David WilkersonFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David Wilkerson
BornMay 19, 1931Hammond, Indiana
DiedApril 27, 2011(aged79)US Route 175,Texas
NationalityAmerican
Years activec. 1950 2011
ReligionAssemblies of God;Pentecostal
Spouse(s)Gwen (died July 5, 2012)
Church(es)Times Square Church
Offices heldEvangelistPastor
Website
www.davidwilkerson.org
David Ray Wilkerson(May 19, 1931 April 27, 2011[1]) was
anAmericanChristianevangelist, best known for his bookThe Cross and
the Switchblade. He was the founder of theaddictionrecovery
programTeen Challenge, and foundingpastorof
thenon-denominationalTimes Square ChurchinNew Yorkof evangelical
doctrine and practice, in which more than 100 nationalities were
represented.[2]Wilkerson's widely distributed sermons, such as "A
Call to Anguish," are known for being direct and frank. He
emphasized such Christian beliefs asGod'sholiness and
righteousness, God's love towardhumansand especiallyChristian views
of Jesus. Wilkerson tried to avoid categorizing Christians into
distinct groups according to thedenominationto which they
belong.[citation needed]Wilkerson was killed in a car crash in
Texas on April 27,
2011.[1]Contents[hide]1Ministry2Prophecies3Death4Bibliography5References6External
links
[edit]MinistryWilkerson served as apastorin small churches
inScottdaleand Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, until he saw a photograph
inLife Magazinein 1958 of sevenNew York Cityteenagers charged with
murder.[3]He later wrote that as he felt theHoly Spiritmove him
with compassion, he was drawn to go to New York in February 1958.
It was then that he began a street ministry to youngdrug
addictsandgangmembers, which he continued into the 1960s.[3]Later
in 1958, he foundedTeen Challenge,[4]an evangelical Christian
addiction recovery program affiliated with theAssemblies of God,
with a network of Christian social and evangelizing work
centers.[5]Wilkerson gained national recognition after he
co-authored the bookThe Cross and the Switchbladein 1963 withJohn
and Elizabeth Sherrillabout his street ministry. The book became a
best-seller, with over 50 million copies in over thirty languages,
and is included inChristianity Today's"Top 50 Books That Have
Shaped Evangelicals".[6]In the book, Wilkerson tells of
theconversionof gang memberNicky Cruz, who later became an
evangelist himself and wrote the autobiographicalRun Baby Run. In
1970,The Cross and the Switchbladewas turned into
aHollywoodmoviestarringPat Booneas Wilkerson andErik Estradaas
Cruz.In 1967, Wilkerson began Youth Crusades, an evangelistic
ministry aimed at teenagers whom Wilkerson called
"goodniks"middle-class youth who were restless and bored. His goal
was to prevent them from becoming heavily involved with drugs,
alcohol, or violence. Through this ministry, theCURE
Corps(Collegiate Urban Renewal Effort) was founded. It was intended
to be something of a Christian version of thePeace
CorpsandVolunteers in Service to America(VISTA).[citation needed]In
1971, Wilkerson moved his ministry headquarters toLindale, Texas,
where he foundedWorld Challenge, an organization whose mission is
to promote and spread theGospelthroughout the world.[citation
needed]Wilkerson believed that in 1986, while walking down 42nd
Street in New York City at midnight, the Holy Spirit called him to
return to New York City and to raise up a ministry inTimes Square.
