prayer and then walked to Speakers' Corner to join the crowd. Lydiaoftenwentwith him, alongwith some of the girls or a few believing friends.Whenhefeltthemomentwasright,hesteppedforwardandbeganspeaking.Histhemesweresalvation,healing,andthebaptismoftheHolySpirit.Often,hetoldstoriesofpeoplewhoseliveshadbeenchangedbybelievinginJesusorwhosebodies had been healed through prayer. He sometimes gave his own amazingtestimonyandcalledotherstofollowJesusashedid.Whilehespoke,Lydiaandthosewith her prayed, sometimes fanning out into the crowd to intercede forpeople they sensed were particular targets of God's grace that day. As wasDerek's habit, he closed in prayer and offered to speakwith anyonewhowaswilling. Somewere saved, somewere healed, and somewere baptized in theHolySpirit.

Somemonthsalonginthisunusualwork,DerektookstockofhisministryinHydePark.HewasthrilledwithwhatGodwasdoing:hundredswerehearingthegospel,andmanywere turningtoChrist. Itwasamoreeffectiveworkthanhehaddared todream.But therewas somethingmissing, andDerekquickly sawwhatitwas:thepeoplehewasleadingtoJesusneededtobetaughtandnurturedin the things ofGod.He thought aboutwhat to do.He soon realized that thesmall gathering of believers who met in his home on Sunday mornings-hisfamilyandafewChristianfriends-wereprobablyintendedtobethebeginningsofachurch.HethoughthesawtheplanofGod.HewouldpreachatSpeakers'Cornerandtheninvitepeopletothemeetinginhisupperroom.Heretheycouldbetaughtandconnectedtootherbelievers.Thismustbetheway,hereasoned.HecouldnotsendthesenewlyconvertedlambstothedeadchurchesofLondon.SurelyGodintendedDerektobetheirshepherd.

ThenexttimeDerekpreachedinHydePark,hestressedhisusualthemes:theneedforsalvation,thevalueofthebaptismoftheHolySpirit,andthepowerofGodtoheal.Thistime,though,healsotalkedabouttheneedforbelieverstojoinwith those of like faith. Then, in an astonishing move, he invited the entirecrowd to the meeting in his home. He told them, in words he would repeatthousandsoftimes,to"takebus50or23toWestbourneGroveandlookforthe

77address."

Andpeoplecame.ByApril1950,Derektoldhisnewsletterreaders:

Aswe have gone forward in faith and in obedience ... the Lord hascontinuedtoblessus,andto`confirmhiswordwithsignsfollowing.'At first, wemet only as a family in our `upper room' every Sundaymorningandheldacommunionservicetogether.Thenwewereledouttowitnessandpreachintheopenairinthecentreofthecity.Somanycontacts were made in this way, that we felt it necessary to hold agospel meeting on Sunday evening, to which we could invite thosewhomwecontactedin thecourseof theweek.Itwasnot longbeforewewereholding fivemeetings aweek; andnow, in addition,we areseeking ways in which the capacity of our `upper room' may beincreased.

Inthesamenewsletter,Derekexulted:

Inthespaceofjustoversixmonths,weestimatethatbetweenfortyandfiftyhave sought theLord for salvation and forgivenessof sins; ninehave passed through the waters of baptism; and fifteen have beenbaptized in theHolyGhost...Here in the centre ofLondon,wemeetday by day members of every class, of every creed, of everynationality;andtherearedailyopportunitiestomakespiritualcontactsofwhichtheeffectsmayeventuallybefeltinthemostdistantcornersoftheearth.Amongstthosewhohavevisitedusinrecentmonthsandhave felt theLord's touch for spirit, soul, or body, there have been-aFrenchman; an African and his English wife; an Indian student(formerly a Hindu, now a believer in Christ); two or three coloredbrothers fromJamaica; several IrishCatholics;menandwomen fromallcornersoftheBritishisles;and-lastbutnotleast-anumberofJewishpeople.

Intime,thechurchat77WestbourneGrovegrewtoasteadyfiftysouls.ThemajoritywereJamaican,withEnglishorScots fillingout the rest.AfewwereJewishbelievers,much to thedelight ofDerek andLydia.Hundredsofotherspassed through over the yearswith some staying for a fewmonths and somenever returning again after a single visit. This may have been because the

meetings were deeply Pentecostal and proved too much for the more staidEnglish culture.Women all wore hats, and everyone addressed each other as"brother"or"sister."Eachmeetingbeganwithsinging,usuallyledbythetone-deafDerekwhileTikvaor Johanneplayed thepiano.Thecongregationwouldraise their hands in worship, shout, and sometimes break into dancing. ThenDerek would preach, and a time of ministry followed, often with peoplesprawled out on the floor "under the Spirit" or weeping uncontrollably at thetendernessofthe"Spirit'stouch."

Thosewho stayedwere often drawn by the dramaticmiracles that regularlyoccurred.TherewastheScotsmanwhoselungx-raysshowedseriousproblemsbutwhoreturnedtohisdoctorsafterDerekprayedforhimtofindhehadbeenhealed. Then there was the blind German man whose eyesight was restored.LydiawasalmostmoreamazedthataGermanwasinherhousethanshewasbythehealing.Therewasalsothedemon-possessedmanwhotriedtopushDerekoutthefifth-storywindowbeforehewassetfree,andthewomanwithagoiterthatsimplyfelloffwhenLydiaprayedforher.

There were humorous moments, too. Aman namedMr. Poole came to themeetingoneSunday.HehadheardDerekpreachaboutthebaptismoftheHolySpirit anddesperatelywanted to receive thisgiftof speaking inother tongues.Derek prayed and the man received, but he began speaking so rapidly andforcefully that his false teeth flew out of his mouth into the watchingcongregation.Onanotheroccasion,Derekwentlonginhissermonandthen,intypical preacher'smanner, said, "I'll close in aminute," before continuing histext.AhungryMagdaleneturnedtoKirstenandsaid,"Theroastwillbeburned."She said this, though,more loudly than she intended.Thewhole congregationheardanderuptedinlaughter.

Because of Derek's earnest, systematic teaching of Scripture and hiscourageousministryatSpeakers'Corner, thechurchgrewtoa respectablesizebyPentecostal standards.SoonDerekcame to theattentionofotherpastors inthe city, and this was a new experience for him. He knew that unity amongChristian leaderswas important,buthehadquickly souredon thechurchesofLondon when he saw their ineffectiveness in helping people and the haughtystyleofmanyministers.HewasparticularlydisappointedwiththePentecostals,

whomhebelievedwerelikethePhariseesofold-theyknewthetruthbutdiluteditinlegalismandpride.

Finally, aftermuch soul searching andmore than a little urging fromLydia,Derek decided to attend a meeting of the London Pentecostal ministersassociation.Hewasgreetedwarmlywhenhearrived,butthenthemeetingbeganandthetopicofdiscussionwasannounced.ThesubjectunderconsiderationwashowtoreacholdEtoniansforJesus.Oddly,Derekneveropenedhismouth,butone wonders what good might have come from these Pentecostal ministerslearningthatoneoftheirnumberwasaborn-again,Spirit-baptizedoldEtonian.

Oneof themenat themeetingwas theheadofanAssembliesofGodBibleschool.HearingthatDerekwasateacher,heaskedhimtospeaktohisstudents.Derekagreed.Later, though, theman learnedofDerek'sacademicbackgroundandwithdrewtheinvitation,citinghisbeliefthatnoeducatedpersoncouldtruly"havetheSpirit."ThiswasacommonPentecostalbeliefinthatday.Clearly,theman thought Derek was unqualified to teach in a Pentecostal Bible schoolbecausehehadstudiedatEtonandKing's.

Derek's mounting sense of holy dissatisfaction was fueled by the press ofministry, his disappointmentwith the state ofChristianity inEngland, and thegrowingawarenessthattherewasmoretohiscallingthanhehadlived.HeknewhewaswalkinginthewillofhisLord,andyethehungeredformore.HewantedtoseeEnglandreturntoherGod,andhewantedtoseethechurchesbecomethefontsoflivingwatertheyweresupposedtobe.Perhapsevenmore,despitehowmuchhelovedhisgrowinglittlechurch,hecouldnotshakethewordsGodhadgivenhimlongbeforeinIsrael:"YouwillbeateacherinthebodyofChrist."Heknew this was his life's purpose, and he could not be content until it wasfulfilled. Therewas a stirring in his soul, a hunger that never left him.Yearslater,hesaid thathefeltas thoughhewaspregnantwithapurpose thatwouldnotmakeitselfknown.

As he contemplated this unrest in his soul, he decided to give himself to aseasonofprayerandfasting.Hehadalwaysfastedonedayaweekandhadlong

taughthiscongregation that fastingwaspartof fulfilling theministryofJesus.Now, though,hesensed thatGodwascallinghimasideforadeepeningofhisinnerwell.Hetoldhisfamilywhathewasplanningandthenlockedhimselfintheupperroomeverydayfortwenty-onedaystohearfromhisLord.EachdayDerekpleadedwithGodtosendrevivaltoEngland,toawakenthechurchesoftheland,andtomakehimtheteacherhewascalledtobe.Thegirlsweretoldnottodisturbhim.Fromtimetotime,theyweresenttohimwithpitchersofjuiceorwater. He would hug them at the door of the upper room and then turn tocontinueseekinghisGod.

When he finally emerged, Derek sensed that an invisible dam had broken.When he spoke, there was greater power.When he prayed, there were moreinstantmiracles.Andinhissoul,hefeltawellingoffaith-forEngland,forhiscalling, and for the cause of the gospel worldwide-than he had ever knownbefore.Hestillfeltpregnantwithpurpose,butnowhehadfaiththathispurposewouldsoonbefulfilled.

Itwasnot longafter thisfast thatDerekbeganpreparingwith therestof theevangelical ministers in London for a long-awaited event: the Billy GrahamCrusadeof1954.He felt that thiswasananswer tohisprayers, thatGodwasreaching to a weary England through the words of the dynamic Americanevangelist.Derekthrewhimselfintothecause.Hevolunteeredfortrainingandthenvolunteeredtotrainotherstocounselthelostatthemeetings.Hecalledhischurch to lengthy sessions of prayer and challenged them to believe thatGodintendedtotransformEnglandthroughthepreachingofHistruth.

The Graham meeting was highly controversial. Many in England weresuspicious of the dramatic evangelist and of the "enthusiastic" brand ofAmerican Christianity in general. An Anglican bishop predicted that GrahamwouldreturntoAmericawithhistailbetweenhislegs.AmemberoftheHouseofCommonssoughttopreventGraham'sentranceintothecountryonthechargethattheAmericanwas"interferinginBritishpoliticsundertheguiseofreligion."Eventhestartofthemeetingswasshaky.Onthefirstnight,onlytwothousandpeopleshoweduptoanarenathatseatedeleventhousand.

Oncethecrusadegotunderway,though,Derek'sdeepesthopeswerefulfilled.

The arena was jammed night after night for more than three months. Extrameetings had to be scheduled tomeet the needs of spiritually hungry BritonswhosanghymnsinthesubwaysandmobbedGrahamwhereverhewent.Morethantwomillionpeopleattendedthecrusade,withtensofthousandscommittingtheir lives to Jesus Christ. EvenWinston Churchill heard the evangelist. In aprivatemeeting,hetoldGraham,"Idonotseemuchhopeforthefutureunlessitisthehopeyouaretalkingabout,youngman.WemusthaveareturntoGod."Clearly,England'sreturntoGodhadbegun.

As 1954 drew to a close, Derek knew that he was undergoing a dramaticchange.Hehadalreadyrealizedthatthepastoratewasanillfitandthat,whilehewasfulfillingaseasonoftheLord'scalling,theworkofapastorcouldneverbehis for life. He had also learned something important from Billy Graham.ThoughDerekhadpreachedforyearsatSpeakers'CornerandseenmanyturntoChrist, he had come to believe that very few human beings were genuinelyinterestedinthegospel.Infact,hebegantobelievethatonlyafewwilleverbesaved,probablyanextensionofhisexperienceinHydePark:fromacrowdofahundred,forexample,maybefiveortenwouldrespondtohismessages.Itdidnot takemuch to assume that thisproportionwouldbe the samewherever thegospelwaspreached.

Graham changed his mind. The passionate evangelist taught Derek how todrawpeopletoacommitmenttoJesusandconvincedhimthatGodwasindeedabletoreachlargenumbersoflostsouls,eveninadisillusionedEngland.ThismadeDerekbolderandevenmoreevangelistic,butitalsomadehimhungrytolivepowerfullyinthecallingofateacherjustasGrahamlivedpowerfullyinthecallingofanevangelist.DerekbegantodreamofwhatateacherwithGraham'skindofpowercoulddointheworld.

While he continued pastoring his home church and preaching in Hyde Park,Derekalsobeganwrestlingwithsomeofthechangesthatwereoccurringinhisown family. Not only were the girls getting older andmore independent, buttheywerealsogravitating towhatDerekandLydiacondemnedas theworldly

waysofLondon.Someoftheoldergirlsbeganwearingmakeupanddressinginthelateststyles.Onoccasion,theyattendeddances.Thiswasaseriousoffenseinthe Pentecostalworld, aswaswatchingmovies.Derek andLydia learned thatsomeoftheirgirlswenttomovieswhentheysteppedoffaLondonbusjustasyoung Anna was emerging from a theater. She had sneaked into the cinemahopingherparentswouldneverknow,but,muchtoherchagrin,shesteppedoutofthetheaterandrightintoLydia'sdisapprovinggaze.

ThisstrugglewithworldlinesshighlightsanintriguingprogressioninDerek'slife. He had grown up a nonbelieverwho outwardly conformed to the formalChristianity of his social class. After he met Jesus Christ in his Scarboroughbarracks, he was largely unchurched despite his brief association with thePentecostalchurchtheShawsattended.Thenthereweretheyearsinthedesertwithnochurch,noChristiancommunity,andnospiritualleadership.TherewasonlythevoiceofGod.Thetruthis thatbythetimeDerekarrivedinIsrael,hehad been discipled by his Lord and by hardship, but he had never beenindoctrinated into a particular church culture. He knew only what the BibleforbadeorwhattheBibleallowed.HisethicswereasbroadasScripture, then,sothatwhenhefirstmetLydiaandhergirls,hethoughtnothingoftakingsomeof the older girls to a movie in Jerusalem-the film Tartan was a favorite-orreadingthelatestbooksaloudinthehome.

Lydiawas cut fromdifferent cloth. Shewasmore thoroughlyPentecostal inherethics,and it isobvious that shedrewDerek inherdoctrinaldirection.By1955,Derekhadclearlybecomeahard-corePentecostalso farashis theologyandhisethicswereconcerned.HeandLydiabothchastised thegirls forusingmakeupandfortheirinterestinmen.Anyconnectiontoalcohol,movies,dances,smoking,orthenewlypopulartelevisionsignaledtoDerekandLydiathattheirgirlswereslidingawayfromthefaith.Infact,itwasnotuncommonforLydiatouse the word prostitute for a daughter who offended. The tension over theseissuesoccasionedlongharanguesthatplayedoutwellintothenight.

ThetruthisthatDerekandLydiaweredealingwiththepainoftheirdaughterscomingofageandsteppingouttolivesoftheirown.Lydia'sdaughtershadbeenher life,herministry,andher joy.Now, theyweremovingout into theworld,andshefearedfor them.Shealso tried tokeepthemclosefar toolong.Tikva,

for example,was still livingathomeandwas required tobe inby teno'clockeverynightwhenshewastwenty-twoyearsold.Shethoughtittoomuchtoaskofayoungadultinthemid-1950s,and,asmuchtoescapetheirparents'demandsastoshapetheirownlives,sheandtheothergirlssoonbeganmovingaway.

Peninahwas the first tomarry and create her own life. She remembers thatLydiaofferedadismissivewaveofthehandwhenshetoldherthatsheplannedtomarryayoungIrishpainter.Itwasamemorythatfesteredthroughoutherlife,but her recall doesnot seem to fit thewritten record. Inher newsletter,Lydiareportedthenewswithjoy:"Peninah...isbeingmarriedattheendofthismonth.Wearemosthappyforthismatch.Herhusband-to-beisafineyoungman,savedandbaptizedintheSpirit,andamemberofthelittlePentecostalassemblywhichnowmeetsregularlyforworshipinour`upperroom."'

At the same time, Tikva began nurse's training with her parents'encouragement.For twoyears, she trained inLondon'sHammersmithHospitalwhile living at home until a problemwith her feet developed and she left theprogram.Shortlyafter,shewasengagedtoanairmanforawhileandcarriedhispicturefaithfully.Whenhefoundanotherwoman,Tikvatookthepictureoutandstomped on it violently. It was typical of this pretty and passionate woman.Finally, shemetaWelshmannamedJohnMorrisseyand fell in love.The twomarriedinAugust1951.LydiareportedthemarriageinhernewsletterbysayingthatTikva"wasmarriedtoayoungWelshmanwhohadcomeuptoLondonasabacksliderrunningawayfromhisChristianhomeinWales,butwas-throughouropen-airmeetings-gloriouslyreclaimedandrefilledwiththeHolySpirit.Afterahoneymoon inWales, they have begun theirmarried life in one roomnear ushereandarelookingtotheLordtoopenthewayforthem,asHedidforPeninahandherhusband."

MagdaleneworkedasLydia'spersonalassistantuntilDerekurgedher,alongwith Kirsten, to pursue work as a seamstress. Magdalene thrived in this andremained a gifted seamstress all her life. During the same time, she beganbabysitting for a family by the nameofWyns,who also attended thePrince'schurch. IrvineWynshadbeenraisedbymissionaries inMongoliaand lived inLondonasatoolanddiemakerwithhispregnantwifeandfivechildren.Sadly,Irvine'swife died not long after giving birth to twins, one ofwhomdied, and

IrvinecametorelyonyoungMagdalenetocareforthechildren.Intime,thetwofellinloveandmarried.

Lydia's announcement of themarriage in her newsletter reflects her concernforMagdalene's instantresponsibilities:"WemustmentionthatthefifthofourJewish girls, Magdalene, is now married. Her husband, who was an activeworkerinourmissionhere,untilhemovedoutofLondon,isawidowerandthefatherofsixlittlechildren.PrayforMagdalene,thatshemaybegivengraceandstrength to carry the heavy burden of such a home on her young shoulders."Magdalene's"burdens"wouldquicklyincrease.SheandIrvineleftEnglandforCanadawhileDerekandLydiawerestillpastoringinLondonand,intime,hadfivemorechildrenoftheirown.

Johanneservedbothherparentsandherchurchwell.HardlyanewsletterwaswrittenwithoutmentionofherdevotiontoGodorherskillsasaminister.Whileshewasfaithfullyservingthechurch,ayoungmannamedGeorgeHedgesbeganto attend.Hewas a cockneywhosemotherwas Jewish andwhose familyhaddonewellintheteabusiness.Magdalene'shusband,Irvine,hadmetGeorge,ledhim to faith in Jesus, and taken him to Derek and Lydia's church. He soonjoined, became a helpful servant at Derek's side, and was smitten with thestriking,energeticJohanne.The twofell in loveandmarried in1950,much tothejoyofthefamily.

Ruhammah took a more tortured path. Though in 1950, Lydia was able toboastof"oureighteen-year-oldevangelist"whohadbeen the first topreachatSpeakers' Corner, such favor soon lifted. Ruhammah, whom her familysometimes called Ruth, seemed to have borne the scars of Lydia's earlyharshnessmorekeenlythantheothergirls.OnceDerekassumedthepreachingin Hyde Park, Ruhammah began to pull away from the family. For someunnamedtransgression,shewasbannedfromthePrincehomeandlivedaloneina room kindly rented to her by a Mrs. Moxy, a caring woman who becameRuhammah'ssurrogatemother.Intime,Ruhammahmadeherownway,butnotuntilpassingsomedarkandpainfulyears.

These, then, are the challenges Derek and Lydia faced as they continued topastor in London. It was a troubling, tumultuous time. England had not yetemergedfromthedisillusionmentof thepostwaryears, the tensionswithsomeoftheolderdaughterscontinued,andtheministrydemandedevermorefromthefamily.Moreover,Derekwas stillwrestlingwith his calling.Hewanted to befaithfulandservewellhoweverGodchosetousehim,buthefeltasthoughhewaswearinganotherman'sclothes.Thepastoratesimplywasn'tthebestuseofhim,andheknewit.Stillheserved,stillheprayed,andstillhepouredouthishearttoLydia.

Sensingtheneedforsomethingtochange,DerekandLydiacalledtheirlittlecongregationtodevotethefirstSundayof1955to"unitedprayerandfasting."Intheweeks after, there seemed to be a new blessing on the life of the church.GeorgeandJohanne,whohadbeenwaitingfordirectionfortheirlives,receivedan invitation to "go out" toKenya and serve amongst theKikuyu tribe there.TheyleftonMarch25,thefirstmissionariessentfromthechurch.

Miraclesandconversionsincreased,andpeoplefromtheupperclassesbegantoattendthechurch.Derekreportedbaptizing"oneofBritain'sleadingmedicalspecialists, who had been coming to us to learn more of the things of God."Deliverance from demons and healing occurred with greater frequency thanbefore.Overall,thechurchincreasedinnumber,andDerekbegantobelievethatperhapshehad let his frustrationget thebest of him, thatmaybeGodwantedhimtoremaininLondonandpastoruntiltheendofhisdays.

With newwind in his sails,Derekwent on the offensive.He rented a localmovie theater and began advertising healing services.More than thirty people"received Christ," and a larger number were healed, according to Derek'snewsletter report. One elderly Jewwas healed of bronchitis, and another washealed of deafness. There was new movement, and not just in the Londonchurch. George and Johanne wrote from Kenya to report that seventy-threeKikuyuhadbeenborn again, alongwith someEuropeans. It seemed thatGodhadheardtheirprayersonthatfirstdayin1955andfilledtheyearwithgrace.

Successcontinued,butDerekcouldnot shake the sense thathewasmissinghis highest mission. He fasted and prayed with Lydia, but still he felt like a

caged lion.Therewas somethingmore, just beyondhis reach, thatheyearnedfor,buthedidnotknowwhatitwas.ForalongwhilehehopedthatGodwouldreturn the remaining family to Israel tominister among the Jews.GoddidnotmakeawaytoIsrael,though,andstillhewaited.

Inthemiddleof1956,DerekandLydiabegananintensetimeofsoulsearchingandprayer.Somethinghadtochange.Derekseemedunabletobeatpeace,andhe felt that God was stirring him in preparation for a change. Finally, byChristmas of that year, Derek's newsletter announced to their supporters thattheyknew thepath they should take.His explanation for this newdirection isworthrepeatinghereinfull.

Perhapsyouhavewonderedwhyyouhavehadtowaitsomuchlongerthanusualfornewsfromus.Theansweristhatwehavebeenpassingthrough some months of earnest waiting upon God for guidanceconcerning our future, and until we had a definite answer from theLord,wedidnotfeelfreetowritetoyou.Now,however,weareabletowriteandtellyouthattheLordhasclearlyandwonderfullyopenedthedoorforusintoanewfieldofservice.Wehavereceivedanurgentrequest from the Pentecostal Assemblies of East Africa to go outimmediately to Kenya and help them in their educational work-primarilyintrainingAfricanteachersfortheMissionSchoolsinoneofthemainprovinces ofKenya.The call has been like thatwhichPaulreceived fromMacedonia: "Come over and help us."Thework is soexactly in linewithourqualificationsandexperience,aswellaswiththe inner prompting of God's Spirit, that we have not hesitated toanswer:"Yes."WeexpecttobeinKenyaearlyin1957.Anna(16)andElisabeth(14)willbecomingwithus.Kirsten(20)willberemainingbehindtocompleteher trainingasanurseata localLondonhospital.Later, she trusts to follow us out and to enter the Lord's service inKenya,asanurse.

InournewworkinKenya,weshallhavepassingthroughourhandsanimportant proportion of the prospective leaders of the Africancommunity (by far the largest element of the population) and sincethesewillbeteachers,theywillinturnbeinfluencingandshapingtheleaders of the next generation. The opportunities along this line in

Kenyaatpresentarealmostwithoutparallel in thehistoryofmissionwork.Thereisanurgent,almostuniversaldemandforeducation.BoththegovernmentandtheAfricansarewilling-andevendesirous-thatthisdemandforeducationshouldinlargemeasurebemetthroughtheworkofChristianmissions.Ontheotherhand, if thetrueChristiansdonotmeet thisdemandforeducation, theCommunists,andotheragentsofevil,undoubtedlywill.ThustheChristianchurchinKenyafacesoneofthe most challenging opportunities of its history, and we count it agreatprivilegetobecalledtoplayourpartinmeetingthischallenge.

ThesewordsformamovingtestamenttothemanDerekhadbecomeby1956.He was forty-one when these lines were penned. In the years since hisconversionhehadfoughtinawar,marriedintoalargemissionaryfamily,andescapedwar in Israel only to build a church in London largely through streetpreaching.HehadbeenafaithfulmanofGod'sWord,ofprayer,offasting,andofministrytotheneedsofhurtingpeople.Now,though,heseemedtoyearnfora fight, for amission tomatchhis gifts andhismanly energy.Kenyawas theplacehewouldfindit.

JustemergingfromtheMau-MauUprisingof1952-inwhichmorethanthirtythousand Kikuyu violently attempted to overthrow British rule-the future ofKenyawashanginginthebalance.Communismwasspreading,Britishcontrolwas weakening, and Kenyans were beginning to dream of independence.Moreover, there was a battle forming for the minds and hearts of the nextgeneration. The British wanted teachers, good ones with solid Christiancharacter,toshapethelivesoftheyoung.Suchleaderscouldonlybetrainedbywiseandcourageousinstructors,andDerekPrinceintendedtobeoneofthem.

ThePrincesmusthavebeeneagertogetonwiththeirnewlives.TheyhadonlydecidedtoleaveinDecember1956,butbyJanuary30ofthenextyeartheywerealready in Kisumu, Kenya, and were settled enough to produce a newsletterrelaying their experience. The congregation in London had been anguished tohear theirpastorswere leaving.Mostof themwereJamaicansanddidnot feelwelcome inotherchurches.Therewasmuchweepingandpleading,but itwas

all to no avail. After trying to find good churches for everyone in theircongregation, Derek, Lydia, Anna, and Elisabeth packed their belongings inmetalcontainersandboardedaplaneforNairobi.Kirstenwouldjointhemwhenhernurse'strainingwasdone.

Once they arrived, they were immediately put to work. Derek had barelyunpacked his bags before he found himself teaching classes at the Nyang'oriTeacher Training Center where seventy-five male students were preparing toteach in theKenyanpublic schools.Derek's years atEton andCambridgehadnotpreparedhimfor the three-hourclass in"Woodwork" thathewasasked toteachwithindaysofhisarrival.Bytheendoftheyear,hewasnotonlyexpectedtoplanatwo-yearcourseonthecontentsoftheBibleforstudentswhodidnotownBibles,buthewasalsosupposedtomastertheschool'sadministrationwellenoughtobecomeitsprincipal.

While Derek started his work at the school, Lydia spent her first daysfashioning a home at the compound of the Pentecostal Assemblies MissionStation.Shecleaned,learnedthelocallore,andmadeahomeawayfromhomeforherfamily.Forathirdtimeinherlife,LydiaservedherGodbyleavingthefamiliarandimmersingherselfinacompletelyforeignculture.Shedidnothavelongtocontemplatehernewcircumstances,though,foronceshehadherhomeinorder,shelearnedthattheschoolneededhertoteachclassesthatrangedfromhome economics to religion. Ever-engaged by a new challenge, Lydiaremembered the years in which she was Denmark's leading domestic scienceexpertandthrewherselfintothetaskathand.

Life inKisumuwas a huge change fromLondon.Theywould live just twomilesnorthoftheequatorandmorethanamileabovesealevel,analternativelyharshandinvitingclimate.Thoughthefamilyhadatwo-storybrickhousethatwasquitemodernbyKenyanstandards, therewasnoelectricityandno indoorplumbing. The only bathroom was an outhouse that the locals called the"Kenyan longdrop." Drinkable water was often in short supply, and the heatcould bewithering.Garbage had to be handledwisely, orwild animalsmightwander into the yard. And always there was the threat of another uprising,anotherplagueofviolenceandfear.

Despite theobstacles,Derek andLydia fell in lovewith theKenyanpeople.Theyfoundthemwarm,eagertolearn,andhonorable.Theylovedthewaytheirstudents said things like, "Please, sir, I am defeated," or "Please, sir, may Irelease myself." Lydia particularly grew to hold the Kenyans dear, and theyreturned the affection. Wherever she went a small crowd of skinny, blackchildrenfollowedherwhileshejokedandnippedatthemwithherapron.

