Jack Deere
Encyclopedia
Jack Deere is a charismatic
pastor and theologian
from the USA.
He was an associate professor of Old Testament
at Dallas Seminary, a bastion of cessationism
, the doctrine that the charismatic gifts of the Spirit, such as tongues
, prophecy
and healing
, ended at the close of the 1st century. In the late 1980s, he abandoned his earlier theological position, announcing that he had experienced the charismatic gifts for himself through the ministry of John Wimber
.
From 1988 to 1992 he pastored a Vineyard church, and pastored a Presbyterian
church in Montana
from 1994 to 1996. He remained in Montana for several years while traveling and speaking, and has since moved back to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex where he is pastor of a church: WellspringDFW.
, among others. A companion book, Surprised by the Voice of God, argues for contemporary prophecy and supernatural revelation. He speaks about his experience of the Kansas City Prophets and the ministry of Paul Cain
who some, including John Wimber consider to be a Prophet.
In 1986 Deere reversed his position on the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as faith healing and prophecy. He left the seminary faculty at in the end of 1987 and joined the staff of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church in Anaheim, CA.
Deere left the Anaheim Vineyard in 1992 to begin his own conference and writing ministry. He is currently the senior pastor of Wellspring Church in North Richland Hills, Texas, a church he started in the spring of 2004.
Jack and his wife Leesa live in Colleyville, TX. They have two grown children, Stephen and Alese.
Charismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
pastor and theologian
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
from the USA.
He was an associate professor of Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
at Dallas Seminary, a bastion of cessationism
Cessationism
In Christian theology, Cessationism is the view that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as tongues, prophecy and healing, ceased being practiced early on in Church history. The opposite of Cessationism is Continuationism...
, the doctrine that the charismatic gifts of the Spirit, such as tongues
Glossolalia
Glossolalia or speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables, often as part of religious practice. The significance of glossolalia has varied with time and place, with some considering it a part of a sacred language...
, prophecy
Prophecy
Prophecy is a process in which one or more messages that have been communicated to a prophet are then communicated to others. Such messages typically involve divine inspiration, interpretation, or revelation of conditioned events to come as well as testimonies or repeated revelations that the...
and healing
Faith healing
Faith healing is healing through spiritual means. The healing of a person is brought about by religious faith through prayer and/or rituals that, according to adherents, stimulate a divine presence and power toward correcting disease and disability. Belief in divine intervention in illness or...
, ended at the close of the 1st century. In the late 1980s, he abandoned his earlier theological position, announcing that he had experienced the charismatic gifts for himself through the ministry of John Wimber
John Wimber
John Richard Wimber was a musician, charismatic pastor and one of the founding leaders of the Vineyard Movement, a neocharismatic Evangelical Christian denomination which began in the USA and has now spread to many countries world-wide.-Life and ministry:John Richard Wimber was the son of Basil...
.
From 1988 to 1992 he pastored a Vineyard church, and pastored a Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
church in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
from 1994 to 1996. He remained in Montana for several years while traveling and speaking, and has since moved back to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex where he is pastor of a church: WellspringDFW.
Surprised by the Voice of God
Using biblical and contemporary examples Deere argues that it has always been normal for God to speak to His children both from the Scripture and in their daily experience.Surprised by the Power of the Spirit
Deere's 1993 book Surprised by the Power of the Spirit details his journey into charismatic Christianity, and argues against the cessationist position that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit have ceased. He deals with the arguments of B.B. Warfield and John MacArthurJohn F. MacArthur
John Fullerton MacArthur, Jr. is a United States evangelical writer and minister noted for his internationally known and broadcast radio program titled Grace to You...
, among others. A companion book, Surprised by the Voice of God, argues for contemporary prophecy and supernatural revelation. He speaks about his experience of the Kansas City Prophets and the ministry of Paul Cain
Paul Cain (minister)
Paul Cain is a Pentecostal Christian minister involved with both neo-charismatic churches and the Charismatic Movement. As a young man he was one of the Voice of Healing revivalists of the 50s. Cain currently resides in California and ministers monthly at a local church in Santa...
who some, including John Wimber consider to be a Prophet.
The Beginner's Guide to the Gift of Prophecy
C. Peter Wagner said this book “is the new operator’s manual for those who want to be participants, not just spectators, in today’s prophetic movement. This book will help you put it all together, get it up and running, and troubleshoot whatever problems arise.”Biography
Deere was raised in Ft. Worth, Texas. He attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX, where in majored in Philosophy and started working with the ministry of Young Life leading high school students to the Lord. After graduation in 1971, he attended Dallas Theological Seminary concentrating in Greek and Hebrew study of the Bible. In 1976, he was invited to join the faculty of Dallas Seminary teaching Hebrew and books of the Bible in Hebrew. He received both a Master and Doctor of Theology degrees from Dallas Seminary. During his tenure at Dallas Seminary, he started and pastored two churches.In 1986 Deere reversed his position on the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as faith healing and prophecy. He left the seminary faculty at in the end of 1987 and joined the staff of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church in Anaheim, CA.
Deere left the Anaheim Vineyard in 1992 to begin his own conference and writing ministry. He is currently the senior pastor of Wellspring Church in North Richland Hills, Texas, a church he started in the spring of 2004.
Jack and his wife Leesa live in Colleyville, TX. They have two grown children, Stephen and Alese.