He founded and became the pastor ofTimes Square Church,[1]which
opened its doors in October 1987. The church first occupied rented
auditoriums in Times Square (Town Hall and the Nederlander
Theater), later moving to the historicMark Hellinger Theatre, which
the ministry purchased in 1989 and in which it has operated ever
since.[citation needed]From the 1990s, Wilkerson focused his
efforts to encourage pastors and their families throughout the
world to "renew their passion for Christ". In his own words:I've
been an evangelist for 50 years, but I didn't want to preach to
pastors until I had gray hair, until I'd pastored. Now after 15
years of pastoring, sharing the hurts, pains, and difficulties of
the ministry as a pastor, I felt the Lord finally release me, that
I might have something to say.[citation needed]Wilkerson and his
wife Gwen moved toNew York Cityat the inception of Times Square
Church in 1987, and in 2006 began splitting their time between New
York and Texas. They have four children and eleven
grandchildren.[citation needed][edit]PropheciesWilkerson received a
vision in 1973 regarding the future of the United States,
subsequently published in a book calledThe Vision. Some of the
subject areas of this prophecy were: "Worldwide recession caused by
economic confusion"; "Nature having labor pains"; "A flood of filth
and a baptism of dirt in America"; "Rebellion in the home"; and "A
persecution madness against truly Spirit filled Christians who love
Jesus Christ".[edit]DeathOn April 27, 2011, while driving east onUS
Route 175in Texas, Wilkerson crossed into the westbound lane and
collided head-on with atractor trailer. He was pronounced dead on
the scene. His wife Gwen was injured.[7]Although Gwen survived the
accident she passed away July 5, 2012, from cancer. They are
survived by 4 children, their spouses, 10 grandchildren and 2 great
grandchildren.[8]Wilkerson's messages were often exhortations of
faith and hope in the midst of troubles,[9]and his last blog post
included the following:To those going through the valley and shadow
of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark,
awful nightsand in that darkness you will soon hear the Father
whisper, `I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one
day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my
plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold
fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of
pain.[10][edit]BibliographyThe Cross and the Switchblade(with John
and Elizabeth Sherrill). Jove. 1962.[3],ISBN 0-5150-9025-5America's
Last Call, On the Brink of a Financial Holocaust[11](1998),ISBN
0-8836-8617-1Beyond The Cross and the Switchblade(1974),ISBN
0-8912-9151-2Born Old(1966) original titleThe Little People,ISBN
0-5510-1076-2David Wilkerson Exhorts the Church(1991)ISBN
9780829703962David Wilkerson Speaks Out(1973),ISBN
978-0871230911Dearly Beloved[12](2009),ISBN 0-9712187-4-9End Times
New TestamentISBN 978-0912376110Get Your Hands Off My
Throat(1971),ISBN 978-8472281332God's Plan to Protect His People in
the Coming Depression[13](1998),ISBN 978-0883686164Hallowed Be Thy
Names[14](May 2001)ISBN 0-9709326-0-XHave You Felt Like Giving Up
Lately?[15](1980)ISBN 0-8007-8481-2Hey, Preach . . . You're Comin'
Through!(1968)ISBN 978-0891290643Hungry For More of
Jesus[16](February 1992)ISBN 978-0800792008I'm Not Mad at
God(1967),ISBN 978-0871232458I've Given Up On Parents(1969),ISBN
978-0340108291Jesus Christ Solid Rock: The Return Of Christ(with
Kathryn Kuhlman, Hal Lindsey and W. A. Criswell) (1973)Jesus Person
Maturity ManualJesus Person Pocket Promise Book(1972)The Jesus
walk: Selected " why's " and " how-to's " for a closer walk with
Christ (A Regal Jesus Person Maturity book)(1972),ISBN
978-0830701711Life on the Edge of Time(1972)ISBN 978-0800705534Man,
Have I Got Problems(1969)ISBN 978-0515046687My Bible Speaks to
MeThe New Covenant Unveiled[17](April 2000),ISBN 978-0966317237One
Way To Where?(1972),ISBN 978-0830701698Parents on Trial(1967)Pocket
Promise Book(1972),ISBN 0-8307-0191-5Pocket Proverbs(1983),ISBN
0-8307-0893-6Promises To Live By,ISBN 978-0830718870Purple Violet
Squish(1969),ISBN 978-0551000483Racing Toward Judgment(1976),ISBN
978-0800782764Rebel's Bible(1970),ISBN 978-0551007512Revival on
Broadway[18](September 1996),ISBN 978-0966317206Rock
Bottom(pamphlet) (1981)Set the Trumpet to thy Mouth(1985),ISBN
978-0883686409Sipping Saints[19](1978),ISBN
0-8007-8339-5Suicide(1978),ISBN 978-0800786434This Is
Loving?(1972),ISBN 978-0830701704Triumph Through
Tragedy[20](2001),ISBN 978-0800793562Twelve Angels from
Hell(1965),ISBN 978-0551004238The Untapped Generation(with Don
Wilkerson) (1971),ISBN 978-1135577704Victory Over Sin and
Self(1980) Originally titledTwo of Me,ISBN 978-0800784348The
Vision(1973),ISBN 0-515-03286-7.What Every Teenager Should Know
About Drugs(1971),ISBN 978-0551050679When In Doubt, Faith
It!(1972),ISBN 978-0830701681