This love-whichDerek believedwas a special grace fromGod-led him andLydiatobreakfromthechillytraditionsofEnglishmissionariesinKenya.Fordecades, English Christians serving inKenya had believed that it was best tohold blacks at a suspicious distance. The conventional wisdom dictated thatnever should a blackman be allowed in amissionary's home, never should awhite man go in a Kenyan home, and never should an Englishman count aKenyan as a friend. Missionaries lived in compounds that were islands ofEnglishcultureandspenttheirsparetimeattheBritish"club,"acombinationoffamilyresortandhotel.AsoneAfricanpoliticiancomplained,"Whenyougotoamissionary'shouse,theyofferyouaglassofwaterthroughthewindow."

Derekwasuniquelypreparedtoconfrontsuchtraditions.HehadlearnedfromhisfatherabouttheBritishdisregardforwogs-aderisiveBritishtermfornatives-and had admiredCaptain Paul for befriending his Indianworkers. Then therewashisdelightfulfriendshipwithAliintheSudan,whichtaughthimthebeautyandgraceofAfricanways.Helearned,also,fromthemanyracesthatstreamedthroughhisLondon church, from the gentle Jamaicans to the intriguingAsianbelievers.Derekknewthat theBritishEmpirewascrumblingunder theweightofracialarrogance,andheknewthatthemissionariesinKenyawerereflectingthelessernatureoftheirculturemorethantheyweretheexampleoftheirChrist.Hesetabouttomakeadifference.

FromthebeginningheandLydiabeganinvitingKenyansintotheirhomeandaccepting invitations to visit the homes of their students. Their fellowmissionarieswere shocked and grumbled against them. It didn'tmatter.Derekand Lydia refused to limit the love of Jesus. They agreed to hold services inAfricanvillagesandevenbeganwitnessingtothegrowingIndiancommunityinKenya,whichmostmissionariesignored.TheBritishexpatriatecommunitywasscandalized.

DerekandLydiaweren'tthroughoffending,though.WhenDerekbecametheprincipaloftheschool,hetreatedhisstudentswithrespectandinstilledinthemasenseofhonorfortheirraceandtheirheritage.Hemadetheschoolthebestitcould be and threw himself into his own teaching dutieswith a devotion thatwouldhavemadehimthestarprofessoratCambridge.HeamazedhisstudentsbylearningSwahiliwithastonishingspeedandthenthrilledthemagainwhenhebegan joking with them in a uniquely Kenyan style. Clearly, Derek pushedhimselftolovethembeyondhisnaturalintroversion.Heatetheirfood,joinedintheirbanter,andattendedtheirceremonies.Lydiawasevenmoreoutrageousinthe eyes of other whites. She thought nothing of kissing the faces of black-skinned children or bakingDanish delicacies for the students at the school. Itwasalsonotuncommonforhertospendanentiredayinavillageteachingthewomenhowtostorefoodortendthesick.TheothermissionarywomenthoughtLydiahad"gonenative."Shereplied,"Yes,Ihavegonenative,andifyoulovedJesus,youwould,too."

Thencamethemostradicalactofall.Themotherofoneofthestudentsdied,andDerekandLydiaattendedthefuneral.Afterward, thestudent,whosenamewas Matroba, apologetically told the Princes that she could no longer attendschool because she had to care for her two small sisters. Derek and Lydiawouldn'tallowit.They toldMatroba,"Youcontinueyourstudies,andwewillcareforyoursisters."SointothehomeoftheEnglishprincipalwiththeDanishwifecame two littleAfricangirls,SusannaandMirka.DerekandLydiaknewwhattheyweredoing.SomeonehadtomodeltheracialharmonyofthekingdomofGodifKenyawasevertoseetherealityofJesusChrist.AsDerekwrotetohis supporters, "I am impressed afresh with the enormous barrier of fear andracial prejudice which exists between the Africans and the white people, andwhichonlythepoweroftheHolySpiritcanfullybreakdown."

Derek's heart was tender toward the plight of Kenya's children. In hisnewsletterofJuly1959,herecountedatouchingstoryhehopedwouldtouchthehearts of his readers: "Iwas sitting in our car outside a bigAfricanmarket inKisumu,withSusannainthebackseat,andanAfricanboyofabouttencameupand lookedatusbothclosely.Afterawhileheaskedme inSwahili ifSusannaweremy daughter. I did not properly understand his questions, so I answered`Yes.'

"He lookedatusbothagaincloselyand thenhesaid: `But that's impossible!Youarewhite,andsheisblack!'

"BeingsurprisedthatanAfricanboywouldcomeupandspeaksofreelytoanEnglishman,Istartedtoaskhimsomequestions:`Whereisyourfather?'

"'Dead!'

"'Whereisyourmother?'

"'Dead'

"'Wheredoyoulive?'

"'Ijustfindaplacetosleep.'

"'Wheredoyougetyourfood?'

"He just pointed to theMarket Place. I asked him if hewould like to comehomewithus,andhesaid`Yes.'SomywifeandItookhimhomewithusforafewdays."

Compassionpaved thewayfor themiraculous.DerekandLydiahadalreadyseenhealingandchangedlivesintheirministrytoKenyans.SoontheworksofGodwerebeyondanythingtheyhadeverwitnessed.Derektoldthisstoryofoneinanewsletter.

NoahhadgivenhishearttotheLordataserviceintheCentreinMarchofthisyear,butlaterhebecamesickandhadtogiveuphisstudies.Itwasonthe29thofJulythatwefirstvisitedNoahinhishomeinahillydistrictabout20milesnorth-eastfromhere.Wefoundhimlyingonarudebed,underashelterofbananaleaves,behindanAfricanhut.Hewas suffering from some infection of his kidneys,which had causedparts of his body to become bloated and swollen-particularly his leftarm.Hehadattendedtwohospitals,buttheyhadnotbeenabletocurehim.

We read the Scriptures together with him and his relatives, and we

explainedGod'swayofsalvationandhealingthroughfaithinChrist'satonement.Thenwe laidourhandsonhimin thenameofJesus,andclaimed the promise of Mark 16:18. My wife in particular laid herhands on his swollen arm. When we returned home quite late thatevening,wewereagainburdenedinprayerforhim,andweonceagainclaimedthepromiseofMark16:18.

OnAugust2,wemadeanotherjourneytoNoah'shomeandthisisthestorythathetoldus.Ontheeveningofthedaythatwefirstprayedforhim,hebecameextremelyilluntilhewasquiteparalyzedandunabletomoveorspeak.Finally,hediedandhisspiritlefthisbody.

Atthispoint,twomencametohimandlaidtheirhandsonthosepartsofhisbodyonwhichwehadpreviouslylaidourhandsinprayer.Thentheytookhimwiththemtoa"wonderfulplace,"wherehespentsomeminutes.Thenthementoldhimthathistimehadnotcometodie,butthathewasbeingtestedandthathewasnowtoreturntolive.

Meanwhile, his family, seeing him dead, sent for the local AfricanChristian elder. The elder came and prayed for him and he alsowasgiventheassurancethatNoahwasnottodieatthattime.

Noahthenreturnedtolife,andbythenextday(Sunday)theswellingon his arm had gone and he was beginning to recover health andstrength. That evening, one of the twomenwho had visited him thedaybeforereturnedandaskedhimwhyhehadnot toldpeopleofhisexperienceandofwhatGodhaddoneforhim.

Armed with such testimonies, Derek and Lydia began believing that GodwoulddoevengreatermiraclesattheirhandsiftheywouldonlytrustHim.Theopportunitytoexercisethisgreaterfaithcamenotlongafter.Oneofthestudentsattheirschooldiedunexpectedly.DerekandLydiamadetheirwaytothegirl'sdeathbedand founda scene that reminded themofanepisode from the lifeofJesus. The room where the girl lay was filled with mourners who tearfullypouredouttheirgriefinafrenziedAfricanstyle.Derektookcontrolandtoldallthemournerstoleave.HeandLydiakneltonoppositesidesofthegirl'sbedandbegan to pray.Withinminutes, the girl shot up in bed and demanded, "Does

anyone have a Bible?" Astonished, Derek handed the newly revived girl hisBible,andsheimmediatelyturnedtoPsalm42andbegantoread.

Afteramoment,thegirlexplainedwhathadhappened.Whenshediedandherspiritpassedfromherbody,twomenappearedandtookheronawindingroaduntilshecametoaplacewhere therewerebright lightsandpeoplesinging.AmanwaspreachingfromPsalm42.Thetwomenthentoldher thatshewas toreturn,andsheimmediatelyfoundherselfrunningbackdownthewindingroaduntilsheawokeinherbodywithDerekandLydiakneelingatherside.Shehadbecome so caught up inwhat themanwas preaching fromPsalm 42 that sheimmediatelyaskedforaBiblesoshecouldcontinuereadingwhereheleftoff.

The story of these miracles filled both the school and the villages aroundKisumu. The Kenyans came to regard Derek and Lydia with awe. Even themissionaries began to understand how their biases had hindered the work ofGod,andtheybegantotreat theKenyansdifferently.BeforelongDerekcouldnotkeepupwiththeinvitationshereceivedtopreachthegospelandprayforthesick.Overthenextfewyears,hewouldministerinhundredsofvillagesandholdextended services in dozens of rented facilities. He also grew bolderwith hisstudentsandbegantellingthemthattheyhadtobefilledwiththeHolySpiritsothattheytoocouldperformmiraclesinthenameofJesus.Notlongafter,hewasable to report in a newsletter that more than seventy-five of his one hundredstudentswerebaptizedwiththeHolySpirit.

Dereknowfoundakindof fulfillment inhiswork thathehadneverknownpastoringinLondon.Allofhisgiftswereemployed,andallofhispassionswereengaged. He used his intellectual gifts in teaching classes and designingcurriculumfor the school.Thesameadministrative skills thathadmadehimaprized medical orderly helped him to lead the school to new heights. Theenrollment doubled during his time, and his students went on to achievemagnificently,evenleadingschoolsoftheirownintime.Moreover,hepreachedthe gospel throughout Kenya and met with astonishing fruit: thousands weresaved,manywerehealed, andchurcheswereplanted that still existeddecadeslaterwhenhepassedfromthis life.Hewashappy inaway thatonlygracesamanwhenheisdoingwhathewasmadetodo.HetoldLydiathatheexpectedhewouldspendtherestofhisdaysinKenya.Hewasforty-fiveatthetime.

He felt that he was walking with destiny, and this made him dare to becreative. Like the educational strategist he was becoming, he began to thinkabout the printed word and how it could impact a generation. Until now, hiswriting had been limited to newsletters. He began to sense that God wantedmore, and he startedwriting articles and tracts to carry hisministrywhere hecouldnotgo.AshewroteinAugust1960,"Ihavepreparedanumberofclear,shorttracts,speciallydesignedforyoungpeople.Ifindthatthesegainentryinmany placeswhere a Pentecostalmissionarywould not be invited. They havealreadyfoundtheirwayintoquitealargenumberofschoolsinKenya-andevenone inUganda-and fromalmostevery school therecomesademand formore.Asaresultofthesetracts,Ihavereceivedlettersfromnurses,teachers,students,and others in many different places and institutions asking for definiteinformationastohowtobesavedorforotherformsofspiritualhelp."

Thesuccessof the tractsfiredhis imagination,andhesethimself toa largerwork.InDecember1960,hewrotetohissupporters,"IhaverecentlypreparedacompleteBiblecorrespondencecourse[nowcalledtheSelf-StudyBibleCourse],baseddirectly onpersonal studyof theBible by each student anddesigned tobringoutinthemostdefinitewaypossibleallthemain,basictruthsofthefullgospelmessage.Ourmissionpressisatpresentinstallinganewoff-setprintingpress,andassoonasthisiscompletewehopetoproducethefirsteditionofthecourseinEnglish."Thoughhecouldnothaveknownit,thiscoursewasnotonlyaninnovationthatshowedhewasaheadofhistimeasaneducator,butitwasthefoundationofoneofthegreatestworksofhislife.

Such successes did not comewithout difficulty, though.Derek's newsletterstoldthestory.Eachmissionaryhadtodotheworkofmanybecausetherewerefartoofewworkersinthefield.Lackofmoneywasalmostalwaysaproblem,andtherewastheunstablepoliticalsituationtoconsider,whichDerekdescribedtohisreadersasa"volcanoreadytoeruptatanymoment."Thentherewasthespiritual opposition.AsDerekwrote, "There areundoubtedlypowerful satanicagentsandinfluencesatworkseekingtoproduceconditionsofhatred,disorder,andbloodshedhereinKenya.Inthefaceofsuchopposition,spiritualresultscanonlybeachievedbyunrelentinglaborinprayer,inministryoftheWord,andinfasting."

Itmayhavebeenjustsuch"agents"thatnearlytookthelivesofDerekandhisfamily.Derek andLydiawere driving on the road fromKisumu toNakuru tovisit George and Johanne Hedges one day when their car-a Morris MinorTraveler-swerved out of control. They later learned that a truck had leakedgasolineontheroad,whichmadeitsoslipperythatacarcouldbarelystayontheroad.ThecarwithDerekandLydiafishtailedviolentlyfromsidetosideandthen plunged over a steep embankment. Lydia-whowas nearly seventy at thetime-was thrown from thecar.Derek remained in thedriver's seat,but thecarcamedownwithsuchforcethathepushedtheseatrightthroughthebottomofthe car.WhenDerek got out of the car tomake sure Lydia was all right, hediscoveredaseverepaininhisback.Hetoldtherestinanewsletter.

InNakuruthedoctoradvisedmetohaveanx-rayofmyback,andthisrevealedthat twovertebraehadbeendamagedindifferentsectionsofthespine.Ispentfivedaysinhospitalwherethedoctorencasedmeinplasterfromtheloinstotheneck.Thisplasterisduetoremaininplaceforthreemonths,duringwhichperiodIamtrustingtheLordtohealmyspine completely and to give me an even stronger body than I hadbefore.

Derekwould heal completely in time, but themonths in the body castwerefrustratingindeedforamanofhisenergy.Thetruthishehadbrokenhisback,anditisamiraclethathewasnotpermanentlycrippled.Derekbelievedthatthe"agents" of evil were retaliating against him for the good that God was thendoingthroughhislife.

Suchassaultswerefew,though,andDerekfoundhehadmuchtobethankfulfor. God had given him many gifts during his time in Kenya. One of theseannounceditselfasDerekandLydiaweresittingontheirporchoneevening.Itwasaroundfiveo'clockwhenDereklookeduptoseeastrangetrioapproachingthe house: a black couple and a white woman carrying a bundle. After thecustomary exchange of greetings, the white woman said, "We hear you takechildren in. Can you do anything with this?" Derek and Lydia looked at thebundleinherarmsandsawatinyblackbabygirlwhocouldnothavebeenbutafewweeksold.Derekexplainedthatthefamilyusedtotakechildrenin,butthattheywerenotdoingsonow.

The three said theywere tiredandasked if theycould sit.As theydid, theybegantoexplainthatthechild'smotherhaddiedgivingbirthandthatthebabywas found all alone on the floor of a hut. Itwas a sad affair, for no onewaswillingtotakethechildin.Finally,asthethreestoodtoleave,thebabyputoutherleftarmtowardDerekasiftosay,"Whatareyougoingtodoaboutme?"Atthatmoment,Lydiagazedupatherhusband'sfaceandreadhisheart.Turningtothewomanshesaid,"Givemeaweektogetacribandsomebabyclothes,andyoucanbringherback."Aweeklater,thewomanreturnedwiththechild.SoitwasthatJoskaenteredthelivesofDerekandLydiaPrince.

Oddly,JoskawouldgrowupinthePrincehomemuchlikeanonlychild.Theothergirlshadmovedonwiththeirlives.AnnahadcometoKenyaattheageofsixteen,finishedherstudies,andbegunworkingasavolunteernurseinNakuru.ItwasthenthatshelearnedthatthePentecostalAssemblieswerewillingtopayforthechildrenofmissionarieswhoturnedeighteentoleavethecountry.KenyahadnotbeenagoodexperienceforAnna.ShenotonlymissedtheWesternwaysshehadknowninLondon,butshealsofoundKenyatooprimitiveanddullforhertastes.SheacceptedtheoffertoleaveandflewtoCanadatoenrollinaBibleschoolrunbythePentecostalAssemblies.

ElisabethhadcometoKenyaasafourteen-year-oldandimmediatelyenrolledinanallgirls' schoolcalledHighlandsSchool inEldoret. Inapapershewrotenotlongafterarriving,shedescribedKenyaas"alandofsunandwant."Itwastypicalofhertender,poeticsoul.Whenshefinishedherstudies,shedecidedtoreturntoEnglandtostudynursingashersistershadbeforeher,andshetrainedforthreeyearsatHammersmithHospitalbeforebecomingapsychiatricnurse.

WhenDerekandLydiamovedtoKenya,theyexpectedthatKirsten,whohadbegun nursing school in England, would follow them when her studies werefinished.Sheneverrejoinedherfamily,though.AsshenearedcompletionofherstudiesatPaddingtonGeneralHospital,shemetadashingyoungairmannamedJimFry.ThetwofellinloveandmarriedonEasterSunday1961.WhenKirstenwrote her parents to ask their blessing, Derek and Lydia wrote back gladlygiving approval, and they sentE25as aweddinggift.Not long after, JimandKay moved to Singapore where Jim served in the Royal Air Force and Kayservedasanurse.

With the advent of 1961,Derek and Lydia began considering thematter of afurlough. It was the policy of the Pentecostal Assemblies to send theirmissionaries home for rest, training, and fund-raising after every five years ofserviceinthefield.InhisnewsletterofJune1961,Derekwrote,"Ourplannowis to spend Christmas and New Year's in Scandinavia, then to move on toEnglandearly in1962,spendsomeweeks there,and thenonagain toCanada,andperhapsalsototheUnitedStates."

IthappenedmuchasDerekhadoutlined.HeandLydiagatheredJoskaintheirarmsandtraveledthroughDenmarkandEnglandbeforearrivinginCanadaearlyin1962.When theyarrived, theyhad the joyofmeetingAnna'snewhusband,DavidSelby, amanwhowould figure prominently in theDerekPrince story.AnnahadbeenattendingEasternPentecostalBibleCollege, theschoolsheleftKenya to attend in 1958, when she met the tall, handsome David at SimcoeStreet Pentecostal Church in Oshawa, Ontario. David had been working at astampingplant,pressingoutsheetsofstainlesssteelintosinks,whenhefirstsawAnnaatachurchfunction,andthetwobegandatinginJuly1959.Monthslater,DavidwrotetoDerekandLydiaaskingforAnna'shandinmarriage.ThegestureimpressedAnna's parents, and they gave their blessing.David andAnnaweremarriedonJuly8,1961.Ninemonthslater,DerekandLydiaarrivedwithAnna'sKenyansister.

Notlongafter,DerekandLydiaattendedaPentecostalAssembliesconferenceinToronto.Withtheirsweet,blackbabyintheirarms,thePrincefamilywasthecenterofattention.DerektoldtheconferenceoftheirministryinKenyaandofthe tender way in which Joska had come to be theirs. He recounted the twooccasionsonwhichthedeadhadbeenraisedandthehundredsofhealingsandmiracles he had witnessed. The conference was electrified. The tales of theirAfricanministry spread so rapidly that TheTorontoGlobe andMail asked tointerview Derek and Lydia about their lives and took a picture of Lydia andJoska, which came to symbolize beautifully the unusual pairing of the fair-skinned,agingDanishmotherwiththebright-eyedbutmidnightblackJoska.

In his discussions with the leaders of the Pentecostal Assemblies about hiscalling and what it meant for his furlough, Derek had boldly insisted, "I amcalled to be a teacher of the Scriptures in the body ofChrist."After somanyyears,heknewwhohewas.Hewaseager tousehisgifts, andhe sensed thatGodwanted him to impact the future leaders of the church.He seems also tohavewantedtimetowriteandtoperfecttheself-studyBiblecoursethathehadbegun inKenya.ThePentecostalAssembliesmusthaveagreed, forby the fallterm of 1962 Derek was teaching courses at the Western Pentecostal BibleCollegeinNorthVancouver,BritishColumbia.

Though the ideaof teaching inanaccreditedBiblecollegemusthavestirredhis teacher's heart, things did notwork out asDerek had hoped.The problemwasLydia.Shewasinherearlyseventiesandhadweariedoflivingaloneinaprimitive country. If they were going to move to a western Canadian Biblecollege,Lydia had askedDerek tomake sure that they could live close to thecampus.Shewas tooold towalkand toopoor adriver tobrave theCanadianroads.Moreover, shewanted friends and fellowshipwith other believers. Shewas tired of being isolated. Derek passed all these requests on to the Biblecollegepresident,andheagreedtodoasLydiaasked.

None of the requests were honored, though. Derek and Lydia foundthemselveslivingmilesfromthecampusinaruralhousewithnocar.Moreover,Derek'steachingschedulewassotightthathehadnotimetodotheverywritingand studying that the furlough was designed for in the first place. He wasfrustratedandbegantolookforotheroptions.ByJanuary1963,afteronlyonesemester at the school, he had decided what to do. As he wrote thesuperintendentofthePentecostalAssembliesinCanada:

I have come to the conclusion that I need some further specializedtraining and also a base, where I can have time and quietness toconcentrateontheworkthatseemstomeimportant.AfterprayerandwaitingtoseeGod'swayofprovidingthesethings,Ihavecometoseethat thebestopportunitiesalong this lineareprobably tobe found intheUnitedStates,and italsoseems thatGodhasbeenopeningdoorsfor me in that direction. I have now accepted an invitation from apersonal friend of mine, who is pastor of a Pentecostal church in

Minneapolis,tojoinhimthereasakindofresidentBibleteacher.Ifeelthat a position such as this will give me the facilities and theopportunitiesthatIneed.

The words are diplomatic, but they betray a deeper meaning and a bolderDerek than first appears.The fact is thatDerekwas leavinghisdenomination.He had become disillusionedwith the PentecostalAssemblies ofCanada bothbecausetheyhadbrokentheirpromisesandbecausetheyhadtreatedtheDanishLydiaandtheBritishDerekwithastingingbrandofnationalbias.Derekfelthehadtakenenough.HefeltthatthePentecostalAssembliesofCanadahadtreatedhimpoorlybutthatAmericaofferedhimastagesuitedforhisgifts.Hewantedtomakeadifference,todotheworkhewascalledtodo.So,inFebruary1963,Derek, Lydia, and Joska boarded a train inWinnipeg and left Canada for theUnitedStates.

When they arrived in Minneapolis, they were met with a surprise. TheimmigrationofficialaskedthemwhytheywantedtoentertheUnitedStatesandhowlongtheywantedtostay.DerekexplainedwhohewasandthattheywantedtobeintheUnitedStatesforsixmonths.Theimmigrationofficialrepliedthatitwasimpossibletogetavisaforsixmonthsbutthattheycouldimmigrateiftheywished. Derek agreed, and with the completing of some papers, the Princefamilybecame residents of theUnitedStates. Itwouldprove to be oneof themoststrategicdecisionsoftheirlives.

9

America:ToStepUpontheStage

EREK,WHENDIDyoufirsthearthenews?"

"IheardthatPresidentKennedyhadbeenshotwhileIwasbuyinggroceriesinaSeattlestore.Theyplayedthenewsbroadcastoverthestoresoundsystem,andIstoodtransfixedwithalltheothershopperswhilewelistenedtoreportsoftheassassination.Finally,theannouncementcamethatthepresidentwasdead."

"Howdidyoufeelatthatmoment?"

"I felt almost immediately that the devil was trying to destroy America.Already,arenewalhadbegunintheUnitedStates,anditpromisedtobecomeaverypowerfulmoveofGod.IbelievedthattheKennedyassassinationwaspartofanattemptofthedeviltodisillusionAmericansandmovethecountrytowardadestructive,immoralcounterculture."

"DiditoccurtoyouthatyouhadarrivedinAmericaatalmostthesametimethat this horrible thing took place? In other words, did the assassination ofKennedyformanypersonalchallengeforyou?"

"Yes, it did. I began to think about all the lessons I had learned: lessons ofintercession during El Alamein, lessons of fasting and renewal in London,lessonsofracialhealinginKenya,andothers.Ifeltasthoughmywholelifehadbeenpreparation to steponto the stageof anAmerica in crisis. It seemed thatGodwascallingmetoprayandtoteachaboutprayer-particularlyprayerforthegovernment.Almostimmediately,Ibegantohaveavisionforthenation,whichwas odd because I had only been in the country for a fewmonths. I knew I

wasn'ttheonlyone,butthethemestheHolySpirithademphasizedwithmeoverthe years seemed to prepare me perfectly for that very moment in Americanhistory."

The livesofgreatmennormallyrevealapatternofstrategic timing,as thoughprovidencehasalignedthelifeofthemanwiththecourseoftheagetoachievesomehigherpurpose.DerekPrince'slifeisevidenceofsuchgrace.HewasborninIndiajustasthemovementforindependenceinthatlandarose.HeattendedCambridge in thewakeof theFirstWorldWarwhengreatmindsand torturedheartswereponderingsomeoftheweightiestthemesinhumanphilosophy.Hewas there whenMontgomery preserved theMiddle East at El Alamein, therewhenIsraelwasborn,andtherewhenspiritualrenewalsweptapostwarEnglandin decline.Hewas also therewhenAmericawas remaking herself during thetumultuousdecadeofthe1960s.

It is this decade and the forces that converged within it that we mustunderstandinordertograsptrulywhatDerekPrincemeanttohisage.Hewasforty-eightyearsoldwhenheleftCanadaforAmerica,andthoughhecouldnothaveknown it then,his lifehadperfectlypreparedhim toanswer thecryofanation in spiritual upheaval. There were three streams then converging thatwould set the stage for Derek Prince in America: the baby-boomercounterculture, theCharismaticRenewal,andthetechnologies thatspreadbothofthesemorerapidlythananypreviousmovementinhistory.

To understand the spiritual climate of the 1960s, we should recall that theyearspriortothatdecadewerefilledwithasuffocatingmaterialism.TheGreatDepression and World War II had meant sixteen years of hardship forAmericans, who, with war's end, gave explosive vent to a craving for thetrophies of technological advance and military victory. For several decadesfollowingthewar,theAmericandreamwouldbeboundupwithaframehouseinthesuburbs,carswithhugefins,thetechnologyofcomfort,andinshort,"thegoodlife."Weperhapsrememberthevaluesofthisagebestfromthefilmclipsof the JuneCleaver typeofhousewifeproudlydisplayingher "modern, space-

age"kitchen,thepromiseofastrongandnoblesocietyreflectedineveryshinyappliance.

The children of the World War II generation, those we now call "babyboomers,"cameofageinthiseraoftriumphantmaterialismandfounditwithoutremedyfortheachingemptinessintheirsouls.Sadly,thechurches,filledastheywerewiththespiritoftheage,offerednoalternatives.TheculturalChristianitysolooselywoventhroughtheirparents'liveswastooinconsistentlyexternalforthisyoungergeneration,whoweredesperateforatransformingspiritualreality.

This was, after all, the age of Eisenhower, a president who movinglyproclaimedanationaldayofprayerandfasting,onlytospenditplayinggolf.Ikehad declared his belief that religion is essential to a republic, but then added,"And Idon't carewhat that religion is!"Though itwasduring theEisenhoweradministrationthatthephrase"InGodWeTrust"becamethenationalmotto,theplace for God in the American psyche was tragically small. The postwargeneration,enteringadulthoodas theywere in the late fiftiesandearlysixties,werehungeringforaninvisiblerealitytheycouldnotdefineandtowhichtheirparentsseemedcompletelyoblivious.AlreadytheirdiscontentwasbeingheardinthewritingsofAllenGinsbergandJackKourac,filmslikeMarlonBrando'sTheWildOne,andaninnocuousphilosophyofnonconformitycalled"beat."

With thebeginningof the1960s, threeeventsoccurred that set the stage forthe devastating blows the decade would bring. These were the birth of theCharismaticMovement,theriseofJohnF.Kennedy,andtheremovalofprayerfromthepublicschools.

ThefirstoftheseeventsresultedfromthetenderresponseoftheheartofGodto youngAmerica's quiet desperation. In the latter part of 1959, Rev. DennisBennett, a neo-orthodoxEpiscopalian priest inVanNuys,California, receivedthebaptismoftheHolySpirit,anexperiencelongbelievedbymostChristiansofthe day to be a uniquely first-century phenomenon. News of this joyfullytransforming experience spread rapidly in the 1960s, particularly through theyouthcultureof theWestCoastandthenthroughit to theyouthof thenation.Whatcametobeknownasthe"CharismaticMovement"hadbegun,andsohadthebattletofilltheimmensespiritualvacuumofAmericansociety.

