Life of David Wilkerson - A Plot to Ploy

Life of David Wilkerson - A Plot to Ploy

Reverend David Wilkerson was perhaps best known for his early days of ministry to young drug addicts and gang members in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, New York.

 His story is told in The Cross and the Switchblade, a book he co-authored which became a best-seller.

The story has been read by over 15 million people in some thirty languages since 1962. In 1970, a Hollywood motion picture of the same title was released and has been viewed by over 50 million people in thirty languages in fifteen countries.

Reverend Wilkerson was serving as pastor in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, when he saw a photograph in Life magazine of several New York City teenagers charged with murder.

 Moved with compassion he was drawn to the city in February 1958. It was then that he began his street ministry to what one writer called

"desperate, bewildered, addicted, often violent youth."

A year later Reverend Wilkerson founded Teen Challenge ministries in Brooklyn, New York, which has reached youth and adults with life-controlling problems worldwide through over 1,000 centers in 82 countries.

The ministry's biblically based recovery program for drug addicts has been recognized as one of the most effective efforts of its kind.

In 1964 he began David Wilkerson Youth Crusades, an evangelistic ministry characterized by his efforts to reach teenagers he called "goodniks"  - middle-class kids who were restless and bored - to prevent them from being seduced into a life of bondage to drugs, alcohol, violence or lawlessness. Through this ministry, he founded CURE Corps (Collegiate Urban Renewal Effort) in an effort to harness the idealism and sacrificial zeal of many Christian young people who knew about the Peace Corps and Vista but wanted to give their lives to Christ-centered efforts.

In 1971, Reverend Wilkerson's ever-expanding ministry moved its headquarters to Texas, where he founded World Challenge, Inc.

He continued perpetuating the message of the love of Christ through his work with Teen Challenge, producing films and writing books, supporting feeding programs, conducting worldwide evangelistic crusades and New York City street meetings.

In 1986, while walking down 42nd Street in New York City at midnight after one of his annual street rallies, Reverend Wilkerson's heart broke yet again for God to raise up a ministry in Times Square.

He cried out to God to do something, and at one o'clock that morning he sensed the Lord speaking to his heart,

 "You do something. You start a church. You know the city and you love it."

At that moment, Times Square Church was birthed in Reverend Wilkerson's heart.

The church opened its doors in October 1987, first in rented auditoriums in Times Square and eventually in the historic Mark Hellinger Theatre, which the ministry purchased in 1989.

Today, Times Square Church, with a missions-focused congregation, is a virtual microcosm of New York City. Nearly 8,000 people representing over 100 nationalities worship together under one roof. In addition to pastoring, Reverend Wilkerson travelled extensively, exhorting pastors, their spouses and Christian leaders throughout the world to renew their passion for Christ.

For over six decades, Reverend Wilkerson's evangelistic ministry has included preaching, teaching and writing.

Throughout that time a distinctive characteristic of his work has been his direct efforts to reach the neediest among us with help for both body and soul. He has authored over 30 books including, The Cross and the Switchblade, The Vision, Revival on Broadway, Hungry for More of Jesus, Have You Felt Like Giving Up Lately?, and The New Covenant Unveiled.

April 27, 2011, Reverend Wilkerson posted on his devotional blog,

 “To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights, and 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 make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident.’”

 That afternoon, Reverend Wilkerson was killed in a car accident.

His wife, Gwen, resides in Texas and is surrounded by their 4 children and their spouses, 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

David is Home....