Charles Capps
Charles Emmitt Capps (January 4, 1934, Brummitt, Arkansas – February 23, 2014, England, Arkansas)[1] was an American Christian preacher and teacher in the Word of Faith movement, and had great influence on the movement through his books and teaching. He and his wife Peggy were headquartered in England, Arkansas. Charles Capps was a retired farmer, land developer, and Bible teacher who traveled extensively throughout the United States and several foreign countries sharing the truths of God's Word. He taught Bible seminars for over 35 years, emphasizing the authority of the believer, faith and the power of words.
A core of Capps’ teaching was the idea that our words have power and that we must change what we are saying and what we are thinking. It was a struggle to get out of the negative stream of life, but soon Capps saw the fruit of his words and his life began to change.
Invited to share his story at Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International meetings, his simplistic style of teaching practical truths from the Bible appealed to people from every Christian denomination. The requests for speaking engagements became so great after the printing of his pamphlet “God’s Creative Power® Will Work For You”, which he retired from farming in 1978 and became a full-time Bible teacher, eventually authoring 24 books, including the God’s Creative Power® series, with nearly 6 million copies sold. Many of the books are published in multiple languages.
Capps later launched the “Concepts of Faith” radio and TV broadcast. With his down to earth style, Capps taught that our words are like seeds and we plant them into the ground of our heart by speaking them out loud. If you want soybeans to grow, don’t plant Johnson grass seed! You reap what you sow.
Capps often spoke at seminars and conventions. Common themes Capps addressed were issues related to Biblical everyday living and faith and confession of the Word. He has also appeared on the Believers Voice of Victory television program, hosted by Kenneth Copeland Ministries of Fort Worth, Texas.
Capps used anecdotes, but tended to concentrate on a systematic exposition of the teachings of the Bible. His books tend to focus on the core of the Biblical Word of Faith by emphasis on being careful of what we say, as words have power (Mark 11:22-25). His best- selling mini-book, "God's Creative Power" organizes scriptures into prayers.
Capps died at his home on February 23, 2014, survived by his wife and two daughters.[2]
Bibliography
Capps was a prolific author of dozens of books, but his most important books about the Word of Faith beliefs are:
- Authority in Three Worlds, Harrison House (1980) ISBN 0-8927-4281-X
- The Tongue: A Creative Force, Harrison House (1995) ISBN 0-8927-4061-2
- Releasing The Ability of God Through Prayer, Capps Publishing (2004) ISBN 0-9820320-2-1
- "God's Creative Power"® series. Boxed set, Capps Publishing (2004) ISBN 0-9820320-3-X
References
- ↑ Synan, H. Vinson (2002). "Capps, Charles Emmitt". In Stanley M. Burgess. The new international dictionary of Pentecostal and charismatic movements. (Rev. and expanded ed.). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Pub. House. p. 455. ISBN 0310224810.
- ↑ "Word of Faith Preacher Charles Capps Passes at 80". Charismamag.com. Retrieved 2014-03-17.