Then,in1961,forty-four-yearoldHarvard-educatedJohnF.Kennedybecamethethirty-fifthpresidentoftheUnitedStates.Kennedycapturedtheheartsofthebabyboomersunlikeanyotherpresident,largelybecausethepresidentstheyhadknown-Roosevelt,Truman,andEisenhower-hadbeendistantgrandfatherfiguresto them. Kennedy seemed to be one of them, a handsome war hero andprizewinningauthorwhosepoetic,almostevangelistic,speechescalledthemtojoin in changing their world. Kennedy referred to Scripture more than anypresident in American history, but he changed the quotations to speak ofdemocracy, freedom, and the American way of life. He spoke religiously ofAmerica's "calling" to venture into outer space, conquer poverty, win againstcommunism,andtakeglobalresponsibilitythroughaprogramcalledthePeaceCorps.Youth.Idealism.TheNewFrontier.Camelotrevisited.Kennedy'svision,naiveandhumanisticthoughitwas,causedyoungAmericatobelievetheycouldchange the world in their own strength, and they never saw the world orthemselvesinquitethesamewayagain.

Thethirdofthesecriticaleventsisoftenoverlooked.InthespiritofKennedy'sself-sufficienthumanism,theUnitedStatesSupremeCourt,inthe1962Engelv.Vitalecase,told39millionAmericanschoolchildrenthatthetwenty-two-wordprayerwithwhichtheystartedtheirdaywasaviolationoftheU.S.Constitution.The offending prayer-"Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence uponThee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and ourCountry"-seemed innocuous enough. But the result of its removal, as DavidBartonhas soclearly shown inhisAmerica:ToPrayorNot toPray,was thatalmost every area of American life mentioned in the prayer began to showunprecedenteddecline.Statisticsonacademictestscores,schoolviolence,childabuse, teen pregnancies, alcoholism, violent crime, and sexually transmitteddiseases-toname just a few-all revealed that the rulingprinciplesofAmericanlifehadchangeddramatically.Awallofprotection,constructedthroughprayeroverseveralgenerations,wasbeingdismantled.16

Thus,withthestagesetbyanintensifiedspiritualbattle,theillusoryhopesofsecularism, and a weakened prayer defense, the first of the hammer blowsoccurred:November22,1963.The imagesarestillclear inourmindsdecadeslater. Breathless announcers interrupting the broadcast day. Jacqueline's pinkdress and pill-box hat. The final announcement from Parkland Hospital. The

shockofthenation.LittleJohn-Johntearfullysalutinghisfather'scasketasthecaissonrolledby.Thetelevisedassassinationofthepresident'sassassin.

Themuch-debatedquestionofwhoshotJohnKennedyinDallas'DealyPlazaisnotnearlyasimportantaswhatitdidtothenation.Itwasacollectivetraumaonanunprecedentedscale,asthoughthewholenationhadexperiencedaviolentaccidentwithall the fear, theuncontrollableemotion,and thedesperatesearchfor normalcy that follows such horrors. The gaping national wound that thedeath of Kennedy left on the American soul meant a loss of the troubledinnocence that had characterized postwar society. Now, with the prince ofCamelotslain,theyoungknightsofCamelotweresetadrift.

Thenbegantheseductionofageneration.AmeretenweeksaftertheKennedyassassination,an"assault"teamlandedatLaGuardiaAirportinNewYork.TheirreasonforenteringthecountrywastoappearonTheEdSullivanShow,ridingacrestofpopularity fromhit songs like "Please,PleaseMe," "SheLovesYou,"and "I Want to Hold Your Hand." From the very beginning they electrifiedyoungAmerica,asfilmsfromtheirconcertatSheaStadiumdepict.Screaming,weeping, contorting youthsweremoved by forces beyond themusic. Sixteen-year-old girls charged the stage, flattening policemen twice their size, whileothers simplypassedout andhad tobecarried from the field.Noone seemedmorestunnedbythecommotionthanthe"fabfour"themselves,buttheirmusichadtouchedthemourningheartsofCamelot'slonelyyoungknights,andnowtheBeatles would become, however unwittingly, the generals-or perhaps just thesergeants-inanewkindofwar.

Having hooked American youth as cute "mopped-topped" boys, the Beatlesthenunderwentatransformationpoweredbydrugs,sex,Easternreligions,pop-culture social consciousness, and superstar cynicism. This radical change canclearlybeseenintheRubberSoulalbumof1965andtheSgt.Pepper'sLonelyHearts ClubBand album of 1967. The "four gay lads," as John Lennon oncedescribedthem,haddied;thepictureoffourgravesonthecoverofSgt.Pepper'smade this point emphatically clear for thosewhohadn't heard it in themusic.Whatarose in theplaceof theearlyBeatleswerepsychedelicpiedpiperswhoplayedtheirentiregenerationintoaspiritualabyss.

The "new" Beatles led a bewildered army of millions into mind-alteringchemicals, sexual experimentation, andEasternmysticism-this last emphasis aresultof their relationshipwith theMaharishiMaheshYogi.By the time JohnLennonquipped that theBeatlesweremorepopular thanJesusChrist,hewas,sadly,morerightthanheunderstood.Thedisciplesofthesenewpiedpipershadlong ago discarded their parents' seemingly irrelevant Christianity and hadbegun,attheurgingofBeatles'friendTimothyLeary,to"turnon,tunein,dropout."

The problemwithLeary, theBeatles, and the other gurus of that era is thattheyseldomunderstoodtheforcestheyinvoked.Astheyurgedtherecreationaluseofpsychedelicdrugs,theywereunawarethatancientcultureshadalsousedsuchdrugsbutforradicallydifferentpurposes:todeadentherationalmindandthusopenthesoultotheinfluenceofspirits.Hallucinogenicdrugsforanyotherpurposewasunknownbeforethe1960s.Infact, thebiblicalwordwitchcraft isoftena translationof theGreekwordpharmakeia, the termfromwhichwegetourwordslikepharmacyandpharmaceuticals.Withouteverfullyunderstandingit,theBeatlesandtheirilkhadpriedopenahugedoortothedemonic,mergingcultureandoccultinamannerthatwouldreshapetheirworld.

Itwasnoaccident,then,thatamongDerekPrince'sfirstspiritualexperiencesinAmericawasaconfrontationwithdemonicforces.ThosewhoknewthecourseofhislifeandthenatureofAmericancultureinthosedayswouldhaveexpectedno less. Yet before we follow Derek's journey through those early years inAmerica, we should also consider an innovation that would soon change hisworld:theinventionofthecassette.

Whatwasknownas the "compact cassette"was firstpatentedby thePhilipsCompanyin1964,theyearafterDerekcametoAmerica.Itwasdesignedasanimprovementoverreel-to-reeltaperecordersthatwereprovingtoolargeandtooslow to suit a high-speed society. Aware of what this new technology mightmean,SonyandNorelcowereearly licenseesof thepatent for thecassette. Infact, the plastic case that virtually all cassettes were sold in was dubbed the

"Norelcocase"asaresult.

Recordcompanieswereslowtoacceptthenewaudioformat,though,andonlyreleasedalbumsincassetteformataftertherecordhadbeenonthemarketforawhile.Thisledonecompanytoboastonitsdustjackets,"Remember,italwayshappensonrecordsfirst."

Whilethecassettewasmakingonlymodestinroadsintothemarketplace,the8-trackcartridgewasfoistedontheAmericanpublic.Theappealofthe8-trackwas its portability, and record companies, believing that this new technologywasthewaveofthefuture,spentenormousbudgetstoassureitssuccess.Therewereproblems,though.The8-trackwasnotonlycheaplyconstructedandeasilydamaged,butitalsocouldnotbeusedtorecord.Americanssoonsouredontheonce touted device, and the 8-track became a dinosaur faster than any othersimilartechnologyinhistory.

Theageof thecassette thendawned. In the early1970s,Maxell, a Japanesecompany,dramaticallyimprovedthequalityofthecassette,andTDKfollowedtheirlead.Sensingatrend,companieslike3M,Ampex,andSony,whohadbeenmakingcassettesforyears,shiftedlargerbudgetsbehindthetechnology,anditwasnotlongbeforethecassettebecamethemediumofchoicefortherecordingindustry.

Itwasnotthehigh-endcassettemarketthatdramaticallyshapedDerekPrince'slife,though.Oncecassettesbecamethepreferredmediumformusic,companiesquickly realized that there was a growing market for home recording andduplication.Everycassetteplayerwassooncapableofrecording,anditwasnotlongbeforeinexpensivetapeduplicationmachinesalsospilledontothemarket.Thecassettetaperevolutionhadbegun.

This technological revolution quickly merged with the spiritual revolutionalready underway. When Derek Prince entered America, the CharismaticMovementwasbutanewbornbabe.Withinafewyears,though,themovementwould begin emphasizing Bible teaching, prophecy, and personal ministry tosuchadegree thatCharismaticbelieversbegantobegforrecordingsofalmosteverywordspokenataconferenceorachurchservice.Intimeitbecameajokeamong Charismatics that aman's holiness wasmeasured by howmanywhite

plasticcassettetapeswithhandwrittenordotmatrixlabelshehadstoredinhishouse.The joke betrayed the reality. TheCharismaticMovement grewon thepowerofrecordedspeech,andthecassettewastheaccessiblemediumthatgavethatspeechglobalappeal.

In fact, it is not going too far to suggest that the cassette tape definedCharismatic culture.The faithful took tapes theway their secular counterpartstook medicine. Mothers played tapes on healing for their ill children, andfamilies listened to their favorite teachersduringmealtime.Pursesandpocketsspilledoverwith tapes in thewakeofaconference,andentireministriesweredevotedtoaiminglittlewhitecassettetapemissilesattheAmericansoul.

ItwasatechnologicalmomentperfectlysuitedfortheworkofDerekPrince.BythetimehesetfootinAmerica,ithadbeennearlytwentyyearssincehehadheardhisGodsay,"YouarecalledtobeateacheroftheScriptures,intruthandfaithandlove,whichareinChristJesus-formany."Sincethattimehehadhonedhis teaching skills in a Ramallah way station for orphans and soldiers, in aLondonhousechurch,inaKenyanteacher'strainingschool,andinaCanadianBiblecollege.By1963,Derekwaseager to touch theworldwith the truthshehadlearned,andthecassettewasjustthetooltohelphimdoit.

ItisintriguingtonotethatDerekPrinceenteredAmericainthespringof1963alargely unknown Pentecostal preacher. He had spent the previous year in thebackwaters of Canada and the half-decade before that in the backwaters ofKenya.Hewasunknown,undefined,andunemployed.

Ameresevenyearslater,Derekhadbecomeoneofthebest-knownpreachersin the country. His gifts had chiseled a place for him in the emergingCharismaticMovement, and he had gained a national reputation as one of themost theologically sound yet spiritually electrifying teachers on the Christianstage.TounderstandthesesevenyearsistounderstandwhatDerekwouldmeantohisgenerationinthedecadesthatcameafter.

HebeganhisworkinAmericaasateachingpastoratPeoplesChurchonVan

Buren Street in Minneapolis. The senior pastor there was a man namedHenderson whom Derek had met during the war. When Pastor HendersonlearnedofDerek'seagernesstoserveasateachingpastorinAmerica,herealizedwhatamanofDerek'seducationandexperiencemightmeanforhischurchandquicklyextendedaninvitation.

ForDerek,theopportunityseemedstrategic.Itnotonlygavehimachancetousehisteachinggifts inalargerarena,butitalsoofferedhimtimetoworkonthe project that seemed dearest to his heart in those days: his correspondencecourse.His explanationof theproject to a friendportraysbothhispassion forChristianeducationandhissenseofthetimes.

Asthingsarenowmovingintheworldbothpoliticallyandspiritually,Idonotfeelfreetocommitmyselftoanyoneoranythinganywhere....MymainpurposeinacceptingatemporaryappointmentattheWesternPentecostal Bible College in Vancouver was to have time andopportunity to consider the question of my own future ministry andalsotoworkonsomekindofdevelopmentorextensionoftheoriginal"AllNations"BibleCorrespondenceCoursewhich IproducedduringmytermofserviceinKenya.Howeverthingsdidnotworkoutat theBible college in Vancouver as I had been led to expect. Since then,duringtheperiodofmytemporaryassociationwiththePeoplesChurchhere,Ihavebeenabletoworkout,withtheLord'shelp,whatIbelievecanbeapracticalandusefulinstrumentofBibleteaching,bothathomeandoverseas. Itwould take too long to explainmy scheme in detail,butbasicallyitwouldconsistofthefollowing:

•Aseriesofsystematic,Bibleteachinglecturesrecordedontape,eachlecturelastingnotmorethantwentyfiveminutes.

•AsetofoutlinenoteswithScripturereferencestoaccompanyeachlecture.

•Asetofself-examinationquestionpapers,withanswersincluded,onthepatternof"ProgrammedInstruction"attheendofeachsetoffourlectures.

In this way, the whole program would be self-contained and would

provide within one system the three psychological requirements ofgoodteaching:hearing,seeing,anddoing.

Derek'seducationalwisdomshinesinthisletter.Itisonly1963,andyetDereknotonlyfeelsanurgencytogetwhathehaslearnedintothebodyofChrist,buthealsorealizesthatthistaskcannotbefulfilledwithconventionaleducation.Heunderstands that the average Christian believer does not have the time or theinclination to sit for hours in a classroom. Still there is the pressing need fordeeper teaching than the average church provides. To meet this need, Derekdesigns something new: a self-study program that can be completed by anybelieveranywhereandathisownpace.Itisjustthekindofinnovationthatwill,in time, place advanced teaching in the hands of thousands of believers andmake the name of Derek Prince synonymous with the systematic teaching ofGod'sWord.

It is also interesting in Derek's letter that he describes his role at PeoplesChurchas"temporary."Heapparentlysensedsomethingotherscouldnothaveforeseen. It would be natural for us to expect that Derek would remain inMinneapolis, thriveas a teachingpastor, andextendhis teachingby tapes andthe printed word to a nation in need. The fact is he was only at the PeoplesChurchamatterofmonths.HisyearofpreachinginCanadaandthestoriesofhisworkinKenyathatappearedinPentecostalpublicationshadgivenhimsomeexposure among theAssemblies ofGod churches inAmerica.Oneof these, achurchinSeattlecalledBroadwayTabernacle,decidedtoextendaninvitationtoDerektobecometheirpastor.DerekandLydia,feelingwhattheylaterdescribedasa"spiritofadventure,"decidedtoaccept.

Itwasanodddecision.IfanythingspringsfromthepagesofDerek'slettersatthetimeitisapassiontobefreeofentanglementinordertoteachaswidelyaspossible the revelations that burned in his soul. In Minneapolis, he has thebenefits of a large American city, and he has the freedom to teach a localcongregationaswellastotravelandspeakwidelyinPentecostalcircles.Healsohastimetowritethematerialthatisstirringinhisheart.Insteadofbuildingonhisopportunities,heacceptsapastorate inSeattle,amove thatseemstofly inthefaceofeverythinghewasstrivingforatthetime.Itwouldprove,though,tobeoneofthegreatturningpointsofhislife.

Derekassumed thepastorateofBroadwayTabernacle inSeattleonSeptember15,1963.Hesoonrealizedhehadlandedinawarzone.

Theproblemwasnotprimarilywiththecongregation.Theynumberedseveralhundred people and were for the most part respectful, devoted, PentecostalpeoplewhowelcomedDerekandLydiawarmly.WhatdisturbedDerek,though,wasthat,whenitcametospiritualmatters,thepeopleseemedtobeinadaze.AsDereklaterdescribedthesituation,"Itdidn'tmatterwhatIdid,therewasnorealresponse.Itwasabafflingsituation."

AsDerekandLydiaprayed,theybegantounderstandwhattheyweredealingwith.Theysensed thatGodwas leading themtoGalatians3:1,which includesthe question, "Who has bewitched you?"Derekwas surprised by the passage.Thescriptureseemedtoindicatethatthecongregationwasundersomekindofevilmanipulation.Butwherediditcomefrom,andhowhaditspread?

In time,DerekandLydia came toknow the full story. It turnedout that thewife of the previous pastor of the church had fallen in love with one of thechurch's boardmembers. The two engineered a scheme bywhich theywouldeach divorce their spouses so they could marry. The previous pastor was sowoundedbyhiswifedivorcinghimand turning toanothermanthathesimplyabandonedthechurchandmovedaway,thusleavinghiswifeasthevirtualheadofthechurch.

The woman began to control the congregation, largely by means ofmanipulationandintimidation.Whenadisputearoseinthechurch,forexample,shewouldsay,"Nowhowmanyofyouareforme?Putyourhandup."Anyonewho didn't raise their hand received awithering stare that seemed to have analmostsupernaturaleffect.WhenDereksawwhatshewasdoing,hecouldonlydescribe her control of the congregation as "mesmerizing." He knew that thecongregation would never be free to pursue God fully until this woman'sspiritualgriponthesoulsofthepeoplewasbroken.HeandLydiabegantopray.

Astheydid,theywereremindedofanexperiencethattookplaceshortlyaftertheyarrived.AlocalBaptistpastorwhobarelyknewDerekcalledhimonedayandsaid,"TheLordhasshownmeyouaretoministerdeliverancetoawomaninmycongregation."Derekwasn'tsurewhat thepastorwantedofhim,butwhilehewasstillon thephonehequicklyprayed,"Lord, is this fromYou?"andhesensed that theanswerwasyes.He told theBaptistpastor thathewouldmeetwiththewoman,andthetwomadeanappointment.

Whenthepastorarrivedwiththewomaninneed,Dereknotedthatsheseemedlike a perfectly normal American housewife. The other pastor immediatelyexplained, "Thiswomanhas alreadybeendeliveredof a spirit ofnicotine, buttherearemoredemonsthatneedtocomeout."DerekwasstunnedthataBaptistwouldspeakinsuchamanner,butheagreedtojointhemanindrivingdemonsout of the woman. Settling into Derek's office, the three began to pray fordeliverance.

The Baptist pastor took the lead, shouting at the top of his voice andcommanding the spirits to leave. He seemed to believe that the louder heshouted,themorepowerhehad.Itdidn'tprovetrue.Afteronlyashortwhile,hewasexhaustedandthewomanwasunchanged.

Derek tookover.He turned to thewomanandbeganaddressing thespirit inher. "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ," he commanded, "what is yourname?"Suddenly, a full,masculine voice issued from thewoman's throat andsaidsimply,"Hate."JustasDerekheardtheword,helookedatthewoman'sfaceandsawthemostperfectmaskofhatredhehadeverseenorenvisioned.Thenthespiritwithinthewomanspokeoncemore:"Hate,"itsaidagain,"andI'mnotcomingout.I'velivedheretwentyfiveyears,andI'mnotcomingout."

Derekknewthatspiritsoftenfightbackwithfearandintimidation.Hewastooexperienced in casting out demons to let such tactics succeed. Facing thewoman,Derekfelthissoulfillwithastrengthoffaithhehadseldomknown.Hecommandedthespirittoleave.Itrefused,butDerekwasundaunted.Heandtheotherpastorprayed, readScripture, andordered the spirit togo.Suddenly, thewoman's hands rose to her throat andbegan chokingher.Derek and theothermanknewthatthespiritwasusingthewoman'sownbodyagainsther,andthey

began commanding the spirit to cease while physically pulling the woman'shandsawayfromherthroat.

Finally,thespiritfledandthewomanrelaxed.Thestruggleleftherexhaustedandwithastonishingheatrisingfromherbody.Thetwopastorssensedthattherewas more work to be done, though, and began immediately commanding thespirits within thewoman to name themselves and leave. A spirit of infidelitynameditselfandthenfledatDerek'scommand.Sixorsevenotherspiritsnamedthemselvesandleft.Oneofthemidentifieditselfasaspiritofdeath.

Whentheworkwasdone,Derek lookedat thewomanandsawthatshewastransformed. Her countenance had changed, and there seemed to be a gentleglowtoherfeaturesthathadnotbeentherebefore.Shewasfree,andeveryoneknewit.

ThisexperiencewasbothgloriousandtroublingtoDerek.Hewasthrilledatthevictoryoverdemonsand thrilled to see thewomanset free.Still,heknewthat theexperiencechallengedsomethinghehadcome tobelieve.Pentecostalshad long taught that while the unsaved could have demons living in them,Christianscouldnot.StandardPentecostaltheologymaintainedthatanydemonicpowersthatmightoncehavedweltinaChristianweredrivenoffatthemomentoftheirsalvation,whentheSpiritofGodtookupresidenceinthebeliever'ssoul.SincetheSpiritofGodandthespiritsofevilcannotresideinthesamevessel,PentecostalsbelievedthatnoevilspiritcouldindwellatrueChristian.

DerekwasbeginningtorealizethatwhiletheSpiritofGodmight liveinthespirit of a born-againman, theman's body and soul could still be a haunt ofdemons.ChristianswhogavethemselvestosinorwhohadcometoJesuswithparticularlygrievousstrongholdsofevilneededhelpdrivingthedemonicfromtheirlives.Derekknewthatmostofthechurchworldwouldn'tagree.Mostnon-Pentecostalsdidn'tevenbelievethatdemonsstilloperatedinthemodernworld,andmostPentecostalsbelieved theyoperatedonly in the livesof theunsaved.HecouldalreadyseethattakingthepositionthatdemonscanindwellChristianswasn'tgoingtobepopular.Still,henowknewitwastrue,andheknewthatinanincreasinglydemonizedagethisknowledgewastooprecioustokeepfromGod'speople.

ItwasthisexperiencewiththedemonizedwomanthatmovedDerekandLydiatostartwonderingiftheircongregationdidn'thavedemonictroublesaswell.Asthesethoughtswerefirstcrossingtheirminds,though,ithappened.OneSundaymorning Derek was preaching boldly about Elijah. He began saying that itdoesn'tmatterwhatthedevildoes,Godhastheanswer.Satanhashispharaoh,butGodhasHisMoses.SatanhashisprophetsofBaal,butGodhasHisElijah.JustasDereksaidthesewords,awomanletoutahorrible,piercingscreamandbeganwrithingonthefloor.Thecongregationletoutacorporategaspandthensat stunnedas thewomancontortedviolently.Derekpaused inhis sermonbutseemed calm. He waited, scanned his spirit for a nudge from God, and thensimply called some of the congregation's leaders to the front and announced,"Nowwewillministertooursister."

The contest began. One of the ladies Derek had called up to help begandemanding that thedemon in thewomangive itsname.Thespirit refusedandcontinueditstorment.Theladythenscreamedatthedemonwithgreatervolume.Still, the spirit would not obey. Finally, with the lady exhausted and thecongregation deeper in shock, Derek asked some of the deacons to take thewrithingwomantohisoffice.

While Lydia and some of the church leadership ministered to the troubledwomanintheoffice,Derektriedtocalmhisoverwhelmedcongregation.Afterafewmoments,though,LydialookedaroundthedooroftheofficeandsaidaloudtoDerek, "You'd better come in here quickly."Realizing he could do nothingmoreforthestunnedcongregation,hesimplysaidaprayeranddismissedthem.As he walked toward the office to help in delivering the woman, a coupleapproachedhim."Mr.Prince,"theysaid,"thatisourdaughterinthere.Maywecomewithyou?"Derek thought foramoment, couldn't thinkofany reason tosayno,andreplied,"Byallmeans."

Now,thedemonizedwoman,Derek,Lydia,somedeacons,andthedemonizedwoman's parents were all jammed in Derek's tiny office. Immediately, theparentsbeganrelayingtheirdaughter'sstory.Shehadrecentlybeenembroiledinasinfulrelationship,hermotherexplained.Dereklistenedandquicklyrealizedthatthetormentedwomanwasbeingseducedbyspiritsintentuponruiningherlifeandthe livesofherfamily.Hequicklybegancommandingspirits toname

themselves. The first one identified itself as a spirit of flirtation. Derekcommandedittogo,anditdid.Thenanothernameditselfasaspiritofpetting.It toowentoutof thewoman,and then the floodgates seemed to flyopen.AsDereklaterdescribedit,"Spiritsbeganidentifyingthemselvesandflyingoutofthatwomanlikepassengershandingtheirticketstoastewardessbeforeboardingaplane."Derekwoulddemandthespirit'sname,commandittogo,andthespiritwould flee. Before long, the exhaustedwomanwas freed of demonic control.Derekchargedhertogohomeandrepairthedamageherimmoralityhaddone.

Derek and Lydia now realized that their new churchwas filled with sweet,Christian people who were frequently under the influence of demons. Astroublingathoughtasitwas,itwasimpossibletodenygivenwhathadhappenedonthatSundaymorning.Evensomeofthemostskepticalleadersinthechurchwerenowconvincedthatdemonswerereal,thatChristianscouldbecontrolledby them, but that Jesus had given His church the power to drive them off.Seizingthemoment,Derekbeganteachinghisflockabout thepowerbelievershaveoverdemons.HerecountedthevictorieshehadseeninKenya,challengedhis congregation to new levels of holiness, and began praying for those whowerewillingtobefree.

Word of changed lives spread. At first people came from Seattle and thesurrounding regions.Then, asvictory followedvictory in the livesof troubledpeople, seekers came from other American states and even parts of Canada.Sensing thathewaspioneeringsomethingcritical in thebodyofChrist,DerekandLydia,dutifully,prayedwitheveryone theycould.Therewereastonishingvictories. The drug-addicted, the bitter, the angry, and the tormented allmadetheirwaytoDerek,andmostwerepermanentlydelivered.

Itwas exhaustingwork, though.Derek andLydia seldom got to bed beforetwoin themorningandrarelyhadtimeforanythingbutpreachingandcastingout demons. Their home life was constantly disrupted, and this was largelybecausetheychosetoholddeliverancesessionsintheirlivingroomtopreservetheprivacyofthosewhosoughthelp.LittleJoskaquicklylearnedtheroutine.Inthe wee hours of one morning, the deliverance session ended with Joskacrumpledinacornerandherheadinherhands.WhenDerekcalledtoher,sheshotstraightupandasked,"Didyougetthemallout?"

ItwasduringthisseasonofdramaticministrythatDerekfirstcameintocontactwithanorganizationcalledFullGospelBusinessMen'sFellowshipInternational(FGBMFI). Begun in 1952 by Christian businessman Demos Shakarian,FGBMFIwasdesignedasamovementofbusinessmenwhomet to share theirchanged liveswith other businessmen.The strategywas simple: eachmemberwould invite someone from the business community to a meal during whichother businessmen would explain what Jesus had done for them. Though themovement grew slowly at first, it eventually ballooned when well-knownpreachers-men likeOralRoberts andGordonLindsay-held specialmeetings topromotethecause.Bythemid-1960s,theorganizationhadexplodedintomorethanthreehundredchapterswithatotalmembershipofmorethanonehundredthousandmen.

Whenthemovement'sleadersheardDerek'steachingtapes,theyknewhewasjustthekindofmantheyneeded.ThoughDerekstillhadathickBritishaccent-whichremindedhisAmerican listenersof theBBCannouncers theyhadheardduringthewar-histeachingwasprecise,unemotional,systematic,andpractical.ItwasjustwhatamovementsuchasFGBMFIneeded.Businessmenoftendidn'trelate to the loud, sentimental preaching of the average Charismatic minister.Derek was a refreshing change, offering a clear, organized message thatbusinessmencouldunderstand.

Derekalsogotresults,andbusinessmen,whoweretrainedtothinkintermsofthebottomline,likedseeing"realworld"benefits.ThiswasbecauseDereknotonly taughtbuthe alsoprayed forpeople and received spiritual insights abouttheirlivesthatleftthemchanged.Afterteachingoncurses,forexample,Derekmightlookatawomanandsay,"Madam,Isensethatyourfatheroftentoldyouthat youwould not amount to anything. I'm here to tell you that it isn't true."Then, placing his hands on the woman's head, Derek would pray against thecurse and command spirits that had enforced the curse in thewoman's life tocomeout.Theremightbeashriekoraviolentshakingforamoment,andthenthewomanwouldbecalm.Allwhoknewherwouldacknowledge in thedaysafter thatshehadbeendeeplychanged.WhenChristianbusinessmenand their

wivesheardofsuchtransformations,theywantedDerektojointheirwork.

Itwasusual foraFGBMFIconference toscheduleBible teachersduring theday and businessmen's testimonies at night. Derek first found a home in themovement as a teacher in the daytime sessions. To the delight of crowdsthroughout thecountry,Derekgavebalanced,systematic instructionon themeslike the power of God's Word, the need for the baptism of the Holy Spirit,prayer, holiness, and the power to cast out demons. His ministry was wildlypopular,forpeoplehadseldomheardsuchsolidexpositionoftheScripturesorexperienced such unemotional yet amazingly fruitful ministry following theteaching. Throughout the network of FGBMFI, Derek Prince came into hugedemand,and,giventhatby1972themembershipoftheorganizationhadgrowntomorethanthreehundredthousand,thiswasnosmallachievement.

