David Wilkerson Legacy
David Wilkerson, best known for his book The Cross and the Switchblade, was a preacher and evangelist who had a tremendous impact on American society in the late 20th century. Wilkerson was born in 1931 and raised in a small town in Pennsylvania. He became a Christian at a young age and soon began preaching in his local church. In the 1950s, Wilkerson moved to New York City, where he founded the Teen Challenge ministry. Through Teen Challenge, Wilkerson helped countless young people turn their lives around. He also reached out to gang members and others who were living on the margins of society.
In the 1960s, Wilkerson wrote The Cross and the Switchblade, which told the story of his work with gang members in New York. The book was a bestseller and helped Wilkerson gain a national platform. In the years that followed, Wilkerson continued to preach and write, reaching out to those who needed help and hope. He passed away in 2011, but his legacy continues on through the work of Teen Challenge and other ministries.
David Wilkerson’s life and ministry
David Wilkerson was an American Pentecostal preacher and founder of the Teen Challenge drug rehabilitation program. He is best known for his book The Cross and the Switchblade.
Wilkerson was born in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of five children. His father was a miner and his mother a homemaker. Wilkerson was raised in a Christian home and was saved at the age of 13. He later attended Asbury College in Kentucky and then Nyack Missionary College in New York.
Wilkerson was ordained in the Assemblies of God in 1951. He pastored a small church in Pennsylvania for a few years before moving to New York City in 1958. There he founded the Times Square Church.
In the early 1960s, Wilkerson began ministering to gangs and drug addicts in New York City. This led to the founding of the Teen Challenge drug rehabilitation program in 1962. The program now has over 700 centers in over 100 countries.
Wilkerson wrote more than 30 books, including The Cross and the Switchblade, which has sold more than 50 million copies. He also founded the magazine The Challenge.
Wilkerson died in a car accident in 2011.
The legacy of David Wilkerson
The legacy of David Wilkerson is one of a passionate preacher and a tireless crusader for the poor and forgotten. He was born into a poor family in rural Pennsylvania and rose to become one of the most influential evangelical pastors in America. He was a pioneer in using mass media to spread the Gospel, and his bestselling book, The Cross and the Switchblade, has been read by millions of people around the world. Wilkerson was also a vocal critic of materialism and consumerism, and he founded the addiction recovery ministry, Teen Challenge. He was killed in a car accident in 2011, but his legacy continues to inspire and challenge people to live lives of compassion and service.
David Wilkerson’s influence on the church
David Wilkerson’s influence on the church was far-reaching. His book, The Cross and the Switchblade, told the story of his work with gang members in New York City and was read by millions of people. He also founded the Teen Challenge ministry, which helped countless people overcome addiction. Wilkerson was a passionate preacher and teacher, and his messages continued to inspire people long after his death. His legacy continues to touch the lives of many people around the world.
David Wilkerson’s impact on America
David Wilkerson’s impact on America was far-reaching and long-lasting. He was a major figure in the Pentecostal Church and Charismatic movements, and his book The Cross and the Switchblade helped spark the Jesus Movement of the 1960s and ’70s. His ministry also had a significant impact on the inner city, particularly through the founding of the Teen Challenge drug rehabilitation program. Wilkerson was a passionate preacher and evangelist who had a heart for the lost and hurting, and his legacy continues to inspire people around the world.
David Wilkerson’s legacy in the Bible
David Wilkerson was a well-known Evangelical Christian minister and author who founded the Teen Challenge drug rehabilitation program, as well as the Times Square Church. He was best known for his book, The Cross and the Switchblade, which told the story of his work with inner-city youth and gangs in New York City. Wilkerson’s legacy continues on through the work of these organizations, which continue to help people turn their lives around and find hope and healing.
David Wilkerson’s final days
In his final days, David Wilkerson continued to preach the gospel and minister to those in need. He was passionate about sharing the love of Christ with others and helping them to grow in their faith. He was a man of great integrity and compassion, and his final days were spent doing what he loved most – helping others to know the Lord.
Reference: Wikipedia