Dereknow foundhimself straddlinghis growing reputation inFGBMFI andhisdutiesasthepastorofalocalchurch.Hewasfeelinganoldfrustration:thetensionbetweenthe"teacher-at-large"hefeltcalledtobeandtheresponsibilitiesof a good shepherd. Increasingly, he had come to see his Seattle church as a"middle class social club that meets on Sunday morning." People came tochurch,paidtheirtithes,heardtheweeklysermon,andwentbackintotheirlivesuntil the next Sunday. There was little change and even less impact on thebroaderworld.

This frustration moved Derek to consider other directions for his ministry.Earlyin1964,hewasapproachedbythefledglingOralRobertsUniversityabouttakingafacultyposition.Theoffermusthavethrilledhim.Whatbettersituationcould he have than to be on the faculty of aCharismatic universitywhere hecould teach all that he had learned without restraint and yet still have thefreedom to travel and speak around the country? Clearly, Derek wanted theposition.Hewouldnotgetit,though,andthereasonwhyistelling.

Onhisapplication for theORUposition,Derekhad listedasa reference thedirector of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, aman named 0. R. Upton.When the provost of Oral Roberts University, J. D. Messick, contacted Mr.UptonforinformationaboutDerekandLydia,hereceivedakindletterinreturnbut one that included a condemning paragraph that probably brought ORU's

consideration of Derek to an end. Though he spoke glowingly of Derek'steachingandadministrativeskills,hethenwrote:

Allofhispasthistorywould indicate thathedoesnot remain long inanyonepositionorlocation.Andsofaraswecanascertainfromourexperiencewithhisfamily,wefoundthatcertainproblemshavealwaysdeveloped with regard to Mrs. Prince's association with those aboutthem. I am writing to you confidentially. Mr. Prince has unusualability; and if he is engaged there are the prospects of certainpersonalityproblemsdeveloping,ifoneispreparedtotakethoserisksinsecuringtheadvantagesofhisservices.

It is hard to know what Mr. Upton intended. He had to know that thisparagraphwouldendDerek'schancesofbeingontheORUfaculty.Perhapshewas given to sour grapes over Derek's departure from the PentecostalAssembliesofCanada. It is alsounclearwhatproblemshaddevelopedaroundLydia.Shewascertainlyasboldandplainspokenasahumanbeingcouldbe,butshedoesnot seem tohave left a trail of offensewherever shewent.Still, thisepisode in Derek's life is important for two reasons. It demonstrates that theCharismaticMovementwas growing up and valuing good teaching like neverbefore,anditshowsthatDerekPrincewasquicklygaininganationalreputationasasolid,Spirit-empoweredteacherofGod'sWord.

TherejectionbyORUwasfarfromastingingrebuke,butitdidmakeDerekwonderwherebesttoliveoutthepowerfulbrandofministryGodseemedtobegivinghim.Hebegantocontemplateamoveoutofthepastorate,andheputthematter beforeGod in prayer.He decided that ifGodwanted him to leave thepastorate,HewouldhaveFGBMFIinviteDerektobeabanquetspeakerattheirspecialFourthofJulyconferenceinPhiladelphia.Derekprayedandwaited,andthe invitation came.As usual, his time ofministry in Philadelphia thrilled theattendeesandtookhisalreadyrisingreputationtonewheights.ThecrowdwasalsotouchedbyseeingaBritishscholarsittingontheplatformwithhisKenyandaughter on his lap while attending a meeting designed to remember thefounding of America. Derek never forgot the moment, both for what itsymbolizedhistoricallyandbecauseitwastheconfirmationheneededfromhisGodthathispastoralworkwasdone.

Immediately after the meeting in Philadelphia, Derek returned to Seattle,resigned his pastorate, and prepared to move to Chicago. One of the seniorleadersofFGBMFIwasassociatedwithachurchcalledFaithTabernacle,whichstood in theParkRidgesectionofChicago,andhehad invitedDerek to teachtherewhilecontinuingtotravelasapopularspeaker.Derekaccepted,andinlatesummerof1964hemovedhisfamilytotheMidwest.

ThePrinceswouldspendfouryearsinChicago,atryingseasonthatprovedtobe far from the easiest of their lives. The astonishing demand for Derek'steachingministrykepthimawayfromhomeforweeksandsometimesmonthsatatime.Often,hetookLydiawithhim.ThisleftJoska,whoremainedbehindsooftenthatfirstJohanneandherfamilyandthenElisabethmovedintothehometo care for their little sister. Clearly, there was little family routine. Tomakematters worse, when the Princes first moved to Chicago, they lived in anapartment in a troubled part of the city. It was largely a Puerto Ricanneighborhoodthatwasbesetbyagreatdealofcrimeandviolence.Thiswasnotunusual,forinthelate1960sthecitiesofAmericawerebecomingcauldronsofunrest.

Chicago was the beginning of Joska's troubled relationship with Americanculture.ShewasonlyeightwhenthefamilymovedfromSeattle,andshemusthavefeltthechangedeeply.Anewlifestyleinanewcityisachallengetoanychild,butJoskahadmoreobstaclesthanmost.Shewouldhavebeenfardarkerthanmostof theblacksherPuertoRicanneighborshadeverseen,andyetherfatherwas a tallEnglishman andhermotherwas a short, plumpDane. Itwasconfusingtohernewfriends.Whatwasmore,herparentswerefarolderthantheparents of her friends. Derek was almost fifty, and Lydia was in her mid-seventies at the time. Joska remembers to this day the questions, theembarrassment,andthesnickersofherChicagoplaymates.

Afterayearintheapartment,thePrincesmovedtoabettersectionofthecity,and life improvedforJoska.Still, shewrestledwithwhoshewas.Thoughshedelightedintheloveofherparents,shealsobegantorealizehowbeingblacksetherapart-fromherparents,fromherfriends,andevenfromthecultureatlarge.She saw other black children on television, and itmade herwant a sister thesamecolorshewas.Herparentstoldher,though,thatitwasn'tpossible.Itmay

be that Derek missed the larger issue in Joska's soul. She was beginning torealize that as aKenyan girl living inAmericawithwhite parents, lifewouldneverbeasitwasforothergirlsherage.

AtthesametimethatJoskawasfindingherworldabitmoretroubling,DerekandLydiawerebeginningtohittheirstride.Freedfromthepastorateandwidelyindemand,Derekfelt thathewasjustbeginningtoliveoutthetruecallingonhis life.Wherever he spoke, henot only taught theBible, but alsohe toldhisaudiencesofhislife'sjourney,ofthetruthshehadlearned,andofthechallengesandthevictorieshehadpassed.Hismessagewasasmuchwhohewasasitwaswhat he said. This intensely personal brand ofministry began tomake him afathertothespiritualrenewalthenunderwayinAmerica,justthekindofelderstatesmantheungainlyCharismaticMovementneeded.

To understand how this was so, it is important to understand the brand ofministrythatwascommonamongCharismaticsinthosedays.Bythelate1960s,therenewalwasstillinitsinfancy,butithadlivedlongenoughtogrowacertainstyle ofministry. Like the Pentecostals before them,Charismatics had disdainforoverlydoctrinalteaching.MostCharismaticshadbeeninmainlinechurcheswhen they stepped into the renewal and tended to associate highly structuredpreachingwiththedeadnessoftheirformerchurches.

Ministers in theearlyCharismaticRenewalsoon learned that theiraudiencesgravitated to a casual, exhortational style of preaching.The goalwas changedbehaviorandspiritualpower,notunderstanding.Asermonwouldusuallybeginwith the reading of Scripture, but the speakermight never explain the text orrefertoitasecondtimeduringhistalk.Instead,hewouldmostlikelyillustrateanopeningpointwithpersonal anecdotes and the testimoniesof people in thecongregation. Humor, personality, and spiritual force were the keys to pulpitsuccess.

Thoughthisstyleofministrywaseffectiveinlaunchingthemovement,intimeit left hungry Charismatics yearning for greater depth. The very idea of theCharismaticMovement-with its focuson theworkof theHolySpirit, tongues,miracles, demons, and spiritual power-demanded a fresh understanding ofScripture. Exhortation moved men to act, but spiritual power came through

believing truth, and this required teaching.Manybegan to understand that theoldPentecostal ideathat"ifyougetyourlearning,youloseyourburning"wassilly.Charismaticsbegantovalueknowledgethatledtofaithandthustopower.This created a demand for "anointed" teaching followed by effective personalministry-prayer for the sick, casting out demons, giving revelations aboutpeople's problems. Itwas just asCharismatics realizedwhat they trulyneededthatDerekPrincesteppedintoview.

WhatDerekofferedhisgrowingaudiencesinAmericawasexactlythekindofbiblical truth thathadsustainedhimthrough theyears: in thesandyfurnaceofnorthernAfrica,inthebackwaterofPalestine,ontheteemingstreetsofLondon,andinthespiritualwildernessofKenya.Havingnochurchculturetoshapehim,Derek had quite naturally approached Scripture with the same logic andsystematic investigationthatmadehimarespectedscholar.HeunderstoodthattheBiblewasGod'sWord,filledwithspiritualpowerforthosewhobelievedit,buthealsoknewthatGodhadusedmentowritetheBible.Thismeantthattheelementsofhistory-religion,language,culture,politics,andrace-allhaveeffectontheinterpretationofScripture.DecodingthesecamenaturallytoDerekasascholarofclassicalliterature.

WhenhesteppedontheAmericanstage,then,Derekcombinedthreeelementsthatwere rarelymerged inaCharismatic leader:masteryof thebiblical text,asensitivitytothevoiceofGodacquiredthroughyearsofexperience,andaclear,systematicstyleofteaching.Audienceswhoheardhimforthefirsttimelearnedmore of the Bible in one session than they might have from a dozen othersermons. Yet, they witnessed no fewer miracles or dramatic moments ofministrythanoccurredwithother,moreexhortationalministers.Whatwasmore,manyCharismaticswhohadsecretlywonderedifwhattheyhadcometobelievewas trulybiblical foundunderDerek's teachingthatCharismaticdoctrinegreworganically from the pages of Scripture. This only deepened their faith,madethembolderinspreadingtheirmessage,andmaturedthemovementasawholein a way that was desperately needed as the tumultuous decade of the 1960sneareditsend.

Derek'seffectiveness inministry led to financial success for the first time inhisadult life.With the increasedincomehewasearningfromhisspeaking,he

boughtthefirsthousehehadeverowned.Itwasasimple,suburbanhomenearthechurch in theParkRidgesectionofChicago,but itwasdear toDerekandLydia.

Infact, itwasthishousethatled,inpart, toDerekPrincemovingtothecitythatwouldbecomethelaunchingpadforhisinternationaldestiny.Earlyin1968,DerekhadbeenaskedtospeakinFlorida,andwhenhedidhewasamazedbythebeautifulsceneryandinvitingclimate.HisyearsinChicagohadbeenamongthe coldest and snowiest on record. Derek hated the cold and often jokinglycommentedthatheoughttorepentbecausehewas"asunworshiper."Africahadworkeditswayintohissoulandgivenhimaloveofwarm,sunnyclimates.

Ashe reflectedon thebeautyofFlorida, itoccurred tohimthathisministrywas such that he could live anywhere in the country. He seldom spoke inChicagobythistimebecausehewasalwaysonthemovethroughouttheUnitedStates.Hecouldlivemostanywheresolongastherewasalargeenoughairporttogethimtohismeetings.ItwasjustashewasbeginningtosuggesttheideaofamovetoLydia-andwassecretlyhouse-huntingonhistripstoFlorida-thathisson-in-law called him while he was on the road. George Hedges, Johanne'shusband,askedDerekifhewassittingdownbecausehesaidhehadbadnews.ThehousenexttoDerek'shadcaughtfireandwascompletelydestroyed,buttheblaze had also badly burnedDerek's house.No onewas hurt, he said, but thedamagewasextensive.

Derekrealizedthatrebuildinghishousewouldnotonlybeexpensive,thoughtherewasinsurancetocoverthebill,butitwouldmakethehouseunlivableforquitesometime.Hesawthecrisisasanopportunity, though,andsuggestedtoLydia that the time had come for a move.When he described the glories ofFloridaandthelivestheymighthavethere,Lydiacouldn'tresist.In1968,DereksoldhishouseinParkRidge,put$5,000downona$25,000home,andmovedhisfamilytothecitythatwouldbecomemoreassociatedwiththePrincestorythananyotherinAmerica:Ft.Lauderdale,Florida.

10

ATeacherforOurTime:ToHealtheBrokenStream

EREK, ITSTRIKESme thatyou first enteredAmerica theyearthat Kennedy was shot and the country began unraveling. You then rose toprominencejustbeforethecountrycelebratedherbicentennial.ThatsetyouupforhugeimpactontheUnitedStates,andyetyoustillfeelyourprimarycallingisIsrael.Canyouhelpmeunderstand?"

"Ididnotseeitclearlyatthetime.IwassimplydoingthenextthingtheLordtoldmetodo.YetIbelievedthenasIbelievenowthatBritainlostherempirebecausesheturnedherbackontheJews.Asyouknow,Iwasthereasawitnesstothatbetrayalintheeventsleadingupto1948.IrealizenowthattheLordmaywellhaveplacedmeinAmericawhenHedidtoreconnecttheAmericanchurchtoher spiritual roots and to awakenher to thepriorityof Israel.HadAmericaturned her back on Israel alongwith everything else shewas enduring in the1960sand1970s,shemighthaveperishedasanation."

"CanyouexplainwhatyoumeanbyAmerica'sspiritualroots?"

"AsaBritisher,IhadknownonlyalittleofthehistoryofAmerica'sbeginning.IknewtherewereChristianswhohelpedsettle thenation,but tosaythe truth,thatdidnotseemuniquetome.TherehadalsobeenChristiansinstrumentalinsettling South Africa and Australia, too. Yet in 1970, the city of Plymouth,Massachusetts,celebratedthe350thanniversaryofthelandingofthePilgrims.Ihave described this in Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting. But thesponsorsofthateventinvitedmetogiveaseriesofaddressesattheChurchofthePilgrimagethereinPlymouth,andtheyalsointroducedmetothewritingsofthePilgrims.

"I started readingOf Plymouth Plantation, byWilliamBradford, one of theleadersofthePilgrims.HedescribedtheChristianmotivesofthePilgrimsandhow they prayed and fasted constantly. I began to understand that the earlysettlersofAmericaenteredintoacovenantwithGodfortheland.IrealizedthatitisacovenantthatmuststillexistintheheartofGod,andIknewthenIwastoawaken theAmerican church so that theywould renew that very covenant. Itwas clearly a divinemoment.Youmust remember that in the early 1970s thecountrywasstill reelingfromthe '60sandstillsufferingthedisillusionmentofWatergate.God seemed to be saying, `You have leaned to your ownways inrunningthiscountry.Seewhatithasproduced?Now,returntoMyways."'

"Did it seem odd to you, as an Englishman, to be calling America to herfoundingvision?"

"You must remember that America's early settlers were English. An`American'wouldnotexistforalmosttwohundredyears."

"OK,yougotmethere.Buthowdiditfeeltoyouatthetime?"

"I felt itwasperfectlyas theLordwouldhave it for anEnglishmanwithanAfricandaughtertospeaktothenationaboutherhistory."

"DidtheAmericanchurchhearyou?"

"Somedid.Sadly,therenewalofthoseyearsseemedtogointwodirections.Some wanted to welcome the power of the Holy Spirit, renew the ancientcovenant, and thus change the course of history with what God was doing.Others seemed to want a blessing only for themselves. This gave rise to theextremesofprosperityandprophecy,socalled.IthinkIseesignsthatthosewhowantedtochangetheworldunderGod'shandarenowmakinggreatstrides,buttherewill alwaysbe, I suppose, theCharismatic sub-culture that only tends toitself."

"CanyourememberhowyoufeltabouttheCharismaticMovementwhenyoufirstcametoAmerica?"

"It was like watching a child play with adult toys. Rather than seeing the

outpouring of the Spirit as a call to maturity, to the person of Jesus, peopleleanedtowardthethrillsandtheexperiencesofrevival.Peoplegatheredarounddynamic personalitieswhether they had any depth or not. Themovementwasfragmented, andnoone could speak for thewhole. Itwas tragic becauseGodwas doing powerful things in the lives of many, and there would have beenmuchmorehadtherebeenunity."

"Is that what you were trying to heal when you helped to launch theDiscipleshipMovement?"

"Yes.Wewantedtobringunityandorder,hopefullyofakindthatwouldleadto maturity. I must say that I believe that God ordained the DiscipleshipMovement, but that the response of somepeople to itwas very carnal. Itwasright in its originalmotivation, though.Ultimately, selfish ambition destroyedit."

"Evenyourownselfishambition?"

"Yes,Iamsadtosay."

"AndwhatdidLydiathink?"

"ShelovedthemenweministeredwithinFt.Lauderdale,butshesensedtherewassomethingwrongwith thedirectionweweregoing.Shekept tellingmeithadawrongspiritattachedtoit."

"Canyourememberherspecificwords?"

"To say the truth, no. But I've been told that not long before she died sheturned to a friend with whom she had been discussing discipleship and said,almostintears,`They'vegotmyDerek."'

When Episcopalian priest Dennis Bennett received the baptism of the HolySpirit in 1959, a new spiritual movement was born. True, there had been

Pentecostalssincethebeginningofthecentury,andtherehadevenbeenaneo-Pentecostalmovementcalled"theLatterRain"thataroseimmediatelyfollowingWorldWar II. Thismovement was led bywhatmight be called "progressivePentecostals,"men likeOralRoberts,GordonLindsay,andT.L.Osborn,whowantedtomakethepowerofPentecostalismrelevanttoamodernworldthroughpublishing,film,television,andamorecontemporaryministrystyle.

Still, when Dennis Bennett experienced what had once been the exclusiveprovince of Pentecostals, a new day dawned. The Spirit began to move indenominations any Pentecostal would have deemed apostate-Episcopal,Catholic,Presbyterian,andBaptist,tonameafew.Beforelong,seekersineverymajor denomination were receiving this transforming gift of the Holy Spirit,prayingintongues,andbelievingthatmiraclesoughttogracethedailylivesofthe faithful. In time, the Full Gospel BusinessMen's Fellowship Internationalbeganprintingbookletswithtitleslike,TheActsoftheHolySpiritAmongtheLutherans or The Acts of the Holy Spirit Among the Churches of Christ. ItseemedtomanythatGodintendedtoreforgethechurchinAmericathroughtheheatofspiritualrenewal.

Sadly, these hopes would not live long. As the renewal moved into themainline churches, the denominational authorities began pondering how torespond to this new phenomenon. Charismatics, many of whom remained intheir traditional churches after receiving thebaptismof theHolySpirit, hopedthat theirchurcheswouldwelcomethemandthenewexpressionsoffaith theypracticed. It was not to be. Almost immediately, denomination afterdenomination began speaking out against the renewal, andmanyCharismaticsfound themselves made increasingly uncomfortable in their former spiritualhomes.ManywereaskedtoleaveiftheywouldnotrenouncetheirCharismaticways, and somewere forced out of churches their grandparents had helped tobuild.

Rejected by the mainline denominations, then, the Charismatic Movementquickly reformed itself into a flotilla of home groups, Bible studies, prayermeetings, and conferences. Doctrinal distinctives faded to the background inmeetingswhererefugeesfrommosteveryChristiandenominationworshipedinapassionatelyCharismaticstyle,listenedtotheteachingoftheScriptures,spoke

in tongues, received revelations, and prayed for healing or deliverance fromdemons.The flagship of this flotillawas clearly theFGBMFI, but it providedlittledirectoversight to the thousandsof smallermeetings thatwere fedby itsconferences,publications,andcassettes.

Therewere benefits to this informality in theCharismaticMovement. Smallmeetingsassuredthatindividualneedsweremetandthatthehurtingwerewell-loved.Evangelismbecameamatterofsimplyinvitingthelostintoahomewhereamoremature leaderwould teach theBible and perhaps present the truths ofsalvation.Therewerenotimelimits,noconstraints.Ameetingthatconvenedintheearlyeveningmightstretchlateintothenightorshiftemphasisastheneedsof people and the sense of the Spirit's will dictated. In truth, the earlyCharismaticMovement anticipatedmuch that later came tobe associatedwith"seeker-sensitive"baby-boomerspirituality.

There were also dangers to this informality. In a movement in which anymembermight have a revelation, disorder often reigned. Eschewing structure,authority, and often leadership, Charismatic groups frequently suffered fromcompeting revelations or doctrinal excesses, and no one was empowered tocorrect or discipline. As these groups grew in size, teachers or prophets withnotable gifts were often invited to minister. Usually, these guest speakersbroughtthepowerofthemovementtogroupsthatwouldotherwiseonlyknowitindiminishedfashion.Liveswerechanged,andthegatheringswererefueledforservice to others. Sometimes, though, these leaders had impure motives orplantedtheextremesofthemovementinthelocalgroup.Whenthishappened,deepwounds,brokenrelationships,andgeneralconfusionreigned.

WhenateacherlikeDereksurveyedtheCharismaticsceneinthelater1960sand early 1970s, therewasmuch to celebrate but also a good deal to promptconcern.ManyCharismaticshadoverreactedtotheirformermainlinechurchesandhaddiscarded from theirbelief systemanything that smackedof tradition,organization,or thevery ideaofdoctrine.What littlesystematic truthsurvivedoftendidsoinhorriblymisshapenform.Atruththatabiblicallysoundteachermightproclaim inaFullGospelBusinessMen'smeetingwouldoftenundergodisastrous reworkingby the time itmade itsway to a local prayermeeting orBible study. Doctrinal extremes, spiritual excesses, and social chaos often

prevailed. For a man of order, system, and spiritual purity like Derek, thingscould not remain as they were. Something had to change, Derek believed. Itmightrequireextrememeasurestomakeithappen.

When Derek and Lydia moved with Joska to Ft. Lauderdale in 1968, theirincreasingfamebroughtthemintocontactwithanorganizationcalledtheHolySpirit TeachingMission.Begun as a prayermeeting in the home ofChristianbusinessmanEldonPurvisin1966,themissionevolvedintoanannualteachingconference thatdrew leadingCharismatics fromallover theUnitedStates.By1969,themissionwassponsoringseminarsinCalifornia,Georgia,andOhioinaddition to itsmeetings inseveralFloridacities. Italsosponsoreda four-weekleadershipcoursefourtimesayearinMontegoBay,Jamaica,aswellasseveralteaching tours and cruises. In Juneof that year, themission started amonthlymagazine called New Wine, which soon became one of the most influentialpublicationsoftheCharismaticMovement.

ThemenwholedthemissionbythetimeDerekarrivedinFt.Lauderdalewereadiverse lot.TherewasDonBasham,aformerDisciplesofChristpastorwhowastransformedbytheCharismaticRenewalandwhobecameapopularspeakerinFullGospelBusinessMen'sconferences.In1967,hehaddecidedtoleavethepastorateandgivehimselftoaministryofwritingandteaching.ThislandedhiminFt.LauderdaleinJanuary1968,amovelargelypromptedbythesearchforamore accommodating climate. Basham was a sensitive, creative soul whosemessageswereclearbiblicaltruthlacedwithhumorandmovingstories.Hewasthe guiding spirit behind NewWine magazine, and his literary gifts reachedmanysoulshispreachingnevercould.

Another leader of the mission was Bob Mumford. A Pentecostal bybackground,Mumford had an extensive academic background that hemergedwithadynamic,entertainingspeakingstyletobecomeoneofthemostsought-afterspeakers in theCharismaticMovement.Hissenseofhumor,hisdesire toempowerChristianstoimpactthebroaderculture,andhiseagernesstohealtheCharismaticMovementplacedhimbeforehugecrowdsandalsobroughthimto

theattentionofEldonPurvisinFt.Lauderdale.In1970,PurvisinvitedMumfordto move to Florida to be part of the Charismatic work there, and Mumfordaccepted.

The other leader of note in themission at the timeDerek arrived or shortlythereafter was Charles Simpson. A man of impressive administrative gifts,Simpson had been a Baptist pastor when he encountered theministry of KenSumrall, a fellow Southern Baptist pastor who had embraced the CharismaticMovement. After receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit himself, Simpsonbegan traveling and ministering throughout the nation, having gained wideattentionforhisrecordedtestimony,aninsightfulyethumoroustalkentitledASouthernBaptistLooksatPentecost.

When Derek encountered these men, he felt that he had found brothers inarms.HeandLydiahadministeredasateamformorethantwodecadesbythetimetheyarrivedinFt.Lauderdale,buttheyhadseldomfeltconnectedtootherministers.TheHolySpiritTeachingMissionwelcomedthemandbroughtthemintocontactwith like-minded leaderswhowerealsoCharismatic, alsogainingpopularity throughout the country for their speaking ministry, and alsoconcernedaboutthestateoftherenewal.

In the last twoyearsof the1960s,whileDerek continued to answerhis fullspeakingschedule,healsobegan tomerge into themission'sevents.HewroteforNewWinemagazine,spokeattheirconferences,andtaughtattheextendedtraining sessions the organization sponsored. Increasingly, Derek felt he hadfoundaspiritualfamily.Hewasnolongeralone,inlifeorinleadership,andthisendeared him to the growing team ofCharismatic leaders then forming in Ft.Lauderdale.

In 1970, a crisis in the mission embedded him even more deeply inrelationship with the other men. Under Purvis' leadership, the mission hadaccruedmore than $36,000 in debt. The board of themission and its leadingpersonalities, likeDerek,were stunned. In time, theywould alsodiscover thatPurviswasapracticinghomosexual.Notonlydidtheserevelationsmeanlikelydamageto theHolySpiritTeachingMissionbutalso to theministriesof thosewho were identified with it. Derek was among them. As he later said, "We

wantedoutofit.Ournameswereassociatedwithit."

Horrified by what they had discovered, Derek, Mumford, Basham, andSimpsongathered in ahotel suite at theGaltOceanMileHotelonOctober8,1970. After discussing the crisis for a short while, the four knelt to pray. AsDerek later recounted, "God did something very sovereign and supernatural.Whenwerose,everyoneknewwithoutspeakingawordoraskingaquestionthatGodhadinsomewayunitedustogetherspiritually....ItwasnotsomethingweaskedGodtodo;itwasnotsomethingweanticipated."

Mumford agreed: "On a hotel room floor, Don, Charles, Derek, and Iencountered God and encountered one another. It wasn't a choice-it was anassignment."

That assignment, though, was unclear. Still, the four men soon foundthemselvesassumingcontroloftheHolySpiritTeachingMission.In1972,theorganizationchangeditsnametoChristianGrowthMinistries(CGM)toreflectitsdeepeningemphasisonteachingandtraining.EachofthemenwroteforNewWineandspokeatCGM'sconferences,yetmaintainedtheirindividualministryorganizations.

Withtime,adoctrinalemphasisbegantoemergethatdistinguishedCGMfromother Charismatic organizations. In 1972, Mumford wrote a series of articlesentitled "Lawlessness," which focused on the need for practical obedience toGodandsubmissiontoHisdelegatedauthorityinallspheresoflife.Thatsameyear, Simpsonwrote an article entitled "Covering of the Lord,"which arguedthat a believer is "covered" or "protected" by submitting to a Godordainedauthority. And in a 1973 sermon by Mumford, everyone present at theGovernor'sClubofFt.Lauderdalewasgiventheunqualifiedcharge,"Youneedtofindashepherd."TheemphasisofCGMwasclearlybecomingthecentralityoftheshepherd/sheeprelationship.

For Derek, the idea of every believer living under the guidance of aGodordainedauthorityhadstrongappeal.HenotonlysawthisastheanswertotheCharismaticMovement'sexcessesandimmaturity,buthealsobelievedthatdoctrinal sophistication and biblical depth could come from such mentoringrelationshipsaswell.

Thefactis,also,thatDerekwasnotasintouchwiththeemergingemphasisasmen like Mumford and Simpson were. Throughout his life, Derek hadmaintainedacapacityfordetachment,anabilitytobepresentinbodybutabsentin mind. Though he agreed with the basic values of CGM and with what heknewof the othermen'sministries, hewas too absent and too preoccupied tofocusonthepossibleextremesoftheemergingCGMdoctrine.Itwouldprovetobeoneofthefewblackmarksontherecordofhisministry.

Derek'sgrowingassociationwithCGMincreasinglymadeLydiauncomfortable.Bytheearly1970s,shewasinhereightiesandhadseenitall.Analreadybluntwoman,shehadbecomeevenmoreoutspokenwithageandwithherdeepeningsense that Derek was becoming part of something that had the potential tocompromiseallthatGodhadbeenpreparinghimforthroughtheyears.

WhenEldonPurvisprovedtobeahomosexual,LydiaburstintoameetingthatDerek, Basham, Simpson, andMumford were having and demanded, "Is thisyour discernment?" She was disturbed that such spiritual men should bedeceived,andsheworriedthattherewerebiggerdeceptionstocome.

During the years of the early 1970s, when Derek was tightening hisrelationship with the other men of CGM, Lydia was working on her book,Appointment inJerusalem.BecauseshespokeEnglishbetter thanshewroteit,she dictated the book toDerek,who in turn put her thoughts into the refinedEnglish he knew well. The work should have been a joy, the rewardingreflections of a fruitful life sharedwith a lovinghusband. Instead, the airwasthickwithtensionasDerekandLydiaworkedonthebook.TheirdisagreementsoverthedoctrinesofCGMhadbeguntotearatthefabricoftheirrelationship.

Bythistime,thePrinceshadbeeninAmericanearlyadecade,andithadnotbeen theeasiestofseasons forLydia.True,shehadenjoyedaneverincreasinglevelofprosperityasDerek'sministrygrew,andshehadbecomesomethingofamothertotheCharismaticRenewal.Still,sheseemedalternativelydisturbedandthrilledbythelivestheywereliving.

Partofherdiscomfortwassurelyduetotheconstantemphasisonthetwenty-sixyears that laybetweensheandDerek.Thefact is thathehadgrownintoahandsome older man. He was trim both from fasting and athletics. He lovedbasketball,tennis,andjoggingonthebeach.TheFloridasuntannedhisalreadylean,muscularbody,andthiscombinedwithhisstilldarkhairandhis1970sfullsideburnsmadehimadashing figure.Lydia,on theotherhand,began to lookevermorelikeexactlywhatshewas:aDanishwomanofeightyyearswhohadlivedahard life.Picturesof the twoat the time immediatelysuggestamotherwith her son, something their early photos do not. It was not uncommon forsomeone to turn toLydiaafterDerekhadpreachedandgush,"Yoursondidamarvelousjob."

Perhaps it was comments like this that often made Lydia seem irritable. AministeroncewalkedbyLydiasittingaloneinahotel lobbyandkindlyasked,"Howareyoudoing,Mrs.Prince?"LydiaglaredathimlikehehaddeniedChristandsnapped,"HowamIsupposedtobedoing?"Itwasthefirsttimethetwohadever met. If someone hugged her-for hugging was common in Charismaticcircles-andhappenedtopatLydiainmid-embrace,shewouldimmediatelypullaway and protest, "Don't pat me. I'm not a dog." Comments like these werelargely reservedforAmericanwomen,whomLydia found tobeanoddbreed."American women are always talking. Always cackety, cackety, cack," shecomplained.

ItmayalsohavebeenthatLydiawasbreakingoutofthenarrow,Pentecostalconformity she had known all her life. She had been amissionary, a pastor'swife,andahardworkingChristianmothermostofhereightyyears,andshemayhavefoundwelcomereliefinthefreedomthatwasbecomingabelovedhallmarkoftheCharismaticMovement.Sheseemedtobereturningtowhoshereallywasand with a vengeance. Once when Derek was teaching at a conference inPhiladelphia and some friends took the Princes out to lunch, Lydia casuallyorderedabeer.ThiswasnotunusualforCharismaticsfrom,say,aCatholicoraPresbyterian background. But for Lydia, Derek Prince's wife and well-knownPentecostal,toorderabeerduringaChristianconferencewassuretosettongueswagging.Clearly,shedidnotcare,norwasitthelasttimeshehadalagerwithhergoulashinpublic.

Yet, to theconfusionof thosewhowere tempted todislikeher,Lydiacouldalso be astonishingly gentle and deeply spiritual. She gravitated to the young,particularlythehippiesandthetroubledyouthswhomadetheirwaytoDerek'smeetings. The sameLydiawho avoided hugs fromoverdressed pastors'wivesheld hurting hippie girls in jeans and fringed leather jackets as long as theywouldstay.

Shewasalsoknownforherloveofanimals.Sheneverstoppedtalkingabouthertwodogs,SammyandSusie,asthoughtheywerehuman.DerekhadboughtthemforJoska,butLydiatookthemasherown.Sheoftenprayedforanimals,too.A stray catwandered into a friend's yard, and Lydia, seeing a protrusionfromthefeline'sbelly,heldittenderly,prayedforit,andmadeeveryonethankGodthenextdaywhentheanimalseemedtobehealed.Shedidnothaveequalsuccesswithhorses.A friend'shorsediedafterLydiaprayed for it, andLydiawas sodepressed thatDerek chidedherwith, "Youwon't let a horseget yourvictory,willyou,mydear?"

WhatalmosteveryonewouldrememberoftheirtimewithLydiawasthatshewas amazingly perceptive spiritually. Itwas not uncommon for her to turn tosomeoneshehadnevermetbeforeandsay,"Youknow,ifyouwillforgiveyourmotherforwhatshedidtoyouwhenyouwerefive,youwillbesetfree."Sheonce walked by as a man who would become one of the Princes' longtimefriends,JimCroft,wasprayingforawomantobedeliveredofdemoniccontrol.Lydia tookone look,pointed toanamulet thewomanwaswearingaroundherneck,andsaid,"Ifshewillgetridofthis,shewillbefree."Thewomanremovedthe amulet, Croft prayed again, and deliverance came instantly. And asmuchtroubleasLydiaseemedtohavewithadults,shehadnearlynonewithchildren.SheroutinelyheldthemagainsthermatronlybodyassheprayedforthemtobehealedofasthmaorgentlyledthemintothebaptismoftheHolySpirit.

Derek,knowingherdepthofperceptionandhavingtheabilitytoreadherfacewithamazingprecision,insistedthatLydiasitonthefrontrowdirectlyinfrontofhimwheneverhespokesothatshewasalwaysinhislineofsight.Ifhemadeapointthatwasunclearorifhewasfeelinglikehewassloggingthroughmudashespoke,hecouldtakeonelookatLydiatoseethesituationregisteredonherface and to know that she was praying. It comforted him,made him a better

teacher,andinspiredhimtogivehisallwhenshewasthere.

Inthefirsthalfofthe1970s,DerekneededLydiamorethanever.Hisministryexploded. His speaking schedule was astonishing. One week he might beappearingattheTennessee/GeorgiaChristianCampsinEatonton,Georgia,andthenexthewouldbeataCharismaticCatholicmeetinginGreenBay.HespokeinBrethrenchurches,AssembliesofGodsanctuaries,andEpiscopalcathedrals.Helaidhandsonthesickandtheoppressedinhotelballrooms,inhousechurchmeetings,afterhighlyliturgicalservices,andattrainingcentersfromBangortoSanDiego.

Hisfamespreadinlargepartbecauseofhisbooks.HehadpublishedhisSelf-Study Bible Course, which met with wide acclaim, and before that hisFoundationSeries, akindofCharismatic systematic theology,hadbecome therage among the more intellectual followers of the Holy Spirit. In 1973, hepublishedShapingHistoryThroughPrayerandFasting,whichframedmanyofthe intercessory movements that grew up in anticipation of the nation'sbicentennial and in answer to the crises of the early 1970s. In time, Derek'sbookswould gain a reputation as the intellectual fuel of a spiritualmovementandwouldbereprintedaroundtheworld.

OneofthereasonsthatDerek'sministryexpandedsodramaticallyintheearly1970swas the presence of his son-in-law,DavidSelby.AtDerek andLydia'sinvitation,DavidandAnnamovedtoFt.Lauderdalewiththeirchildrenandtookover the administrative work that Derek had been doing largely on his own.TherewerebookstoprintandsellatDerek'sconferences,tapestoduplicate,andnewsletters toprintandmail.Theministrygrewfromabackroomproject toaguesthouse and then finally to a headquarters with a warehouse for storingmaterials. David's technical skills and gentle manner with Derek helped thegrowingorganizationtorunsmoothlyandfreedDerektodothe thingshewasmadetodo.

The "teaching letter" of those years reveals much about the ministry. EachletterwasactuallyastaplednewsletterofseveralpageswithapictureofDerekand Lydia on the front sheet and the words "A PersonalMessage" overhead.Inside,Derekoffered lightcommentaryoncontemporaryevents,gavenewsof

prayer events and trends, and offered his materials along with his schedule.Therewerealsotidbitsofpersonalnews,ofhowagrandchildwasdoing,orofthe joy the family feltwhen theygathered foraholiday.Thisdrew the letter'sreadersintothePrinces'personalworldandaccountsfortheintensefamiliaritymanyofDerek'sfollowersfeltforhimandhisfamily.

Itwas just this senseof intimacy that fueledwhat came to beknownas theShepherdingMovement.Whenthedoctrinesofsubmissiontoordainedauthorityand"covering"mergedwith thedesperateneed fororderand leadership in theCharismaticMovement-andallof this joinedwith theexceptionalgiftsofmenlikePrince,Mumford,Basham, andSimpson-a newmovementwas born.TheShepherding Movement, also called the Discipleship Movement, wouldaccomplish good in the lives of many, but it would also bring devastation tothousands and become one of the most damaging controversies in AmericanChristianity.

The movement had no official beginning, but it may well be traced to thesummerof1974andaseriesofmeetingsheldbythemenofCGMandagroupof Charismatic Catholic leaders led by Steve Clark and Ralph Martin inMontreat, North Carolina. As New Wine magazine reported, "Over 2,100pastors,leaders,elders,andshepherdsgathered...foroneofthemostsignificantand powerful weeks the body of Christ has ever experienced. Leaders fromaroundthenationandaroundtheworldgathered."ThepresenceofBillyGrahamat one of the meetings heightened this sense of history, and by the time thesessionsconcluded,NewWinewasabletoreport:

It was clear that the Spirit was speaking onemessage to his people:become rightly related to each other! The conference includedteachingsonauthorityandsubmissionbutalsoemphasizedunityinthechurchandtheneedforleaderstoworktogethertobuildthehouseoftheLord....Thoseattendingtheconferencecameawaywithasenseofawe at the power that had brokenmen into tears, convicted them oftheirneedforoneanother,andformednewandtightjointsthroughoutthebodyofChrist.

Before the Ft. Lauderdale men could leave the conference, dozens of othermenapproachedeachofthemtoaskiftheymightbecometheirdisciples.

AmongtheleadersattheconferenceinMontreatwasamanwhowouldsoonjoin theFt.Lauderdale team.Older andmore experienced than theother four,ErnBaxterwasknownforhissoundteachingandengagingpersonality.Hewasborn in Canada, later served famed evangelist William Branham, pastored anumberofchurches,andbytheearly1970swasanotedspeakerintheAmericanCharismaticMovement.Baxterconnected to themenofCGMat theMontreatmeetingsin1974andmovedattheirinvitationtoFt.Lauderdaleearlyin1975.He was perhaps the best orator of the five and brought a depth of historicalknowledgeandtheologicalsophisticationthatrivaledevenDerek's.

Increasingly,menaround thecountrybegansubmitting themselves toDerek,Basham,Mumford,Baxter,andSimpson.ManymovedwiththeirfamiliestoFt.Lauderdale and began living out the kind of relationships they had hearddescribed on the tapes sent by CGM. Those who couldn't move to "theCharismatic Vatican" began to organize their prayermeetings and their Biblestudiestoassurepropercoveringandlinesofauthority.Evenmainlinechurcheswerechallengedto"getinrightorder"andsubmittooneofthefamousteachersfromFlorida.

InMarch1975,ahistoricconferencewasheldinAtlanta'sRedCarpetInn.Allfiveteachersbroughttogetherthementheypastoreddirectly,andthedoctrinesof shepherding were imparted to their souls. It was a decisive moment inCharismatic history. Men signed written covenants of commitment to theirpastorsandtookCommunionnotonlyasaremembranceofJesusbutalsoasasacramentofdevotiontotheirhumanshepherds.

Perhaps because he had secret reservations, Derek was "there in body, butabsent in spirit" at the Atlanta meeting. These words, which are his, welldescribe his unfocused approach to the entire movement. Though observerswould soon note a Prince/Basham wing of shepherding-focused more ondeliverance, prophecy, Israel, and other Charismatic themes-as opposed to aMumford/Simpson wing-focused on "Kingdom" matters like propergovernment-Derek seems to have begun distancing himself at heart from themovement almost from the start. The fact is that he nevertheless remainedpubliclyinsupportofthemovement,andthisdichotomyishardtounderstand.Derek'sdefendershavesuggestedthathewassimplytoobusytoknowaboutthe

excessesthatwereoccurringwithmountingfrequency.TheyhavealsoinsistedthatDerekwasmore concernedwith teaching than hewaswith structure andgovernment.Inhis lateryears,Derekhimselfwouldoffersimilarexplanations.Whilehewouldnevercontendthathehadnopartinthemovement'sbeginning,hedidoftensuggestthatofalltheFt.Lauderdaleteachers,hewasmoredistant,moredisconnected,andthereforelessresponsible.

Clearly,suchcontentionsangeredhisfellowteachersandforgoodreason.Tothem,Derekseemedasmuchaninstigatorastheywere.Derek'sownnewsletterconfirmsthatthiswastrue.Inhisteachingletterofwinter1975,Dereknotonlyanticipated the National Shepherding Conference in Kansas City, Missouri,scheduledforSeptemberof thatyear,asan"epoch-making"event,buthealsodescribedthestartofachurchinFt.Lauderdale,GoodNewsChurch,asaplacewhere "rightly structured personal relationships" would be taught. Clearly, hebelievedintheshepherdingideal,taughtitinternationally,andencouragedthosewhohelditsfirmerline.

IfDerek'sheartdidindeedfadeearlyonfromtheShepherdingMovement,itwaslikelyfor thesamereasonthatDerekfadedfromlifefora time:onOctober5,1975,LydiaPrincedied.Shehadnot been feelingwell for somemonths, andDerek had not known if it was physical or emotional. In fact, Johanne andMagdalenehadmovedtoFloridainparttocarefortheirmother.

TheworkonAppointmentinJerusalem,nowfinished,hadbeengrueling,andDerekwonderedifthatmighthavetiredher.Perhapsmoreofaconcern,shewaswornwithworryoverwhattheShepherdingMovementmightmeanforDerek'sministry.Whentheotherteachershadcometothehouseoneevening,sherosefromherbedinhernightgown,embracedthemeachwarmly,andtoldthemthatshe loved them. Clearly, she was trying to overcome her resentments,particularlyforMumfordwhomshesawastheinstigatorofa"cult."

AtthreeinthemorningonOctober5,LydiaawokeandtoldDerekshefeltill.DerekcalledJohanneandsaid,"Wehavetotakeyourmommatothehospital."

Onthedrive,Lydia'sconditiondidnotseemtobesevere.Shegiggledonce,andwhen someone asked her why, she said that Jesus had just told her He waspleasedwithher.ShethenbegangivingDerekinstructionsaboutendorsementsforherbook,aprojectshewasveryproudof.Atthehospital,nursesputherinbed,administeredabatteryoftests,andgaveherbreakfast.Privately,thedoctorinchargetookDerekasideandsaidtherewasn'tmuchhecoulddo.Shewasaneighty-five-yearoldwomanwhoseheartwasgivingout.Derekkeptthenewstohimself.

Derek drove home to tell Joska what was happening, have breakfast, andphone the restof thegirls.Later thatafternoon, thehospitalcalled to say theyshould all return. Standing in a row by her bed, the girls-Joska, Johanne,Magdalene, andAnna-all spoke toLydiaand toldherof their love.Then theyprayed. Lydia prayed as well, first in English, then in Danish, and then intongues.OverandagainshegavethankstoherGod,specificallyexpressinghergratitudeforthebloodofJesus.Shealsoblessedherdaughters,eachbyname:"BlessJoska,sweetJoska.Lord,blessJoska."Then,whenDereksensedshewasfading,hetoldhertheyalllovedher.OverandagainLydiathankedherGodforthebloodofHisSon.Herlastwordswereintongues.Soonafter,Derekheardthe heart monitors go flat, and he knew Lydia was dead. The sound of themonitorswouldhaunthimtherestofhislife.

Lydia's funeral would draw most of the major ministers in the Americanchurch.ForthePentecostalDanewhohadministeredaloneinthebackwatersofPalestine, police would stop traffic throughout Ft. Lauderdale and air trafficcontrollerswouldscurrytolandthecharteredflightsneededtogetthegrievingtoherside.Withallofherdaughters inattendance,Lydiawasburiedwith thefirstcopyofherlife'sstoryinherhands.

Atthefuneral, thecongregants laughedandweptat thetalesofherboldnessand her strength. One story suffices. When Lydia was being interviewed forconsideration as an American citizen, the officer in charge asked her if shewould bear arms for her new country. Though the question was silly for awomanherage,Lydiathoughtforamomentandsaid,"Ifitwasformygirls,I'dfightlikealion."

Moved by her spirit, the officer said, "Madam, you are a remarkable lady."Andsoshewas.

Lydia's death devastatedDerek. Joska still remembers the animal-like cries ofgriefthatsoundedfromherfatheronenightasheweptforhisdeadwife.Hewaswith friends, and they were trying to comfort him but to no avail. The gut-wrenching torment in his soul formed itself into uncontrollable sobbing andscreeches so heartrending that his comforters found themselves undone andunabletoofferDerekanysolace.Andtheywepttogether.

AfterLydia'sdeath,thePrinces'dearfriends,JimandPrudenceCroft,cametolive with Derek and Joska. This was a standard shepherding practice, one inwhichadisciplewouldlivewithhisshepherdandservehim.Inthiscase,itwasalso a dire necessity. Partly out of the desire of the grieving to stay busy andpartlybecauseofhisgrowingfame,Derekbegantotravelmorethanever.ThisleftJoskaathome,andsomeonehadtoseetoherneeds.

JoskahadnotknownaneasytimeinFt.Lauderdale.Partofthiswasherage.Like any teenager, she had the usual conflicts with her parents. She skippedschool, argued with her Pentecostal mother about the Beatles albums shecherished,andfoughtoverclothes,piercedears,andcurfewslikemostanyotherAmericangirloftheage.

ButJoskasufferedfarmore thanherparentsknewbecauseofhercolor.ShehadcometoFt.Lauderdaleattheageofnineandfoundherselftheonlyblackchildatherelementaryschool.Thiswashard,andsheyearnedforaschoolwithchildren of her own kind. Then she went to a mixed-race middle school andfound thisharder still.Sheclearlywasn'twhite,but shewasalso toodifferentfromtheotherblacks tofit in.HerfeaturesweremorepurelyAfrican,andherskin was a beautiful, deep ebony that set her apart from American blacks.Tragically, thisonlymadeheranobjectof ridiculeamongherownrace.Thenfouryearsofhighschoolcame,andherhorrorsmultiplied.

Inwhatshouldhavebeenamongthebestyearsofherlife,theAmericanhighschoolexperience,Joskafoundherselfavictimofastonishingcrueltyandhate.Whenshewalkeddown thehallsofherschool,boyswho thoughtherAfricanfeatures unattractivewould begin barking and shouting insults. They stole herbooks,mimickedherwalk,andjeeredather.Joskaworkedtoavoidhernephewsandniecesduringtheschooldaysothattheotherstudentsneverlearnedshewasrelatedtowhites.Tokeepfromridingthebuswiththewhitechildrenfromherupscale neighborhood, she rode her bike halfway and thenwalked tomake itlooklikeshelivedinablackneighborhoodnearherschool.Hergreatfearwasthatoneofherparentswouldshowup.Whatwouldhertormentersdowithherwhitefatherorhereighty-yearoldwhitemother?WhenDerekcametopickherupfromschool,Joskahid.Heneverknewwhy.

Withherhighschoolexperienceprovingsotraumatic,JoskamovedtoKansasCitynotlongafterLydia'sdeathtolivewithDerek'sfriendsDavidRoseandhisfamily and to finish high school. Life improved for her. She received herdiploma,beganlivingindependently,andin timejoinedherfatherfora trip toEuropeandIsrael,onwhichshesawthepope.ShespenthereighteenthbirthdayinJaffa, Israel,and,having learned to love the landasher fatherdid, returnedthenextyeartoliveonafarmcalledakibbutz.ItishardtofindamoreunusuallifethanJoska's,butsheemergedfromherwindingpathawomanofgreatgraceandbeauty.

Lydia's death signaled the start of apainful season inDerek's life.Ashe laterunderstoodit,hisgriefoverLydiaopenedthedoorofhissoultothelonelinessthat had stalked him all his life. It is not hard to understandhow thiswas so.Withhiswifeofnearlythirtyyearsnolongernear,hisdaughtersgrownandoutofthehome,andthepressofministrykeepinghimconstantlyontheroad,Derekbegan to feel like the hunted prey of a tormenting spirit. He found himselfbattlingthedepressiveblacknessateveryturn:inalonelyhotelroom,intorturedlatenighthours, in the temptations that reached to theunanswered longingsofhissoul,andintheechoingquietofhisnowemptyhouse.

Tomakemattersworse,thecontroversyoverdiscipleshipbegantocostDerekfriendshipsattheverytimeheneededthemmost.Peoplewhohadbeenhismostardentsupportersnowsensedaspiritofcontrolabouthisministryandbegantopullaway.Somewouldnever return.Others, likehisdaughterJohanne,wouldalwayslovehimbutfeltthatdiscipleshipdroveawedgebetweenthemthatwasnever removed. Itwaspainful, both forDerek and for thosewhohaddevotedtheir lives tohimandnowfeltbetrayed. It lefthim feeling fragile,needy,andevenmorealone.

It did not help that these years of private strugglewere filledwith hismostpublicbattles.In1975,thesameyearthatDerekenteredanalmostdebilitatingseason of grief over Lydia, many of the major leaders in the CharismaticMovement took public stands against discipleship. Pat Robertson, head of thehighly influential Christian BroadcastingNetwork, not only spoke out againstshepherdingbutalsobannedtheCGMteachersfromhisnetworkanderasedallrecordings of their previous appearances on CBN shows. Robertson thenproceeded to call shepherding "witchcraft" and stated on the air that the onlydifferencebetweenwhatthe"Ft.LauderdaleFive"weredoingandthedeathcultofJonestownwastheKoolAid.

It got worse. That same year, the flamboyant but hugely popular KathrynKuhlmanrefusedtotakethestageataJerusalemConferenceontheHolySpiritwhen she learned that BobMumford was also scheduled to appear. It was ahumiliating blow, both toMumford personally and to the whole ShepherdingMovement.Thiswasnothing compared towhat camenext.DemosShakarian,the founder of Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International-theorganization that had launched virtually all of the CGM teachers to nationalacclaim-nowdecidedthattheywereallhereticstobeshunned.ThiswasasclosetoadenominationalsplitastheCharismaticMovementwascapableof.

Chaos reigned and bitterness prevailed. Attempts to heal the rift died indespair.Late in1975atAnnArbor,Michigan,andagainatOklahomaCity in1976,leadersgatheredtoconvince,rebuke,anddeclare.Themeetingsevidencedmoreheatthanlight,andtheCharismaticRenewalcontinuedtotearitselfapart.

Overblownmyths fueled both camps. Those opposed to shepherding told of

menwho could notwrite a checkor bed theirwiveswithout permission fromtheir pastors. The emphasis on tithing to shepherds personally rather than tochurchesorministriesfueledthemyththatgreedpoweredthewholemovement.Thentherewerethetalesofmenwhoservedtheirshepherdsbutlettheirwivesand children go hungry, or of attractive women who were kept near theirshepherds while their husbands were assigned elsewhere. As with mostcontroversies throughout history,myths took on the air of fact in the retellingand, in this case, fed aCharismatic need to see the other side as demonicallyinfluencedratherthansimplyinerror.

Thosewhospoke for shepherdingunderstandably felt falselyaccused.WhenPat Robertson's daughter suffered cruel headaches, he concluded that she hadcomeunder a curse sent byFt.Lauderdale prayermeetings.Others concludedthatKathrynKuhlman'suntimelydeathoccurredformuchthesamereason:thefollowers of Basham, Prince, Simpson,Mumford, and Baxter had "released aspirit of death over her life." Such views escalated the controversy overshepherding from a disagreement about theology and church leadership into abattle between good and evil. The Ft. Lauderdale men consequently saw theoppositiontotheirmovementasanassaultofSatanonapureworkofGod.

The real damage, though, was being done to the average believer, to thehungrysoulswhofilledlivingrooms,storefronts,andhotelballroomsinpursuitofJesus.TheywantedsimplytoberighteousandtosensethenearnessoftheirGod.Ifthismeantsubmittingtothewisdomofanolderbeliever,theywoulddoit. If itmeant battling spirits that drove them to lust or addiction, theywouldfightuntil theywerefree.Whateverwasrequired-listeningto tapes,confessingversesofScripture,submittingtoauthority,buyingtherightbooks,prayingtherightformulas,orgivingeverythingtheyhad-theywoulddoitiftheycouldonlyliveabetterlifeandfeeltheloveofGod.

Sadly, both camps in the shepherding controversy failed them.Leaderswhoopposed themovementwereoftenasmotivatedby territorial concernsas theywere theology and largely because their own ministries were threatened. AgatheringofdiscipleshipdevoteesinKansasCitydrewmorethanfiftythousandsouls, a massive number by any ministry's standards at that time. Moreover,name-calling frequently passed for biblical examination, and personal

animosities masqueraded as spiritual discernment. There were few critics ofshepherdingwhoconductedthemselvessoas torescuehurtingChristiansfromthegripoferror.

In thesameway, theFt.LauderdaleFiveweremovedbyakindofambitionthat blinded them to the destructiveness of theirmovement and by a brand ofspirituality that kept them from seeing their critics as the unpaid guardians oftheir souls. Themore theywere opposed, themore they banded together andconcludedtheiropponentswere"ofawrongspirit"or"blindedbythespiritoftheage."AsDereklatersaid,"Weeachwerefilledwithselfishambitionanddidnotrealizeuntiltoolatethedamagewehaddone."

It ispossible thatwhatultimatelybecameDerek'sbreak from theShepherdingMovementactuallybeganinthetensionoverhischoiceofasecondwife.Derekhad never intended to offend. In fact, he later admitted his greatest sin in thediscipleship mess was a fear of being thought disloyal. Yet, when his fellowshepherds did not approve of his decision tomarry, the strain created fracturelines thatwould, in time, lead him to sever tieswith the othermen in the Ft.LauderdaleFive.

Derekhadneverdonewellalone,andtheagonyoflivingasasinglemanwaseveronhismind.Bythelate1970s,hewasmorethansixtyyearsold.Hefoundlittlethatattractedhiminwomenofhisage,and,evenifhehad,thepaceofhislifepreventedanymeaningfulrelationshipwithawomanfromdeveloping.Theyoungmenwhotendedhimoftenheardhimdeclarethathewouldnevermarryagain.Secretly,though,theyknewthathewasonlytryingtoconvincehimself.NoonetheyknewneededtobemarriedlikeDerekPrince.

ItwasjustaboutthistimethatDerekjoinedanumberofotherleadersonatriptoIsrael.AdearCatholicfriend,CardinalSuenensofBelgium,wascelebratinghis fiftiethyear in thepriesthoodwith a trip to theHolyLand, andDerek felthonoredtogoalong.AftertherestofthegroupleftIsrael,Derekstayedbehindtoprayaboutthecourseofhislifeandministry.

HedecidedalsotovisitanorganizationthathadbeendistributinghisbooksinJerusalem.Notlongbefore,hehadreceivedaletterfromtheorganization,andhewished to thank them personally for theirwork.He remembered, too, thattherehadbeen ahandwrittennoteon the sideof the letter. It read: "Iwant tothankyou for yourministry. It hasmeantmuch tomeover the years." Itwassigned"RuthBaker."

Whenheinquiredaboutthiswomanattheorganization'soffices,hewastoldthat she was at home at her apartment because she had seriously injured herback. Derek had experienced a great deal of success in praying for people'sbacks to be healed, and he decided to go andminister to this woman namedRuth.HeandhisdriverwanderedthestreetsofJerusalemforsometimelookingforheraddressandwere justabout toconclude thatGodwasnot in theirplanwhenDereklookedupandsawthehousetheywerelookingfor.

When they entered the apartment, Ruth was lying on the sofa in her livingroominobviouspain.Afteramoment'sconversation,Derek laidhishandsonherandfeltthatGodgavehimanencouragingwordaboutRuth'sfuture,whichhe shared with her. Her countenance lightened immediately, and Derek thenbegan praying for her back.When he was done, the three exchanged furtherpleasantriesbeforeDerekandhisdriverleft.

Onhis lastnight in Israel,Derek tried togo tobedathisusual time,but assoonashe laydownhe felt thenearnessofhisGod.Healsoheard theVoiceagain,thesameonehehadfirstlearnedtorespectinthedesertsofAfricathosemanyyearsago.TheVoiceremindedhimofscripturesandof thepromiseshehad been given over the years. Then Derek slept. In the early hours of themorning, a vivid picture appeared. Hewas awake now, but an image formedbefore him as though it were a dream. He saw a hill sloping steeply upwardbefore him, and it reminded him of one that sloped up toMount Zion at thesouthwestcorneroftheOldCityofJerusalem.HesensedimmediatelythatthisimagerepresentedhispathbacktoJerusalem.

Evenmoreintriguing,though,wasthevisionofthewoman.Shewasseatedonthegroundjustatthepointwherethepathhehadseenstartedupthehill.WithherblondehairandWesternfeatures,shewasclearlyaEuropean.Yet,shewas

wearing a green Oriental-style dress, and she was bent forward in a strained,unnaturalpositionthatsuggestedpain.Suddenly,DerekrealizedthewomanwasRuthBaker.

Hewasconfusedforamomentandturnedthematteroverinhismind.Yetassoonashedid,certaintycame.Ashelaterwrote,"BeforeIhadevenformulatedthequestions,Iknewtheanswer.Itdidnotcometomethroughanyprocessofreasoning.ItwasnotevensomethingGodspoketome.Itwasjustthere,settledinanareaofmymindtowhichdoubthadnoaccess.Godintendedthewomantobecomemywife."

Returning to the States, Derek was excited but concerned. He knew manypeople who had wrongly thought God told them who to marry and who hadmadehorriblemessesoftheirlives.Hemustbecautious.Aftermuchprayer,hedecidedtowriteRuthandseewhereitmightlead.Inhisletter,hetoldherthatifshe was ever in the States, she might want to visit a church in Kansas CityknownforitsloveofIsrael.Notlongafterhemailedtheletter,hereceivedonein return from Ruth saying that she and her daughter were soon leavingJerusalemfortheStatesandassuringthatshewouldvisitthechurchinKansasCity.Shealsogaveaphonenumberwhereshecouldbereached.

Derekstrained tohidehisexcitement.HequicklyrearrangedhisschedulesohecouldmeetRuthinKansasCity.Notlongafterward,hefoundhimselfinthehome of a pastor friend talking againwith this intriguingRuthBaker.On thefirst day, the two talked as people dowho are just getting acquainted.On thesecondday,though,RuthmadeanappointmenttodiscussaproblemwithDerekandappearedwearinganunusualArabdressof just thekindandcolorhehadseeninhisvision.Ruththenapologizedbutexplainedthatthepaininherbackwas lessened if she sat on the floor against the wall. When Ruth positionedherselfasshehaddescribed,Dereklookedatherandsawtohisamazementthatshelookedineverydetailasthewomanhadappearedinhisvision.

As he laterwrote, "Iwas unable to speak. I could only stare at her in awe.Thenawarmcurrentofsupernaturalpowersurgedthroughmybody,andIwasfilled with an inexpressible love for this woman, who was still outwardly astranger.Forafewbriefmomentswesatthereinsilence.Then,withaneffortof

mywill, Imasteredmyemotionsandbeganto inquireabout theproblemsthathadcausedhertoseekmycounsel."

Derekwassmittenbutwasnowmorecautiousthanever.Thankfully,hehadtoleave immediately for aministry tour inSouthAfrica, yet all the timehewastherehecouldnotgetRuthoffofhismind.Heknewtwothings:helovedthiswoman, and he intended to marry her. He decided to send Ruth a telegramaskingthatshemeethimattheKingDavidHotelinJerusalematacertaindayandtime.

When the appointed day arrived, Derekmet Ruth in the lobby of the KingDavid,and the twohadbreakfast together.All thewhile,Derekpliedherwithquestionsaboutherlife.Hewasfascinatedwithher,buthewasalsoprobingforthesignsofGod'sconfirmationinherstory.Thedetailstumbledout.Shewasadescendant of the early Pilgrims, grew up in theMidwest, had served in theMarines,andwasaMessianicJew.EachofthesetruthsonlyendearedDerektohermore.Shehadbeenmarried, sheexplained, andwasnowdivorced.Derekleaned in.He had clear views about divorce and remarriage. Therewere onlytwobiblicalreasonsforaproperdivorce-adulteryandabandonment-andwithouttheseDerekknewhecouldnevermarryRuth.Assheexplainedthetorturedpathofhermarriage,Derekcame tounderstand thatRuthwas free tomarryagain.Relieved,hepressedonwithhismyriadofquestions.

Intothelateafternoon,DerekandRuthsatontheverandaoftheKingDavidand explored eachother's lives.Finally,Ruth explained thatDerek's questionshadwornherout,andshecouldanswernomore.Sheneededarest.Derekknewhismomenthad come.Hedrewabreath, looked intoRuth's questioning face,andtoldherofthevisionofthewomanandthehillthatledtoJerusalem."Thatiswhy I invitedyou tomeetme inKansasCity,"heexplained, "andwhy I'veinvitedyouhere today.Ibelieveit'sGod'spurposeforus tobemarriedandtoserveHimtogether.Butyoucan'tdecideonthebasisofarevelationGodgaveme.YouhavetohearfromHimforyourself."

Ruthdidnotseemshakenbywhatsheheard.Withagentletoneinhervoice,shereplied,"AfterwehadbeentogetherinKansasCity,I toldtheLordthatifyou were to ask me to marry you, I would say yes." Both of them felt

immediatelythatalifetimecommitmenttooneanotherhadbeenmade.

Laterthatevening,DerekexplainedthathenowhadtocheckhisfeelingsforRuth with his brothers in Ft. Lauderdale. "We've agreed not to make majorpersonal decisions without consulting one another," he explained. "For thatreason I'm not free to go any further with my commitment to you until I'vespokentomybrothers.However,IbelieveGodhasmadeHiswillplain,andHewillwork itout."Thenextday,Derekreturned to theUnitedStates to tell theotherFt.LauderdalemenaboutRuth.

It did not gowell.WhenDerek explained toBasham,Simpson,Baxter, andMumford what seemed so obviously God's will to him, they saw only theproblems.Ruthwasdivorced,theyremindedhim,andforavisibleBibleteachertomarry a divorcedwomanwould only diminish hisministry and lead othersastray.Moreover,Ruthhadseriousphysicalproblemsandwouldbemoreofaburdenthanahelp,nottomentionthatshewasnearlytwentyyearsyoungerthanhe was. Nothing about the relationship seemed right. The men would notapprovethemarriage.

Derekwasundone.Thisrejectionbyhisfriendswasabitterpill.Hethoughtseriouslyof castingaside the counselofhis fellow leaders andpressingaheadwithwhathebelievedwasGod'swill.Yettodosoviolatedallthathehadtaughtandall that theirmovementwasbuilton.Herelented.HecalledRuthandtoldherwhathadhappened.Later,inJerusalemagain,hesatwithherandexplainedalltheobjectionstheothermenhad."Ifeelweneedtobreakoffallcontactwithone another," he explained, "except the contactwe can have by prayer."Ruthagreed,andwhenDereksawherdriveoffinataxi,hefeltabitofwinterreturntohissoul.

Tothispoint,everyonewholivedthistaleagreesthatthesearethefacts.Itiswhat happened from this point on that rankled Derek's peers and left themfeeling,evenyearslater,thattheyhadbeenplayed.Unabletoletthematterrest,Derek continued topress themen to reconsider.SomeofDerek's friends tookthis as a godly appeal. Others thought it was arm-twisting, an unrighteousattempttowrestconsentwhereithadnotbeengiven.

Itishardtoknowwhathappenedbehindcloseddoors.Whatiscertainisthat

onOctober17,1978,DerekPrinceandRuthBakerweremarriedwithmorethansixhundredpeopleinattendance.EveryoneoftheFt.Lauderdaleleaderstookpart and gave no sign of their dissent. Clearly, this seeming unity betrayed aprivate reality.As theDiscipleshipMovement cameunraveled, the anger overDerek'smarriagetoRuthsurfaced.Asoneofthegrouplaterrevealedprivately,"ThatmarriagewasfarfromGod'swill.DerekwanteditandDerekgotit,butitwasneverGod'swill.Ithink,forthediscerning,timetoldthetale."

11

Remembrance:AnEveningWithDerekPrince

EREK, IHAVE to ask you some difficult questions.Are youready?"

"AsmuchasIcanbe,Isuppose."

"Whenyoutell thestoryoffallinginlovewithRuth,yousaythatyousubmitted your desire to marry her to the other Ft. Lauderdale men and thatwhen they objected you acquiesced. Then you say they changed their minds,recognizedthemarriageasGod'swill,andgavepermission.Surelyyouknowbynow that thesemen felt their armswere twisted and that they never did thinkRuthwasrightforyou.Theysayyoubadgeredthemintogivingpermission.I'msorrytostateitsobluntly,buthowdoyouanswerthis?"

"IcanonlysaythatasfarasIknowmyheartIintendedtoentrustthemattertoGodandhearHiswillthroughmybrothers.IdidbelievemarryingRuthwasthewill of God. I thought that the other men looked only at the outside of thesituation-thatRuthwasdivorced, thatshewasnot themosthealthyofwomen,that I had previously said I would never remarry. It seemed to me that Godworked in their hearts to change their view. If that was not the case, I neverknew it. I think the fact that all of them attended ourwedding and gave theirblessingformallyshouldspeakforitself."

"AreyouawarethatsomeofthemenseeyourmarriagetoRuthasthefirstinaseriesofbetrayals?They think thatyouentered intocovenantwith them, thenkept yourself at a distance, forced them to approve your remarriage, and thenabandoned them while criticizing the Discipleship Movement. I know I am

treadingonpainfulmemories,butcanyouanswerthisview?"

"Iamsurprisedthatanyonewouldholdthisview.Ihadoftenbeenanegativevoice in our discussions. For quite some time I had been concerned aboutpersonal ambition-which I think ultimately killed the work-and aboutinexperienced men being put in positions of authority. The men knew myconcerns. And I've already addressed the marriage issue. I thought theyapproved.Theiractionsseemtoverifythis."

"Butcanyouunderstandwhytheywouldfeelastheydo?"

"I think time hasworked a distorting effect onmemory. I did not leave themovementoverRuth. I leftbecause Icouldno longer support it. I thoughtwewere becoming a denomination. The truth is, I had beenmore distant from itthan the othermen.My firstwife haddied.Myministrywas rapidly growingandinanoverseasdirection.Ihadalsoremarried.Allofthispulledmeaway.Isimplywasnotasinvolvedastheothermen.Idon'tsaythistoshedblame.Whatkeptmeconnectedtothemovementwasmyfearofbeingdisloyal.IthinkImayhavetakenthistoofar.Iprobablyshouldhaveleftmuchearlier."

"Howdidtheendcome?"

"Itwasratherundramatic.Isimplydriftedaway.MydeparturereceivedalmostnomentioninthepressorinNewWine.Ididn'tfeelanyneedtowriteaboutitinmynewsletter,either.So,itlooksmoresignificantalltheseyearslater,butatthetimeitwasratherunremarkable."

"Whatwereyourfailingsinthemovement,Derek?"

"I believe that the movement was Godordained and right in the originalmotivation,butIthinkselfishambitiontookcontrol.Inmycase,Iwantedtobeapopular and recognized Bible teacher. I saw the DiscipleshipMovement as ameans to that end, just as the other men saw it as a means to achieve theirdreamsaswell.Itwassinforallofus.Wemesseditup,butthebeginningwasrightandoftheLord."

"Howdoyouthinknowaboutthepainthemovementcaused?"

"It is one of the saddest notes of my life. Ern died hurting and in virtualisolation.Don, themost tenderofusall, certainlydiedofabrokenheart.Bobsufferedhealthproblemsforyears.Allofthiswasduetothestrain,I'msure.ButI caremost about thosewhowerewounded in thosedays and so turnedawayfrom theLord. It isahard thing tobear. I'veasked theLord tobring themallhomeagain."

"Soyouleftin1983.Whathappenednext?"

"Well,tosaythetruth,thebestyearsofmyministrybegan.TheanointingofGodwasstrongerthanever,Ruthwasamarvelousaid,andtheworldopeneduptome.Wewere on the radio. The books were becoming evenmore popular.Ruth and Iwere splitting our year between our home in Jerusalem andworldtravel.Ithinktheyearsandlessonsofmylifeconvergedinthatnextdecadeandahalf.IbelieveIfulfilledthecommissionoftheLordlikeIneverhadbefore."

"Whatdoyouremembermostfromthoseyears,Derek?"

"ProbablytheSpirit'sworkthroughme.ThehandoftheLordwasstronguponme during that time. There were many miracles, and the teaching I did hadexceptional grace attending it. When I think back on those years, what Iremembermost, though, are the hungry faces, themillions of faces of peoplewhoweredesperatefortheWordofGod.WhataprivilegeIhadbeengiven.Allmyyearswerepreparation toanswer thatmoment in thathungrygeneration. Iwillseethosefacesinmyminduntiltheendofmylife."

ItisaFridaynightsomewhereinAmerica,andDerekPrinceisabouttospeak.Theyearis1988.

On this last night of a conference, the crowd is eager.Momentumhas beenbuilding, andeveryone is certain thatDerekPrincewillhave the "wordof thehour," thathewillcapture inone teachingwhatGodisdoingon theearthandhowtruebelieversshouldrespondtoit.Hehasdoneitbefore.

It does not reallymatter what this particular conference is about. The topicmight be any of a dozen favorite Charismatic themes: "How to Walk in theAnointing," "True Prosperity," "Deliverance From Demons," "Your PropheticDestiny," "TheTongue and ItsPower," "Knowing theWill ofGod," "Healingfor the Soul," "Walking Under Authority," or "How to Maximize YourMarriage,"tonameafew.Giventheyear,theconferencemaywellbeonGod'swillforIsraelorthetimingoftheSecondComing.Ithasbeenfortyyearssincethe birth of Israel, after all-a biblical generation. Surely God is going to dosomethingspecialthisyear,andDerekPrincewillknowwhatitis.

Italsodoesnotmatterexactlywherethisconferenceistakingplace.Thescenecould be most anywhere Christians gather, from the Hilton in Denver to acommunity center in West Texas, from a Methodist church in Boston to aCatholiccathedralinSt.Paul,Minnesota.OrMurfreesboro,Tennessee.OrAnnArbor,Michigan.OrDallas,Texas.Forthatmatter,itcouldbeanywhereintheworld:aschoolinChristchurch,ahotelinLondon,acityparkinNairobi,orachapelinBerlin.

Itdoesn'treallymatterwhereweareonthisFridaynightin1988orwhywearehere.Whatreallymattersisthis:DerekPrinceisabouttospeak.

Thecrowdhasbeengatheringforsometime.Theyareanamazinglydiverselot, a cross-section of the Charismatic Movement. There are housewives andbusinessmen,constructionworkersandairlinepilots,pastorsandnewlyreleasedprisoners. There are husbands and wives, families with children, and singlesenjoyingadate.Therearerowsofteenagerssittingwiththeircollege-agedyouthpastor andwhole sectionsofblackswhohave comeon their church's bus andnowsittogetherlikeextendedfamily.

Therearemenwithcrewcuts sittingbesidewomenwith largehairandmenwith shoulder-length hair and beards sitting beside womenwith crew cuts. AyoungmaninthemiddlesectionhasdyedhishairblueandformeditintospikesusingElmer's glue.Two rowsbehindhimare fivegirls the sameage sportinghigh school letter jackets and long, wet hair. They have just come fromvolleyball practice andareglad tohavemade it in time to find seats together.Sitting around them is an Episcopal priest, a policeman still on duty, two

homelessmenbroughtbythelocalstreetmission,andthepastorof thelargestPentecostalchurchintownaccompaniedbyhiswell-adornedwife.

There are people from every possible religious and theological backgroundheretonight.Somehavespentyearsinthecultsthataroseinthe1960sandthenturnedtoJesuswhenthemoreavant-gardegavenoanswers.OthershavecomeintotheCharismaticMovementstraightfromtheirsecularlives:perhapsthroughthe spreadingpowerofChristian televisionor theministryof adynamic localchurch. Most, though, have spent years in mainline denominations before"comingintothefullnessof theSpirit,"as theywouldsay.Sittingheretonightare Baptists who once thought that Pentecostals were mentally unhinged andEpiscopalians who once thought them heretics. There are Presbyterians whousedtothinkallCharismaticswereonparwithsnakehandlersandMethodistswhowereopentoanythingbutthemiraculous.Nowtheyareheretolistentoaformer Anglican Pentecostal/Charismatic pray in tongues while he heals thesick.Theylaughtogetherattheirformerfoolishnessandtearfullyhugthosetheyoncecondemned.

In the third row, sitting expectantly, is a man in a clerical collar. He is aCatholicpriest,stillanunusualsiteataCharismaticmeeting.Heiswatchingthecrowdwithapeacefulsmileandisoccasionallyinterruptedbytheunannouncedhugofafellowconferencee.SincetheCharismaticMovementisasmuchaboutlove as it is about truth, the non-Catholics in the room are happy to see thispriest.SomehaveleftdenominationsthatinsistthepopeistheAntichristandtheCatholicchurch is thewhoreofBabylon.Now, filledwith theHolySpiritandreadytoloveanyonewhocallsJesusLord,theyarethrilledthispriestishere.Todrivethepointhome,aformerPresbyteriangreetsthemanwithacrushinghugandisfollowedbyanewlyCharismaticmemberoftheChurchofChristandawomanwhoattendstheFirstAssemblyofGodinDesMoines,Iowa.Later,theywilltellfriendsaboutthetimetheyhuggedaCatholicpriest.ItisasignofwhatGodhasdoneintheirlives.

Thepriesthimselfhasquiteataletotell.Aruffianinhisyouth,hewasdrawntothechurchbytheloveandmanlywaysofaJesuitwhowenttoseminaryinWashingtonDC.TheJesuit lovedbasketball, toldgood jokes,andfought tearswhentalkingaboutthemissionofthecross.Thisimpressedthefuturepriestand

began to stir something in his heart.He felt it during theMass andwhen thefather talked to him while wearing his robes. There was a pull, anotherworldliness that somehowwas familiar. Itmade himpress intoGod, andwhenhedid,hebegantofeeladrawing.Somesaiditwasacall.Heknewwhathewantedtobe:apriestatthealtarofJesus.

HewenttoseminaryatNotreDameandservedinanumberofsmallparishesuntil he landed at a prominent one in Cincinnati. It was there that his crisisbegan.Hewaspopular,andhisparishwaswelltended.Butheknewtherewassomethingmissing inside.Dutyhadkilleddevotion.Over lunchwith a fellowpriest,heheardthatotherpriestsoftenfeltthesamewaybutthatarenewalwasquietly sweeping through the church. It was changing hearts and fillingclergymenwithnewpassion.Someevensaidmiracleshadoccurred.ARomanCatholic layman named Ralph Martin was holding conferences to introduceCatholicstoarelationshipwiththeHolySpirit.Therewereotherleadersinthisrenewal, as well, but they had all been influenced by the same man: DerekPrince. The priestwas intrigued and immediately decided to hear thisman assoonashecouldfindhim.

Now,thepriestissittingquietly,rememberinghisjourney,andbarelyabletocontainhisexcitement.Hesensesheisgoingtoreceivesomethingtonight.Ananswerofsomesort,areplytohisache.

Come,HolySpirit.Tonight.TouchmethroughYourservantDerekPrince.

InthebackontherightisthewomanfromDesMoines,Iowa.Havinghuggedthepriestsheisnowsittingquietly,dabbingtearsfromhereyes.Sheishere.Sheneverthoughtshewouldbe.

Ithad taken some time toconvinceherhusband to lethergo.Heneverhadunderstood, really, why she wanted to hear this man Derek Prince. But theteacher's words had set her free, and she had to come. Tapes and radiobroadcastsweren't enough. She needed to be there in person and, ifGodwaswilling,toaskthisMr.Princeorhiswifetoprayforherthemselves.

Shehadgrownupinanarmyhomewitharmychapelsasheronlytietofaith.Then, she had married a dashing young lieutenant. Twenty years and three

childrenlater,shefoundherselfstrainingforlife.Shewasintrouble.Shelovedherfamily,butshejustcouldnotgivethemhereverywakingmomentanymore.Shebegantodrink,andherheartbegantoroam.Justwhenshemighthavemadeahorriblemistake,afriendtoldhertotalktoachaplain.Shehadrefused.Mostchaplains were dull, cloying men. Her friend understood, but this one wasdifferent.Soshemadeanappointmentandwenttothechapel.Twohourslater,sheemergedbornagain.

Jesusbecametheloveofherlife.Everymomentshecouldshespentpraying,reading,andtryingtolearnmore.Inanewslettershefoundonafriend'scoffeetable she learned about thisDerekPrince andhis radioministry.She tuned inand heard the kind of teaching her soul longed for. It was clear and wise,balancedyetdeeplyspiritual.She listenedeveryday,orderedbooksand tapes,anddevouredwhatthismanhadtoteach.

Thenshelearnedofthisconference.Itwasananswertoprayer.Shehadlongbelieved sheneededhelp, that therewas somekindofweight,maybe a spirit,thatlivedinhersoul.Acurse,perhaps,fromherharshfather,oranassignmentofevilagainstherpassionforGod.Shewouldgo,ifherhusbandwouldlether,andget thehelp that sheneeded.Thenshewouldbe free.Herhusbandwouldseethechangeandmaybejoinher.MaybethentheycouldbeoneinthethingsofGod.Maybe theycouldevenserveHimtogether, likeDerekPrinceandhislovelywifeRuth.

Soshe iswaiting,moved thatGodhasmadeawayandpraying that tonightwillbetheturningpoint.Perhapsoneofthosedramaticmomentsofchangeshehaslongheardarepossiblewillhappentoherinthisplace.

0God,meetme,Yourhandmaiden.MakemefullyYoursonthisnight.

On theother sideof the room,makinghisway tohis seat, is amiddle-agedmanwithabeard.Hishairisbrownandbeyondhisshoulders.Hiseyesareblue,laughing, and seem to be always near tears.He is not tall, but he iswiry andstrong.Hismuscular arms extend from the fadedblue laborer's clotheshehasnothadtimetochange.Whilehetalkstoanelderlyladyintheaislebyhisseat,hedoesnotnoticethatthehighschoolgirlsintheletterjacketsarepointinghimout. They are chattering, giggling, signaling his way. They have just realized

whohelookslike:heremindsthemofJesusinjeans.

Thoughtheycouldnothaveknownit,thisisjustwhathehopeshewillbe.Hisdreamshavenotalwaysbeensonoble.Heenteredhislateteensjustasthe1960swereheatingupandrememberssittingwithfriendslateintothenightlisteningto theBeatles and smokingweed. Then he graduated to heroin, something heturned on to atWoodstock. He can't explain it, really, but he felt more loveamongthedropoutsanddruggiesthanheeverdidathome.Sohefollowedtheriver of lost souls to California, and his life became a series of flop houses,coffeeshops,drugdens,anddives.

Intheearlyseventies,heneededachange,andhehitchhikedbacktotheEastCoast. He was lonely and walking the backstreets of Philly one day when asweet-lookinggirlwalkeduptohim,handedhimaflower,andsaid,"Jesuslovesyou,andsodowe."Gazingbehindherhesawabandofyouthwholookedjustlikehim.Theygesturedhimalong,andhefollowedthembacktotheirplace,akindofhalf-church,half-bunkhousecalled"TheJoint."

ItturnedouttheywereChristiansbutnotlikeanyhe'dseen.Theyhadallbeendealersorhookersor thieves.But theyhad all been changedand talked aboutnewlives.Hedidn'tunderstand,buttheylovedhimanywayandtoldhimthatafew days later a man was going to be speaking in their place who wouldprobablysethimstraight.

So,hewaitedandbaskedintheirwelcomeandgrace.TwodayslaterhundredsofpeoplecrammedintotheircentertohearanoldermanwithaBritishaccent.HisnamewasDerekPrince.Hemusthavebeensixty,buthe talkedabouthisownyouthandaboutdoinggoofythingslikepaintinghistoenailspink.Hesaidthat theyouthwereclose to thekingdomofGod, that theyhad thrownoff thestiflingmaterialismoftheircultureandwerejustwhereGodwantedthemtobe:readyfortruthatanyprice.SohetaughtaboutJesusandhowHehealsbrokenlivesoutoflove.

Ouryoungmancouldn'ttakeit.WhentheoldermancametoanendandaskedpeoplewhowantedtoknowJesustomeethimatthefront,thisyoungmanflewto his side. He prayed to receive Jesus andwelcomed the Spirit into his life.Soonafter,hefoundhimselfprayingnewwordshehadneverheardbefore,and

just when he was feeling so light he thought he might fly away, he realizedDerekPrincewasstaringhimdown.

"Youhaveaspirit,youngman,"Mr.Princeannouncedabruptly."Itisaspiritofloneliness,andIknowitwell.Ifyouarewilling,itwillcomeout.Isthiswhatyouwant?"

The young man barely understood, but if there was something more thatneededtohappen,hewantedit.Henoddedyes,thekindlymanplacedhishandsonhisshoulders,andcommandeda"foul,lyingspirit"tocomeout.Theyoungermancrumpled.Itfeltlikesomeonehadreachedintohisstomachandpulledouta long sheet of gritty material. It almost hurt, but just as it grew intense, itstopped.Hesatonthefloor,feelingastrangenessandawareofsomeoneprayingforhimfrombehind.Itwasthekindlyman'swife,andshewasquietlypraying,"Love,Lord.Moreloveforthischild."Andtheyoungmanwept-forhours-butheneverfeltlonelyagain.

Now,heishereonthisnightbecausehewantsallthatGodwillstodo.HehasmadeittoasmanyDerekPrincemeetingsashecouldovertheyears,andeachtimehehasbeenchanged.This timeheyearnsfor thenextstepwithGod, forwhatever the Spirit will do. And Derek Prince is the vessel, a man who willlistentoGodandlettheSpiritdoHisthing.

Lord,meetmehereasYouhaveinthepast.MakemethecleanvesselYou'vecalledmetobe.

There are a thousand stories in the room just like these. Some are new andhaveneverheardDerekPrince.Most, though,havebeenchangedinacrucibleoftheirlivesbythewordsthismanspokeortheprayersthismanprayed.Andthough theyknow that Jesus is their source, that it isHis truthandHispowerthat has changed them, they do not hear this truth in as undiluted formwhenothers speakas theydo in theministryofDerekPrince.So theycome,by thethousands,andtheyhope.Andnowtheyarehere.

Itistimetoworship.Abeardedmanplayingguitarleadssingingwiththehelpof two women and a second man on piano. They lead choruses that are socommonlysung inCharismaticchurches that there isnoneed forahymnalor

lyric sheets. Everyone knows them, and even if they don't, the words are sosimpletheycaneasilybelearnedbythesecondtimearound.Andtherewillbeasecond time. And a third. And probably a fourth. Charismatic choruses aren'tsung like hymns. The point is not to finish the song; the point is to enter thepresenceofGod.Songsaresunguntilthegoalisachieved.

Without pause, the beardedman leads the singing from one chorus directlyintoanother.HehaschosensongsfromtheCharismaticliturgy,tunesthatcomefrom the movement's informal canon of worship. There is a rowdy, Hebraic-soundingtunecalled"JehovahJireh,"whichisabouthow"myGodshallsupplyall my needs." Then there is a sweet, tender round about how "as the deerpantethforthewater,somysoullongethafterthee."ThelyricsaretakendirectlyfromPsalm42.Infact,manyoftheolderchorusesarewordforwordfromtheKing James Bible, which was very much the style in the early days of theCharismatic Movement when people seemed to want to sing nothing but theBible.

The final song is a folkversionof "AmazingGrace."The last verse is sungsimplyas"PraiseGod"overandagaintothetuneoftheclassichymn.Everyonecansingthis:thepriestathisfirstCharismaticmeeting,themanwhoisjustoutofjail,thewomanwhohasneverbeeninachurchbutwasbroughtbyafriend,theyouthwholeanmoretowardU2butarenowfeelingintheflow.

Mostofthepeoplehavetheirhandsraisedandtheireyesclosed,singingtheirheartsintothefaceofGod.Iftheyopenthemevenforasecond,theywillnoticethatDerekPrinceandhiswifeRuthhave slipped into the front row.Theyareworshiping,kneeling,cryingouttoGod-lostintheirownstreamofdevotion.

The singing comes to an end, and everyone stands quietly still. They arewaitingforGod tospeak, foraprophecyoraspiritual language tosoundoverthecrowd.Thereareafewcoughsandthesoundofshufflingfeet.Thenavoicefrom somewhere behind: "`My children, know that I love you most dearly.Know that Ihavebroughtyou to thisplaceand this time, for this is a timeofdeliveranceand this is a timeofMychoosing.Rest inMe in thisplace, and IwillperformthatwhichIhavepromised.Andyouwillleaveherechangedtothepraise of My glory,' saith the Lord." There are shouted "amens" and

"hallelujahs," andwhen another quietmoment or two has passed, the beardedworshipleaderbidseveryonesitdown.

Amanstepstothepodiumandadjuststhemicrophone.Heisalocalpastorora prominent Christian leader of some sort, perhaps a radio personality or theChristian weatherman on the local station whom everyone will know. Hewelcomes the crowd and reminds themof how exciting it is to have somanydifferentChristiandenominationsandmovementsrepresented tonight.There isapplause and shouts of amen. He tells them to stand and greet those aroundthem.This takes tenminutes or so and creates somuchnoise and commotionthat themanhasdifficultyregainingcontrol.Hedoesn'tmind.Thereis loveinthisroomandthekindofspiritualexcitementthatmakesthecommotionworthit.Hewaits,jokesabouthowheavenwillbejustlikethis,andurgesthemtobeseated.

Whenhehastoldthemhowtheycangettapesaftertheserviceandhowtheycanputtheirnamesonamailinglist,heturnstohisfinaltask:introducingDerekPrince.InwhathasbecomeastandardCharismaticstyle,hetellsthecrowdofatroubledtimeinhislifeandhowafriendgavehimatapebyDerekPrince.Tearsfillhiseyes.Herelateshowhewassetfreebywhatheheardonthat tapeandhowhisfamilywaschanged.Hehopesthesameforeveryonepresent.NowheregainscontrolandsaysthatitishishonortointroduceGod'smanofthehour,DerekPrince.

Derek steps to the podium, and people immediately notice that he is a trim,stylishlydressedman,particularlyforhisage.Heisseventy-three,afterall,andnot only does he look good for his years, but he is also unusually trim for apreacher. People are used to a bit of corpulence from the clergy, but Derekbreaksthemold.

Some Charismatic preachers are known for a joking and talking stream ofconsciousnessfornearlyhalfanhourbeforetheysayanythingofweight.Hereagain,Derekbreaksfromthepack.Heisfocused.Hehasbeeninprayeralldayandhasbeenmeditatinguponhistalk.Likealoadedgunthatachestofire,heisreadytosethisaim.Still,heiswarm.Hetalksaboutthespiritualpowerofthemeetingsintheconferenceandofhisregardforthemenwhoareincharge.He

hasbeeneager tospendthis timewiththem,hesays,andbeforehebeginshisteaching,hewouldliketocallupRuth.

DerekleavesthepodiumandstepstothesideoftheseatwhereRuthPrinceissitting.Heoffershisarmsandshe,unsteadily,risesandtakessmallstepsatherhusband'ssideuntilshereachesthepodiumatthefrontofthestage.Sheisnotelderly,butshedoeshaveseverecirculationproblemsinherlegsandoftenfeelsthemweakandwobbly.Derekstandsbesideherasshegreetsthewaitingcrowd.

Sheisanattractivewomanwithafullfigureandbrightwhiteteeththatflashreadilywhenshesmiles.Hervoiceishighbutpleasant,andshespeakswiththefirmnessofamatriarchtohertribe.

Whatimmediatelystrikesmanyinthecrowdisthatherheadiscoveredbyascarfthatmatchesherdress.Thosewhomayhaveseenherbeforethemeetingprobablydidnotnoticethescarf.Itwaswrappedabouthershouldersandwouldhave looked like a stylish adornment to her dress. This is what she intends.When she steps into a service, though, she raises the scarf over her head andbindsitlooselyaboutherneck.Forher,thisismorethanamatterofstyle.Itisherspiritualduty.

Despite the Charismatic emphasis on freedom from human convention andtraditional ways, Derek Prince and his wife believe that women should covertheir heads in spiritual services.This is confusing to some, a false doctrine toothers.DerekbelievesthatSt.Paul'sinjunctionintheBookofCorinthiansthatwomen should cover their heads in churchwas notmerely addressing a first-centuryproblemofprostitutesandmisbehavingwomen;itistheruleofGodforall time. Ruth seldom appears without head covering, then, even if it is abandanawrapped around her headwhile she prays for the sick inUganda. Infact,shehasvirtuallyinventedastyleofdressthatallowshertolookstylishonthestreetbutstillbereadytocoverherheadinaninstantofneed.Otherwomenfollowsuit,andit isnotuncommontofindultra-modernCharismaticchurchesalloverAmericainwhichwomencovertheirheadswhileinworship.

Sometimes thesewomencopy thestylebut fall shortof themeaning. InoneNashville church, barefoot youngwomen in halter tops and shorts cover theirheadswithashawlwhiledancingbeforetheirGod.ThisisthelegacyofDerek

Prince,thoughhewouldwinceattheinconsistentapplicationofhisviews.

RuthmergesgentlenesswithauthorityasshetellsofherprayerlifewithDerekandsomethingGodhasshownthemthisday.Shehasamysticalair.Tosome,itisendearingandmakesthemwishtheyknewGodasshedoes.Toothers,itisastyle, a chosen affectation, and one they hope the women in the CharismaticMovementwon'ttakeastheirown.

She is deferential, though, and speaks submissively of her husband and hisgifts.Herfinalwordsareofherexcitementatwhatheisabouttoshareandhowshe, now,must get out of theway.As the crowd thunders their approval, shemakesherwayslowlytoherseatonherhusband'sarmandsitsdown,returningherthankstotheaudiencewithasmile.

Derekreturnstohispodiumandannounceshissubject.Perhapsthistimeitis"OurDebttoIsrael"or"Life'sBitterPool"or"TheMarriageCovenant."Hemaytellhispersonalstoryintheoft-repeated"FromPhilosophytoChrist"orhemaydoaprimerondrivingoff demons called "TheBasicsofDeliverance." If thislasttopicishischoice,hewillcertainlyjokethatthesubtitleis"Everythingyoueverwantedtoknowaboutdemonsbutwereafraidtoask."

Whateverhis subject,Derekwillannounce itwitha seriousness that rivalsadeclarationofwar.Hedoesnotregardwhatisabouttohappenasentertainmentormerely the fodder for another series of tapes. He has prayed, labored, andstruggledforthistruthheisabouttoteach.Ithasbeenhardwon,perhapsintheagonyofmilitarydefeat in theSecondWorldWaror thepovertyofaKenyanvillageorthepersonalfightwithademonofdespair.Hehasminedthesetruths,paying dearly for their presence among the people ofGod. In hismind, he isheretosetapeoplefree.Thereisnomoreimportantmatterathand.

Becausehefeelsthegravityofthismoment,heissuretosaysomethingabouthowvitalhismessageisforthisparticularaudience.Itisnotuncommonforhimtoannounce,"Icannotthinkofanyaudienceintheworldforwhomthismessageismoreimportantthanyou,"or"ItiscertainlythewillofourLordthatweareabouttoconsiderthistextatthistime."Theyarethewordsofamanwhofeelshimselfdestined,ofapreacherwhospeaksasonerescuingdyingmen.

Hereadshistext,then.Asthemanofsystemthatheis,hegivesaonesentenceoutlineofhisplan:"Iwishfirst toconsider theoriginofdemons,andthenthemeansoftheirdefeatbeforeIdiscussthemythsaboutevilspiritsthatkeepthepeopleofGodbound."Thisthesisstatementisinnearlyallofhistalks.Itisthevaluable holdover from his life as a scholar, the imprint of CambridgephilosophicaldialogueuponthisnowAmericanCharismaticpreacher.

If the members of this audience are typical, they will focus their ear for amomentonhispleasantBritishaccent. It is familiar tomostof them from thetapesandradiobroadcaststheylistentobythehour.Infact,manyinthiscrowdhavespentmoretimelisteningtothevoiceofDerekPrincethantheyhaveanyotherhumanbeing.Hisaccentseemstobeonewithhischaracterandthetruththatheteaches.Itwasnotalwaysso.WhenhefirstcametoAmerica,hisaccentwas strong and often kept Americans from understanding him. Now, it hasmellowed,ashehas,andbecomeasmooth,almostotherworldlyconduittotruth.It isnotunlike theBible recordingsbyaBritishnarrator thathavebecome sopopular.SomethingaboutspiritualthingsspokeninaBritishaccentsoundsholytoAmericans,perhapsaholdoverfromthedaysofHollywoodBiblefilms,andthismakesDerek'smannerofspeechseemlikeanextensionofhismessage.

Hehasplantedhimselfbehindhispodium.Ifcustomprovestrue,hewillnotleave that spotuntil it is time forministry. Instead,he turns fromside to side,sometimesmovinghisfeetasheturnsandsometimessimplytwistingfromthewaist.Hemovessohecanseehisaudience,notsothattheycanseehim.Heisvisual,piercing.Oftenhecomplainsaboutthelighting.HewantstoseewhattheSpiritisdoingashespeaks.

Ifhedoesn'tmove,hedoesgesture.Hisfavorite is thepointedfinger,whichmoreoftenthannotispointedupward,likeamothertellingachild,"Iwilltellyouonething!"Hisotherfavoritehandmotionisasweepinggesture.ItcomeswhenheisspeakingoftheflowofhistoryortheentiretaleoftheBible."Inthewholeofhumanhistory,"hemightsay,sweepinghisrighthandfromonesidetothe other just over his podium, "there is nothing to equal Paul's letter to theRomans."

Thereisnothingovertthathappensashespeaks,butitisnotlongbeforesome

intheaudiencehaveanexperiencethatisnew.Thereareconnectionshappeningintheirminds.It isas thoughsomeforce is takingDerek'swordsanddrawinglines from his themes to scriptures they already know, teachings they havealreadyheard,andideasthathaveoccurredtotheminprayer.Amatrixoftruthbecomes embedded in theirmind.They understandmore than they ever have,easilyseeingtheworld in termsof the truthDerekdescribes.Later,whentheyare home, it will not be as clear, and they will realize that Derek's teachingministryisasmuchabouttheenvironmentthatisaroundhimasitisthespecifictruthheteaches.Somecallitbeing"undertheanointing,"andothersspeakofa"spiritofrevelation."Nomatteritsname,itisthemostdefiningaspectofDerekPrince'sspeakingministry:peopleenvisionwhilehespeakswhattheyhavenotbefore and cannot aswell afterward. So they stay close-through tapes, books,radio, and conferences-untilwhat oncewas newbecomes a permanent part oftheirmental system. It iswhymillionsof themworldwideunashamedlyclaimDerekPrince as their spiritual father, themanwhoplanted those transformingtruthsintheirlives.

Heiswindingtoaclosenow.Somewonderwhathewilldonext.TherearetimeswhenheinvitespeopletoreceiveJesusforthefirsttime.Whenthisisthepathhechooses,heoftenaskseveryonetoclosetheireyes,andwhentheydo,hetells briefly of his own salvation. As he does, tears come when he recalls alonely British soldier finding Jesus in a Scarborough barracks all those yearsago.Sonowheoffersthesamesalvationtoothers.

Itismorelikely,though,thathewillassumehislistenersaresavedandthathewillminister tothecrowdasawhole.Ifhehasspokenondeliverance,hewillhavethepeoplewhowanttobesetfreestandandrepeatwordsafterhim.Thenhewill command the demons to go.Hewill do the samewith healing or thecleansing of past wounds or the imprint of a curse. This is a method he haslearnedfromthepressofministry.Hehadtodosomething.Heusedtoremainforhoursafterhetaught,ministeringtoeachindividualinneed.Itexhaustedhimand left him feeling there was a better way. So he started leading his hugecrowds inmassministry sessions, and he found the resultswere just as goodwithoutthestrain.

Still,itislikelyhewillsensetheSpirit'sleadingtoprayforafewoneon-one.

Therewill certainly be a propheticwordor two for people he calls out of thecrowd.Thenhewillprayforhealing.Withthecrowdlookingon,hewillcallawomanforwardfromthecrowd,andshewillconfirmwhathesensedtobetrue:shehasaseverebackproblem.Derekwillaskhertosit,andthenhewillexplainthatwhilehehasspecialgrace toprayforbacks, theLordhasshownhimthatmostbackproblemsarearesultofpeople'slegsbeinguneven.Hewillaskhertopush thesmallofherback to therearofherchair,and thenhewillaskher totakeoffhershoes.Shewillbeembarrassed.DerekPrinceisnowkneelingbeforeherwithherfeetinhishands,andshecannotsuppressagiggle.Derekknowsthedrill.Hejokesthatsheshouldnotbenervous,thathehassmelledfeetaroundtheworld.Thehumorworks.Thewomansettles,andtheprayerbegins.

Derek will ask people to gather around who want to see. There is an inchdifference between the length of the legs, and now he is going to pray. Hecommands the short leg to lengthen. It does.Thenearby crowdapplaudswithglee, and thewoman rises fromher chair andgratefully hugsDerek andRuthwithtearsstreamingdownhercheeks.Asshereturnstoherchair,peoplereachout from the crowd to touch her and congratulate her on the blessing she hasreceived.

Time is passing, though, and after others receive prayer, it is time for theservicetoend.Thecrowdisindisarray.Therearepeopleweepinginthearmsofthosewhocamewiththemforthejoyofthehealingtheyhavereceivedor thedeliverance theyhave just found.Othersarequietlyworshiping to the tune thepianoplayerhasbeenquietlyofferingwhileministryhasbeenunderway.Manyin the room, though, are kneeling and praying for this powerful moment tocontinueinthelivesofthosenothere.

ThemanwhointroducedDereknowstepstothepodiumandcallseveryonetosingaclosingsong.DerekandRuth,withthehelpofushers,gathertheirBiblesandmakeforthedoor.Thecrowdinterruptsthespeakertoapplaud.TheyhavenothadamomenttothankDerekPrince,andtheyriskbeingrudetooffertheirlove.Hewaves an arm in replybefore slippingout thedoorwithRuthonhisarm.

Thecrowdwillendwithsinging,andthentheywill rushto the tables.Their

firstconcernisthetapes.Eachpersonpresentcanthinkofadozenotherstheywish had heard this teaching. Tapes are the key. Thousands of tapes will bemade,withtheduplicatingmachinewhirringatfullspeedtoanswerthecrowd'sdemands.Iftherearetwothousandpeopleinthismeeting,theremaywellbetenthousandtapessold.

Then thereare thebooks.Derekhasdozens inprint,andeachof themhasatitle that promises changed lives. Truckloads will sell with orders for morearriving at Derek PrinceMinistries bymail in theweeks to come. Indeed, somany Derek Prince books have sold that after his death people who knownothingofthecourseofhislifeoreventhathehaspassedawaywillrememberamomentintheirjourneywhenaDerekPrincebookintervened.

Now there is anewway to replay theevening: thevideocassette.Manywillorder thismediumandgather lovedones in livingroomstorelive themomentand thepower.Though thesewillneversurpass thereachof theaudiocassette,theywillletDereklivelongafterheisgone.

Thetapes,thebooks,andthevideoswillgofromthisconferencetothenationsoftheworld.Motherswillmailthemtochildrenatcollege,andpastorswillsendthem to friends overseas. Cell groupswill gather in suburban living rooms toplay the tape of this evening's events. Preacherswill teach as their ownwhatDerekhasimpartedinchurchesaroundtheworld,andthousandsofphonecallswillbeginwith"YouhavetohearwhatDerekPrincesaid!"

Andonthevideotape, thevoiceofanannouncer tells thestory.Hesays thatDerek Prince Ministries takes "the inspired Word of God to the ends of theearth," that they are devoted to "reaching the unreached and teaching theuntaught."Derek-"oneof the leadingBibleexpositorsofour time"with"morethan thirty books in forty languages and radio broadcasts that reach half theworld-travelstheglobewithhiswifeRuth,teachingGod'sWord,prayingforthesick,andprovidinginsightintoworldevents."

Andsoitwasin1988.

12

IfIForgetYou,0Jerusalem:Home

EREK,HOWWOULDyouliketoberemembered?"

"AsateacherinthebodyofChristandfathertoamovementthatsurvivesme.IwantDerekPrinceMinistriestolastuntilJesusreturns,alwaysseekingoutnewwaystopenetratethenationswithGod'sWord."

"Whatisthemostimportanttruthyouhavelearnedaboutlife?"

"Godisfaithful.HekeepsHisword.HeisarewarderofthosewhodiligentlyseekHim.Icannotemphasizethisenough.Itisthegreatesttruthofmylife:Godisfaithful."

"Whatisyourgreatestregret?"

"ThatIdidnotforgivemorequickly.Ihavehadlongseasonsofwrestlingwithunforgivenessinmylife."

"Canyounameoneofthem?"

"WhenFullGospelBusinessMen'sFellowshipcameoutagainstdeliveranceandthenrejectedmefordiscipleship, thathurt.Ifelt itwaspersonalandmoreaboutcontrolandcompetition than itwasabout truth. Iseethedover thatforalongtime,anditdamagedme.IwishIhadbeenabetterman."

"Whatisyourbiggestconcernforthechurchtoday?"

"Thechurchshouldnotbepartoftheworld.Whenthechurchisnotpartofthe

world,what theHolySpirit does is good, butwhenwe ask theHolySpirit toblesswhat iscarnaloramixture, it isnotgood.I'mconcernedthecarnality inthe church and theworldliness are going to grieve the Spirit and hinderwhatGodwantstodointhelastdays."

"DoyouhavespecificconcernsforAmerica?"

"In America, the most necessary message is separation from the world, ofwhichthereisverylittle.Americansareanationofbusinessmen.Idon'tseethisinanyothernation.This isnot a criticism.Sometimes it is anecessity.But ifbusiness doesn't follow biblical principle, then it is unfortunate, and theAmericanchurchisveeringthatway."

"WhataboutEngland?"

"Ibelieve thatEnglandmaybe the firstWesternnation to fall to Islam. It isalready happening. This is due to the loss of trueChristianity and a lifting ofGod's grace because of howBritain treated the Jews. I'm afraid I do not havemuchhopeforEnglandunlesssheundergoestotal,nationalrepentance.OneofthethingsthathasledtothisstateistheBritishpassionforniceness.Ifyouwantto be `good' in theUnitedKingdom, you never say anything bad about otherpeople. But often that means you're not acknowledging the truth. Britaindesperately needs the truth, but some who love her will have to be very un-Britishtogiveherthetruthsheneeds."

"Doyouhaveanythingtosaytothenextgeneration?"

"I hope I have said it with my life. I will tell you this, though: each newgenerationmustbeverycarefulaboutwhatitacceptsfromtheirparents'time.Itistruethatwewanttoreceivegoodfromthosewhohavecomebeforeus,butwemustalsounderstandthedifferencebetweenlivingtruthandensnaringtradition.IhaveagreatdealofhopefortheyouthIseetoday.Theytrulyareyounglionswhoroaraftertheirprey.Theyarehungryfortruthandwillingtopaytheprice:infasting,inprayer,inlabor,andindevotiontotheWordofGod.ItgivesmegreatjoytopasswhatGodhasdonethroughmetosuchwillingvessels."

Oneof thepleasantyetunusual truthsofDerekPrince's life is thathe reachedthezenithofhisinfluenceandfameinthelatterdecadesofhislife.Notallmenaresoblessed.Somepeakearlyintheirlivesandthendriftordeclineuntiltheend. Some never peak at all. Others rise and fall repeatedly, their life's pathresembling the outline of a small range ofmountains.DerekPrince's life rosegently,andthoughherejectedanydiscussionoffameinreferencetohiswork,hedidwelcomethemountinginfluenceofhislifeasevidenceofGod'sgrace.

Thenaturalreasonsforthiscontinuingriseinhislasttwodecadesareeasytounderstand.Hehadcome toAmericaarmedwith lessonsofprayer fornationsanddeliverance fromstrongholdsofevil justwhen thechurchand thecountrydesperately needed them.Hewas the rightmanwith the rightmessage at therightmoment in time.Later,heemerged from thediscipleshipdebacle largelyunscathed.Thiswasbothbecauseofhisdistancefromthemovementduringitsworstdaysandbecausehewasperceivedastheherooftruthwholeftoncethewhole thing went wrong. He therefore became an elder statesman figure at atime when the Charismatic Movement was led largely by younger, moreuntested men. Perhaps more, the level of spiritual power in his life onlyheightenedasheaged.Thiswasevidenceofhisdevotion toprayer, tofasting,andtoobeyingtheVoicethathadlongbeenhisguide.

Inadditiontothesecriticalfactors,healsomadesomebrilliantdecisionsthattookhimwherehehadnotbeenbefore.InFebruary1979,Derekannouncedtoreaders of his newsletter that hewas starting a daily radio show calledTodayWithDerekPrince.

Forseveralmonths,IhavebeenimpressedthattheLordwantedmetoundertakeanewoutreachthroughradio.Aftermuchprayer,GodmadeitcleartobothofusthatIshouldplanadailybroadcast,fromMondayto Friday each week, dealing briefly with specific themes, of whichsomearecoveredmorefullybymybooksandtapes,whileothersarecompletelynew. Ibeganmyministry in theU.S.A. in1963onradio,with a systematic Bible teaching programwhich eventually took theformofmyseven"Foundation"books,andhasthusgoneonblessing

thousands of people ever since. I feel confident that there are manypeopletodaywhocouldbereachedandblessednolesseffectivelybymyministrythroughradio.

This decision to start a radio broadcast would prove to be one of the mostimportantofhisministry.Itwasaperfectfitbothforhimandthetimes.Derek'steaching style was perfectly suited to filling twelve and one-half minutes ofairtimewith concise, transforming truth.Moreover, the age of Christian radiowasjustthenemerginginAmerica.ItwasnotlongbeforehissupporterscaughtthevisionandempoweredTodayWithDerekPrincetobecomeoneofthemostinfluentialteachingbroadcastsonChristianradio.

Derek recorded his show in a studio with Ruth and an engineer as hisaudience.Herarelymadeamistakeorhadtostartover,andhehadanuncannyability toend righton time.Onlyonce inhis radiocareerdidhemakea falsestart.HewasteachinginthesoundboothwithRuthwatchinghimfromtheotherside of the soundproof glass. As he had with Lydia, Derek drew from theattentionofhiswifewhilehe spoke.On thisoccasion,Ruth,whowasusuallyadoring and attentive, decided to file her nails while Derek spoke. Flustered,Derek stopped in mid-teaching and yelled through the glass, "What are youdoing?"TheengineerandRuthbothlookedupatDerekinshock.Hehadneverinterrupted himself before. All three erupted in laughter, and then,when theyhadcomposedthemselves,Derekstartedhisteachingoveragain-Ruth'snailfilesafelytuckedawayinherpurse.

TodayWithDerekPrincewouldbecometheflagshipventureofDerekPrinceMinistries.InmosteverycityofanysizeinAmericaandinmanycitiesaroundtheworld,thedistilledteachingofDerek'slifewasbroadcastatatimeandinaformatcalculatedforgreatestimpact.BelieverswerenotonlytreatedtoabriefbutnurturingtourofGod'sWord,buttheyalsocametoknowDerek'slifeinawaythatendearedhimtothemandfosteredrespect.Wisely,Derekofferedhisbooks on the air and announced parts of his speaking schedule. His ministrygrewdramatically.Moreimportantly,millionswerefedarichspiritualdietinaformatthatpenetratedtheirbusylives.

AseconddecisionthatstrategicallyextendedDerek'sworkwasthestartofthe

GlobalOutreachprogram(GO).Attheendof1983,DerekandRuthsensedthatGodwas telling them tomakeDerek's books and tapes available to leaders inforeign countrieswhomight not otherwise have access to them. The programbegan with Derek writing twenty-three leaders he already knew around theworldandoffering thembooksand tapeswithoutcharge.Theoverseas leaderswereecstatic,andtheideacapturedtheheartsofcontributorsinAmerica.Twoyearslater,theGOprogramhadsentmaterialtomorethanfivehundredleadersinfiftynationsonsixcontinents.Atitsmostsuccessfulstageintheearly1990s,the program gave over two hundred thousand books and tapes to more thansixteenhundredinternationalleadersinonehundredtennations.

The impactof this ishard toexaggerate.TheGOprogramgaveCharismaticleaders in emerging nations training and refreshing they urgently needed.Churches were strengthened, ministries were fashioned, and the CharismaticMovementindozensofnationswasmaturedonthestrengthofDerek'ssolidlybiblical teaching. In Charismatic churches Derek would never know about-perhaps in Zimbabwe or Indonesia, for example-his tapes were used for theSundaysermon,hisbookswereusedtoprepareleaders,andhisnamewasgiventonewbornbabes. It isnotuncommon to thisday to findaDerekSunYeeorAbdullahDerekKhanpreachingthegospelsomewhereintheworld.

AthirdinfluenceonthegrowthofDerekPrinceMinistriesinthelastyearsofDerek'slifewasmoreatrendthanadecision.Decadesbefore,whenDerekwasnewly born again, he had heardGod say, "It shall be like a little stream.Thestreamshallbecomeariver,therivershallbecomeagreatriver,thegreatrivershallbecomeasea,theseashallbecomeamightyocean,anditshallbethroughthee."Yettherewassomethingmore:"Buthowthoumustnotknow,thoucanstnotknow,thoushaltnotknow."

Throughouthis life,Derek took this latterphraseasaguaranteeofhumility.Hisministrywould be effective, but itwouldn't be all his doing.Derek couldalmosthearGodsaying,"If Iallowyou toknowhowIamgoing toaffect theworldthroughyourministry,youwillsimplygetintheway.Iwillusemethodsyouwouldneverdream.StayinyourplaceanddowhatItellyoutodo.Iwilldotherest."Thus,hecametoacceptthatGod'splanwouldprevailifhewouldonlyobey.

It paidoff.Aside from the astonishing successofhis radioprogramand thevast reach of theGlobalOutreach program,Derek's impact on theworldwasdramatically extended by ideas that originated with other people. It washumbling,perhaps,buttheresultsweresometimessohistoricthatDerekcouldnot deny thiswasGod'sway. Typical of these, and certainly among themostsuccessful,wasRossPaterson'splanforChina.

In theearly1960s,PatersonwasastudentatCambridgeUniversitywhenhefirstheardDerekspeak.HethenbecameamissionarytoTaiwanwithhiswife,Christine.ThetwowereoftensustainedontheirlonelymissionfieldbyDerek'sbooksand tapes.They returned toEngland in1979andbecamepastors in thenortherncityofYork.Duringaseasonoffastingandprayer,Rosswaswalkingaround an abandoned horse track one day when he heard his God say thesewords:"TakeDerekPrincetoChina."

HeimmediatelymadehiswaytonorthernIrelandwherehehadheardDerekwasspeakingandaskedsomefriendstheretointroducehim.WhenheexplainedtoDerekwhatheintendedtodo,Derekeagerlyagreedandpromisedtohelpasmuch as he could. Ross then used his connections with OverseasMissionaryFellowship, the former China Inland Mission, to gain access to the Far EastBroadcastingCompany(FEBC).HeaskediftheywouldbewillingtoairDerek'sradio teaching, and, in time, they agreed.Ross soon found himself typing outChinesetranslationsofDerek'smessages.

The early days did not always go smoothly. The FEBC translators oftenreworkedRoss's translationsintoparaphrasesthatmissedtheoriginalmeaning.In time, though-as their trust grew-they began allowing unaltered translation.The broadcast became one of the most popular radio shows in China. Threeyearsafterthestartofthebroadcasts,theFEBCwassopleasedwiththesuccessthattheyaskedifRosscouldprovidemorematerial.Sincethattime,thethemeofeveryDerekPrinceradiotapeandsermonhasbeenplayedonChineseradioinbothMandarinandCantonese,aswellasotherdialects.

On the strength of his success with radio, Ross thenworked to get Derek'sbooks into China, as well. In conjunction with ministries in Hong Kong andTaiwan, he engineered the translation of the Foundation Series into Chinese.

ThismovedDerek, a few years later, to announce that hewished to give thenationofChinaapresent:amillioncopiesoftheFoundationSeries.Withtime,thatgoalwasachieved,andnowmorethanfivemillioncopiesofDerek'sbookshavebeendistributedinthatland.

Notamaneasilysatisfied,Rosshassince turnedhisattention todistributingvideocompactdisksofDerekspeakinginhopesoffeedingtheballooningsmallgroup movement in China. These VCDs will be quite a shock for many ofDerek'sfollowers,though.Surprisingly,mostofthembelieveheisChinese.Inorder to air Derek's teaching on Chinese radio, Ross gave him the name "YeGuang-Ming,"whichmeans"ClearLight,"andaskedaChinesebelievertoreadthe scripts ofDerek's teaching.ChineseChristianswhohave been listening toDerek's teaching for years know nothing of the name Derek Prince and willcertainly be amazed to see a tall Englishman on VCDs that are supposed todepicttheirfavoriteteacher,YeGuang-Ming!

RossPaterson'sefforts inChinametwithsuchsuccess thatDerekoncesaid,"If the Lord took everything away fromme, the last thing I would let go ofwouldbeChina."Yetthereweresimilarvictoriesindozensofothercountries-France, South Africa, Russia, Latin America, New Zealand, and India, forexample-andlargelybecausevaliantbelieversofferedthemselvesaschampionsofDerek'steachingintheirlands.

Among all the forces that liftedDerek to greater heights in his latter years,Ruthmust surelybegivenherdue.Few inDerek's lifedevoted themselves tohimasshedid.Fewsoughtasfiercelytodrivehimtohisbest.Andfewwereasresentedandmisunderstoodasshewas.

RuthenduredoppositionfromthemomentsheenteredDerek'slife.Therewas,first, the rejectionby theFt.Lauderdalemen.Thoughkind, they sawher as aburdenandadivorceewhowould taintDerek'sname.Then therewere familymembers and friends,who suspected thatRuth,who had never beenwell-off,eyedDerek'sprosperityandfame.

SomethoughttheysawsignsthatGodwasconfirmingtheirfears.WhenRuthfirstcameonthescene,JohannehadadreaminwhichRuthwaspushingDerekinawheelchair.TheywereinabuildingsomethinglikeGrandCentralStationin

NewYork.Suddenly,RuthpushedDerekviolentlydownagreatflightofstairs.Allthewhile,DerekwasscreamingJohanne'sname.WhenJohanneawoke,shewasunderstandablyhorrifiedbythenightmarishscene.Herdreadonlydeepenedsometime later, though, when Don Basham's daughter told her that she haddreamtthesamething.SuchimagesdidnotinspireawarmwelcomeforDerek'ssecondwife.

Sadly,Ruthdid little toendearherself.Though, tohercredit,RuthsawitashercallingtoprotectDerekanddrivehimtothegreatnessshedreamedforhim,many people remember her as controlling and small. She regimented Derek'sscheduleandeating to the lastdetail, imposinghugeburdensbothonhimandthoseabout them.WhensheandDerekvisited thehomesof familyor friends,Ruthannounceduponarrivingtheprecisetimemealswouldbeserved,whatthemenuwould be, andwhenDerekwould take a napor awalk. Sometimes herdemands were mailed to family members in advance.When family memberscalled the house and asked for Derek, they were told he was sleeping or inprayer.LaterDerekwouldaskwhypeoplenevercalled.

Once when the two of them went shopping with friends, Derek-who had awickedsweettooth-putsugarydelightsintheshoppingbasketthatwerenotonhis diet. His friends giggled: Derek was being typically male. Ruth was notamused, though.At first, she simply took theoffending foods from thebasketandputthembackontheshelf.Finally,shegrewsoenragedthatsheexplodedatDerekintermseveryoneinthestorecouldhear.

Because of this overprotectiveness that bordered on isolation, many peopledescribeRuthasafrustratingcombinationofcontrolandinsecurity.Shewasattimespetty, raging, andharsh.ShedominatedDerek's life in away thatmanyaroundhimcametobelievehinderedhisworkforGod.

Perhaps,though,thereisanotherwayofunderstandingthiswoman.Nolifeisrevealed inonedimension.Humanbeings are complex anddifficult todefine.Tosee themasanythingnearwhat theyarerequiresawarmblendofhumilityandmercy, a compassion that checks the rush to judgment and grants truth amoment to be heard. Surely, any sense of honor for the life of Derek Princerequiresagentlesecondlookatthewomanthatheloved.

ItmaybethatRuth'shurtfulwaysweretheoutworkingofaninnerpainofherown.There isa revealingstory thatcomes fromameetingof the internationalcouncilofDerekPrinceMinistriesatNuremburg.TherehadbeensometensionbetweenRuth and amanat themeeting.Thingsgrewheated.During abreak,Ruthapproachedthemanandcontinuedpressingherviews.Derekwalkeduptothe two just as themanwas tellingRuth that shewas a bit overbearing.RuthlookedtoDerektodisagree,butinsteadhenoddedassent:"Yes,Ruth,youaresometimes hard to bear." Ruth burst into tears and then, in a painfullytransparentmoment, looked pleadingly atDerek and said, "You never tellmeyouloveme,andyoualwayscriticizeeverythingIdo."

If thesewordsgenuinelyrepresentahiddenpainofRuth'sheart, itmaywellexplainsomeofhercrashingways.DerekPrinceshonebrightlyforherbeforethetwoevermet.HewasoneoftheluminariesofherCharismaticworld.Whenhe first made his way to her Jerusalem apartment to pray for her, she washumbledby themerehonorofhispresence.Later,when they fell in love andmarried,aninsecure,overwhelmedRuthtookitasherdutytocareforDerekandmakehimevenmorethanhewas.Sheonlyknewonewaytodothis:theMarineway-discipline and control.But shewanted love in exchange, andwhen it didnot come to her satisfaction, she drove herself-and Derek-even harder. Thismeant more ironclad routine, more offense, and more distancing of friends.Derek surely felt the squeeze and may have expressed his discomfort in thecriticismofwhichRuthcomplained.Thetwomayhaveenteredaviciouscycle:Ruth trying to protect and regulate Derek's life to earn his love, and DerekresentingthedominationandwithholdingtheaffectionRuthcraved.

Whateverthecase,itfallsshortofthetruthtopaintRuthastheJezebeloftheDerekPrincestory.LikeLydia,shecouldbeharshandabusivebutalsoaladyofgreattendernessanddepth.WeshouldrememberthatsheministeredatDerek'ssideformorethantwodecades,prayingforthesick,teachingtheScriptures,andenduringthehardshipjustashedid.Sheheldthesickandthedyingtoherchest,hiked through jungles to preachGod's truth, and endured the criticism that allleadersreceive.Yetsheneverlostthetendertouch.WhenKirsten'sbelovedcatdiedoneyear,Ruth sent her a card describing the agonyof loss andhow sheshared the pain. Kirsten, who was more used to the demanding houseguest,couldbarelyreconcilethetwoRuthsinhermind.

ThereareotherstoriesthatareasequallyinconflictwiththedarkerimageofRuthsomeprefer.Onlyone isneeded.DerekandRuthwere inavanon theirway to a meeting in Pakistan. Suddenly, the van began to careen wildly andseemed as though it was about to crash into an oncoming truck. Seeing thedanger,Ruth unfastened her seat belt and threw her body overDerek to keephim fromharm.When thevan righted itself andmovedback in its lane,Ruthmovedbackintoherseatandfastenedherseatbeltagain,allwithoutcomment.Themessagewasclear:RuthsawherlifeintermsofDerek.Shewouldgiveheralltohim.Hiswork,hisministry,wasmoreimportantthananythingelse,evenherownlife.Awomanwhothinkslikethisisboundtogiveoffensetoothers,butsurelyshecanbehonoredforservingahighercause.

Attheendofhislife,DerekwasaskedaboutRuthandherdomineeringways.Withthetearsforminginhiseyesthatwerealwayspresentwhenhespokeofhiswives,hesaid,"Iknowshewasnotperfect,butmyministryinthoseyearswasdueinlargeparttoherlabors.ShegotmewhereIneededtobeandcaredforallthedetailsthatwouldhaveescapedme.Iwasahealthier,happiermanbecauseofher,andifshehurtthosewhomIlove,Icanonlyhopetheyunderstand."

RegardlessofhowRuth is remembered, it iscertain thatonlyanexceptionalwomancouldhavekeptupwithDerekPrincetowardtheendofhislife.Bytheearly 1980s,Derek andRuth had decided to spend up to half of their year inIsrael to identify with the Jews and encourage their return to the land. Thismeantthattheremaininghalfoftheyearwasspentministeringabroad.Itsoundslikea leisurelyarrangement,andDerekandRuthmayhavedecidedupon it inparttofindsomewell-earnedrest.

Itwasnot tobe.Rarelydid they spenda full sixmonths in Israel, andevenwhen they did, there were meetings, tours, bombings, and regional wars toendure.Whentheywereabroad,theirschedulewasastonishinggiventhatDerekwasnearinghiseightiethyear.Onesix-monthperiod,piecedtogetherfromhisnewsletters, tells the tale. From July to late November, Derek and Ruthministered in Amsterdam, Ornskoldsvik in Sweden, Singapore, Karachi inPakistan, Scotland, Ireland, Austria, Germany, and five conferences in theUnitedStates.

ThatDerek'sschedulewasalmostridiculouslyfullinthoseyearsistestamentto the demand for his teaching. By the late 1990s, Derek was viewed as apioneerofmanyofthetruthsthatwerethenprovingofimpact,afathertojustthe kind of movement he had hoped to launch. Indeed, there were so manybiblical themes that he embedded anew in the Christian world that it issometimesdifficulttorecallatimewhenthosethemesweren'twellknown.

His chief theme in his latter yearswas love for Israel. He believed that thechurchhadfailedtounderstandthemeaningofthereturnoftheJewstothelandandthatthiswaslargelyduetothereplacementtheologyinthebodyofChrist.For centuries, most Christians believed that while the Israel of the OldTestament was the chosen people of God, the ministry of Jesus signaled achange:thechurchisIsraelnow.InDerek'sview,thisfalsedoctrinegaverisetomuch of the anti-Semitism inworld history. Instead, he taught that ChristiansoughttorecognizetheirdebttoIsrael,understandthatthebirthofthenationofIsraelin1948wasofhugebiblicalsignificance,anddoallintheirpowertoblesstheJewsandaidtheminreturningtotheirland.

ThetruthisthatDerekunderstoodthewholeofhislifeintermsofIsrael.Hehadbeenbaptizedintheland,hadbeenwitnesstothecreationofmodernIsrael,hadadoptedJewishdaughters,andfeltacalltoturntheChristianchurchtoherJewish roots.Hesaw itasdeeplyprophetic that life in Jerusalemshouldmarkboth the beginning and the end of his ministry. This was more than just anaccidentofgeography:itwasthefulfillmentofthepurposeforhislife.AskedonhisdeathbedwhathislastcommissionfromGodhadbeen,hesaidhoarsely,"ToprayforthepeaceofJerusalem."

Derek'ssecondmajorthemewasthetruthandpowerofGod'sWord,theBible.At a timewhenCharismatics often left being biblical in order to be spiritual,whenexperienceruledoverthought,Derekhelpeddrawthemovementbackintobiblical boundaries. He was as devoted to spiritual experience as anyCharismaticcouldbe,butheunderstoodthatChristianspiritualityshouldgroworganicallyfromScripture.RatherthansimplyviewingtheBibleasacollectionof inspiring statements, as many Charismatics did, Derek understood it as atapestryoftruthwovenovercenturies,arevelationofGodthroughtherecordofhuman experience. He called themovement, then, to a passion for the Bible,

right methods of interpreting Scripture, and sound doctrine as the path tospiritualpower.

Yet, as certainly as he demanded a scholarly approach to Scripture, he alsounderstoodthatthewordsoftheBiblearefilledwithspiritandlife.HebelievedthatScriptureought tobestoredup in theheart,proclaimed inpowerover thecircumstancesof life, andheldbeforeGodas the spiritual languageofprayer.He and Ruth often made "proclamations," both in private and with theiraudiences,inwhichtheyspokealoudscripturesthatpertainedtoacertainneedorabattleforvictory.Therewereproclamationsthatpertainedtohealth,mentalacuity, salvation for the lost, God's will for nations, the restoration of Israel,defeatofthedevil,andstrengtheningofmarriages,tonameafew.Thispracticewas theoutworkingofDerek'sbelief that theBible,onceproperlyunderstood,couldbeappliedinfaithtotherealworldtoproducechange.

Indeed,thiswasthefoundationalbeliefofmuchelsethathetaught.Heurgedwhat he did about demons because he found it first in theBible and then hisexperienceconfirmedit.ButhewouldgonofurtherindrivingoffthedemonicthantheBibleallowed,andheurgedotherstodothesame.Hetaughtaboutthepower of curses or the grace of God to heal or the spiritual power of humanwords or the value of intercessory prayer or the spiritual life of nations-allbecausehesawitfirstinScriptureandthenapplieditinfaithtochangehumanlives. This was the keystone of his ministry: he was biblical in order to bespiritualandspiritualbecausehewasbiblical.

Itisnotgoingtoofartocontendthathistheologymaywellhavebeen,inpart,apositivestampofhisPlatonistbeginnings.HelovedtheideasofPlato,hesaid,because they taught of a perfect world beyond the natural. Yet to understandthese ideas, Derek had to do the hard work of classical scholarship. Once hebecame a Christian, he brought both the scholar's skill and the Platonist'smysticism, perhaps even dualism, to his understanding of Scripture. Thus, helovedlanguagebutkepthiseyeonitsspiritualpower.Heunderstoodsicknessassomethingrealbutalwaysbelievedtherewasaspiritualitytoillnessthatheldthekey to its cure. He believed in good government, but he understood that thecourseofnations is shaped inaspiritual realm.Thesamecouldbesaidofhisviewofauthority,marriage,thefuture,thechurch,andascoreofothertopicson

whichhetaught.

By the timeDerekcame intohis latteryears, theseperspectiveshadbecomemainline in the Charismatic Movement. Indeed, some spoke of a neo-CharismaticMovement: theportion thatembracedspiritualexperiencebutwasas much given to sound teaching and doctrine as any Presbyterian or Baptistcould be. Derek had given birth to this movement, and many hundreds ofthousands knew it by the late 1990s. It is a pleasant thought that Derek washonored as the father hewanted to bewell before his death.One pastorwhointroducedhimsaid, "SurelyDerek'spresencewithus tonight is avictory lap.MayhehavemanymorebeforehegoestobewiththeLord."

Itwouldbegoingtoofar,perhaps,tosaythatDerekPrince'spersonalministryendedwiththedeathofRuth,butthereisnoquestionthatherpassingsignaledadramaticdecreaseinhislife.TheirlastUpdatetapetogether-thecassettetapeofnewsandteachingtheynowsenttotheirsupportersinplaceofanewsletter-wasfilledwithplansanddreamstheyhopedtoachieve.Ruth,however,succumbedrelatively quickly to a thoracic problem that was never clearly diagnosed anddiedonDecember29,1998,inJerusalem.

Derekwasunderstandablydevastatedbutatthefuneralmadeoneofthemostcriticaldeclarationsofhislife.Hehadsensedanuncleanforcearisinginhissoulfrom the moment Ruth died, a bitter blaming that he knewwould eventuallydistancehimfromhisGod.Atthefuneral,justafterRuth'scasketwasloweredintheground,Derekfeltmovedtostepforwardandkneelbyherside.Speakingsoallinattendancecouldhear,hethankedGodforallthatHehaddoneforRuthandtoldhisheavenlyFatherthathetrustedHimandthathewascontentwithallthathadhappened.AsDereklatersaid,"Itwasasignificantmomentinmylife.IknewIcouldnevergoforwardwiththelamentIfeltoverRuth.IwouldalwaysblameGod, and thedoor ofmy lifewouldhavebeen shut.Thiswas the onlyway I could continue." Ruth's gravestone, at the Emek Rephaim cemetery inJerusalem, displays thewords that captureDerek's faith at the time. They saysimply:

RUTHPRINCE1930-1998ALIFELAIDDOWN

TheremainingyearsofDerek'slifewerefarfromaimless.Heworkedclosely

withDavidSelbytochartacourseforDerekPrinceMinistries.Heoccasionallytaughtwhenhefeltableandeach timegaveevidence that thefireand thegiftstilllived.WhenhewasinJerusalem,heattendedanAnglicangatheringcalledChristChurch.ItwashisfavoriteplaceofworshipandtheonlyChristianchurchwithinthewallsoftheOldCity.HealsoencouragedbelieversinthelandofhisheartandmetwithChristianleadersfromaroundtheworldwhosoughthimoutwhenevertheycould.

The beginning of the end, though, came onMarch 28, 2001, when doctorsdiscoveredatumorgrowingonDerek'shead.Unlessitscoursewasreversed,hewas told, he did not have long to live. Derek entrusted himself to God butsubmittedtothetreatmentsthedoctorsrecommended.Therewouldberadiationtreatments and huge doses of steroids that would cause Derek to balloon tonearlytwicehisnormalsize.Attimes,itseemedasthoughhewaswinning,andin these short seasons he planned for futureministry and began sketching outbooks he hoped to write. Then the hard days would return and leave himfrustratedthathecouldnotdothethingshedreamed.

In his finalmonths, he lived in a home he had purchased in Jerusalem andwhich he shared with the family of Eliyahu Ben Haim, a longtime friend.Thoughhisbodyfaded,hisspiritneverdimmed.Hestillhadhisfire.Whenthemullah from themosque near his house sounded the salat, theMuslim call toprayer, Derek routinely looked toward the window and spouted Scripture inreturn.Heneverseemedtooilltojokewithafriend,humorouslyarguewithhisdevotedhelp,orengageinspiritedconversationabouttrendsandideas.Hewasawaretothelast,agreatmindandafieryspiritindwellingabodythathadcometoitsend.

HediedonSeptember24,2003,whilehesleptinthelandhehadlovedallhisdays.Itshouldnotgowithoutmentionthatheleftthislifeinayearsomehavemarkedas"ThePassingoftheFathers."InthesameyearDerekwenttobewithhis God, Bill Bright and Kenneth Hagin, both leaders of major Christianmovements,diedaswell. It is fitting that this shouldbeso, for it signifiesnotonly that thepioneering fathers are passing away, but that thepassionate sonsshouldtakeuptheirtorch.

Epilogue

HERE ISA passage in the historical books of theOldTestamentthattellsusthatuponoccasiontheeyesofGod"runtoandfro"throughouttheearth tostrengthentheheartsof thosewhoarefullycommitted toHim.(See2Chronicles16:9.) If this is true-and for theearth'sbillionandahalfChristiansandJewsitmustbe-thenitmayalsobetruethattheeyesoftheLordroamtheearth for other reasons aswell. PerhapsGod scans the earth to remember thesufferingortakerighteousprideinthosewhoserveHimorenjoyHiscreationastheScripturesindicateHemaysometimesdo.

IfthereareindeedotheroccasionsonwhichtheeyesoftheLordgotoandfrothroughout the earth, then itmaywell be thatHe sometimes looks around theworldtotakepleasureinHisworkthroughoneofHisservants.TherewouldbemuchtopleaseHiminHisworkthroughDerekPrinceasitsurvivestoday.

As God scanned the nations of the earth, there would be the churches, ofcourse.Thousandsofthemhavebeenfounded,guided,matured,orempoweredthroughtheworkofGodinDerekPrince.Therewouldalsobetheministriesofeverykind,fromthosethatfeedthehungryofthenationstothosethattraintheleaders of theworld. Perhaps as pleasingwould be the truths-of the power ofGod'sWord,ofthevictoryoverevil,ofthefuturegloryofIsrael,ofGod'swillforfamilies,andathousandotherthemes-thatDerekfatheredinhistime.

Thesetruthshavebeensentintotheearthinadozendifferentforms,andGod'seyemightmoveoverthemaswell.InaU.S.ArmytentinIraq,soldiersgatheraroundaCDplayertohearalessononprayerforthenations.ThevoiceontheCD belongs to another soldier, and he is teaching lessons he learned in adifferent war, in a different army,many years ago. In a community center incentralAfrica, the imageofDerekPrince is projectedon awhitewashedwall.

The lesson today is holiness, and the words carried by the British voice arechanging the culture of a newlyChristianAfrican tribe.And in amagnificentoffice in Dallas, an international Christian figure is reading a small bookletwrittenbyDerekPrince.Thisleaderwillabsorbthelessonsinthebooklet,makethemhis own, and preach them in one television broadcast to nearly asmanypeopleasDerekPrinceaddressedinhisentirelife.SurelyGodispleasedasHiseyesbeholdHiswork.

Yetallthismayonlybethebeginning.DerekPrinceisdead,buthisGodandthe truths he pioneered in his generation are not. They live, perhaps aspassionatelyasevergiventheworkofthosewhomDerekinspired.Therearethethousands of pastors, statesmen, businessmen, authors, entrepreneurs,missionaries,artists,professors,andservantsofeverykindwhoseethemselvesas an extension of God's work in Derek Prince. There is also, of course, thevaliant devotion ofDerekPrinceMinistries,which lives in books, tapes,Websiteslikewww.derekprince.org,CDs,andvideosasanofferingtotheworld.

AndasDerek'sstorybecomesbetterknown,theremaybeevenmoretodelighttheGodwhogaveusDerekPrince.Therewillbemenandwomenwhoknowonly a "winter in their soul" butwho find the loving thaw thatGod can give.TherewillbeservantsofGodwithdifficultmarriageswhoendurethevalleystorealizetheheightsbecausetheyhaveseenwhatsuchcharactercandointhelifeofDerekPrince.Theremay,too,beleaderswhohaverisenandfailedbutwhoknowthat thebest isyet tocomebecauseamannamedDerekhadhisfailuresbutfoundhisbestlifeontheothersideofeachofthem.

Perhapsmostofall,decadesfromnowtheremaybeapeoplewhotake"Godisfaithful"astheirbattlecry,whodefydestructiveextremes,laudthewordsoftheBible,embracethepoweroftheHolySpirit,disdaintheofttraveledpath,usetheirmindstothegloryofGod,andcallthenationsoftheearthtotheirbest.Ifthereissuchanarmyoneday,theywillsurelyrememberthatmuchofwhattheyknow was taught by a man named Derek Prince. Perhaps they will alsorememberwhatthetruthstheylovecostthismanandsowilllivelivesofequalweightintheirday.ThentheeyesoftheLordmayrestuponthem,andtheheartof theLordmay takepleasure in them, justasHesurely takespleasure inHisworkthroughDerekPrince.

AppendixTheLifeandMinistryofDerekPrince

BornagainwhilelivinginScarborough

EnteredintorelationshipwithCharles,Don,Ern,andBob

AppointmentinJerusalempublished

DPM-SouthPacificofficeopenedinNewZealand

DPM-SouthAfricaofficeopened

Global Outreach Leaders Program began with twenty-threeleadersinthirdworldcountries

DPM-Australiaofficeopened

DPM-Canadaofficeopened

TheWorkmanGodApprovesstartedairinginChinese

DerekPrinceInterpretiruetBibliastartedairinginRussia

BeganlegallyprintingSpanishbooksinCuba

DPM-Switzerlandofficeopened

MinisteredinIndiaforthefirsttime

TheyShallExpelDemonspublished

MinisteredinVancouver,BritishColumbia

Derek Prince Ministries Training Week held for pastorsaroundAmerica,Charlotte,NorthCarolina

DPM-Norwayofficeopened

VideomastersofDerek teachingfromtheearly1970s,oncethought lost forever, discovered in a DPM warehouse andconvertedtoDVDteachingmaterials

DPM expands ministry on the Internet withwww.derekprince.org streaming audio and video teachingfromDerek

Acknowledgments

Y DEEPEST GRATITUDE is to the daughters of Lydia andDerekPrince.Intheyearsrequiredtowritethisbook,theyhavebeengracioushosts,surrogatemothers,andkindfriends.Eachofthesedearladieshasopenedtheir lives tome in amost unexpectedway.Theydid not knowme, and theycouldhavekeptmeatarm'slength,thisbigAmericantowhomtheywerebeingasked to share their most tender memories. They might have resented theintrusionandkepttheirtreasureslockedaway.Theydidnot.Instead,theygavethemselvestoremembrance.Bythehour, theyhavewept, laughed,and-alwaysshovingfoodmyway-giventhemselvestothispowerfulstory.Iamchangedbytheirgrace.

Myownteamofeditorsandresearchershasmadeinvaluablecontributionstothisprojectastheyhavetomylife.Greatmindsandgenerousheartslikethoseof George Grant, Beverly Darnall, JonathanMansfield, Lores Rizkalla, MarkBuchanan,andEricHolmberghavegiventhisbooklifeitdidnothaveundermyownhand alone.Dr.BradBlankenshiphelpedmeunderstandDerek'smedicalhistoryandprovidedastonishinginsightsintowhatthathistorymayhavemeantforDerek's life. SamChappell andRickMyers havemanagedmyworld, andSusanLevine has scheduledmy travelwith suchmarvelouswisdom and skillthat this and many other projects were made possible. Thank you, mymerryband.

OneofthegreatdelightsofmylifehasbeenworkingwiththedevotedpeopleofDerekPrinceMinistries.Thisbookwastheiridea,andthroughthelongyearsneeded to give their dream birth, they have been welcoming family, caringfriends, and professional comrades.David Selby,DerekWesley andMarykaySelby,ChristopherandChristiSelby,JackandJeanetteAlongi,PeterWyns,PatVitolo,andtherestoftheDPMstaffhavegiventhemselvestothisbookasthey

havetotheworkofDerekPrince,andIamtouchedbytheirsacrifices.Mylove,particularly,toAnna,whosharesmyaddictiontocalamariandagoodlaugh.

Therehavebeenhundredsofpeoplewhohavebeengraciouslywilling tositandtalkwithmeaboutthelifeandministryofDerekPrince,fartoomanytolisthere.Of particular note are PatRobertson,BobMumford,AliceBasham, JimCroft,BarrySegal,BobandNadineFeller,JohnBeckett,RayandJillLockart,andScottRoss.Wherethisbookcapturesastorynotpreviouslytold,itiscredittodirectconversationswiththem.

SomeofmysweetestandmostrewardinghoursduringthisprojectwerespentinthearchivesofEtonCollege.ArchivistPennyHatfieldgaveofherexpertiseandher timeinamanner thathasdeeply impacted thisworkandisacredit toherinstitution.ThestaffoftheKing'sCollegeArchivesatCambridgeUniversitywere equally helpful, as were the staff at the India and Orient Room of theBritish Library in London. Thank you all for putting up with my clumsyquestionsanddisturbinglyAmericanways.

Notes1. Lawrence James, The Rise and Fall of the British Empire (New

York:St.Martin'sPress,1994),220.

2.RudyardKipling,"If-,"RewardsandFairies(England:Doubleday,PageandCo.,1911).PublicdomaininUnitedStates.

3. Tim Card, Eton Renewed: A History from 1860 to the Present Day,(London:JohnMurray,1994),224.

4. Anton Chekhov (1860-1904), Selected Quotations, Dr. FidelFajardoAcosta's World Literature Web site, http://fajardo-acosta.com/worldlit/checkhov(accessedJuly29,2005).

5.HenryWadsworthLongfellow,"APsalmofLife,"1893.

6. T. E. B. Howarth, Cambridge Between Two Wars (London:Collins,1978),17.

7.RudyardKipling,"ADeadStatesman."UsedbypermissionofA.P.WattLtd. on behalf of the Natural Trust for Places of Historic Interest or NaturalBeauty.

8.F.ScottFitzgerald,ThisSideofParadise(NewYork:Scribner,1988),288.

9.Ibid,73.

10.Howarth,CambridgeBetweenTwoWars,175.

11.WalterSavageLandor,"Finis,"copyright©1901,fromTheOxfordBookofEnglishVerse,editedbyArthurThomasQuiller-Couch,(Clarendon:Oxford,1919),576.

12. Richard Deacon [Donald McCormick], The Cambridge Apostles: AHistoryofCambridgeUniversity'sEliteIntellectualSecretSociety(NewYork:

Farrar,Straus,1986),60.

13.MurrayN.Rothbard,Keynes,theMan,originallypublishedinDissentonKeynes:ACriticalAppraisalofKeynesianEconomics,editedbyMarkSkousen(NewYork:Praeger,1992),171-198.

14.Deacon,TheCambridgeApostles,85.

15. Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre, 0 Jerusalem!, firstTouchstoneedition(NewYork:SimonandSchuster,1988),17.

16. David Barton, To Pray or Not to Pray, fifth edition (Texas:WallBuilderPress,2002).

BooksAvailableFromDerekPrinceMinistries

AppointmentinJerusalem

Atonement:YourAppointmentwithGod

BaptismintheHolySpirit

BlessingorCurse:YouCanChoose

ChoiceofaPartner,The

DerekPrince:OnExperiencingGod'sPower

DivineExchange,The

DoesYourTongueNeedHealing?

EndofLife'sJourney,The

ExpellingDemons

ExtravagantLove

FaithtoLiveBy

FaithtoLiveBy

Fasting

Fatherhood

FirstMile,The

GodIsaMatchmaker

God'sMedicineBottle

God'sPlanforYourMoney

God'sRemedyforRejection

God'sWillforYourLife

GraceofYielding,The

HolySpiritinYou,The

HowtoFastSuccessfully

HusbandsandFathers

IForgiveYou

Judging:When?Why?How?

Life'sBitterPool

MarriageCovenant,The

Orphans,Widows,thePoorandOppressed

OurDebttoIsrael

PagesfromMyLife'sBook

PartnersforLife

PartnersforLife

Philosophy,theBibleandtheSupernatural

PoweroftheSacrifice,The

PrayersandProclamations

PrayingfortheGovernment

PromisedLand

PropheticDestinies:WhoIsIsrael?WhoIstheChurch?

ProtectionfromDeception

ReceivingGod'sBest

Self-StudyBibleCourse(revised,expanded

ShapingHistoryThroughPrayerandFasting

Spirit-filledBeliever'sHandbook,The

SpiritualWarfare

SurvivingtheLastDays

TheyShallExpelDemons

ThroughthePsalmswithDerekPrince

TransformedforLife

WarinHeaven

WhoIstheHolySpirit?

AcompletelistofDerekPrince'sbooks,audioteachings,andvideoteachingsisavailableatwww.derekprince.org.

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ince its inception in1975,Charismamagazinehashelped thousandsofChristiansstayconnectedwithwhatGodisdoingworldwide.

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