Gary Wilkerson - David Wilkerson: The Cross, the Switchblade, and the Man Who Believed

It isnt often that an authors name becomes synonymous with the title of a book, but that is exactly what happened with David Wilkerson and his bestselling book The Cross and the Switchblade. Its message defined his effective and life-changing ministry to the gangs in New York and surrounding communities, later moving his outreach to young people around the world. These pages tell the story of conflict and courage in the face of danger. The man who believed came to know the secret of the Christian life when he said, I do not want a visitation from the Lord... I want a habitation. As you read about David Wilkersons fascinating life, may your heart burn with the same desire to know Christ in the fullness of his glory.

FRANKLIN GRAHAM, President and CEO, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Samaritans Purse

Fifty years ago I sat on a couch, sick and withdrawing from drugs, at the New York Teen Challenge Home that David Wilkerson opened to reach the gangs and drug addicts. My life was eternally impacted, and he inspired me to spend my life reaching the broken. Gary has effectively portrayed the legacy of his father, a man who has impacted the world with his message of hope and transformation. This is a must-read that will encourage you and stir your faith to believe God for the impossible!

PASTOR VICTOR M. TORRES, founder and pastor, New Life for Youth and New Life Outreach Intl. Church, Richmond, VA

I met David Wilkerson in the early days of his ministry on the streets of New York. God used him to touch my life. I am living proof that miracles still happen.

PASTOR SONNY ARGUINZONI SR., founder, Victory Outreach International

Every believer in Christ understands the truth that the Father is best made known through the Son. How appropriate that Gary has undertaken to write the story of the father he intimately knew and we all loved. David Wilkerson believed, as he preached, that God is able to use any willing vessel for his glory. This book will encourage you and bring gladness to your heart.

CARTER CONLON, senior pastor, Times Square Church

ZONDERVAN

David Wilkerson

Copyright 2014 by World Challenge, Inc.

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

ePub ISBN: 978-0-310-33744-7 Copyright July 2014

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Scripture also taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois. All rights reserved.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Unless otherwise noted, all photos used with permission of World Challenge, Inc.

Cover design: Brand Navigation

Cover photo: Jeff Calenberg

Insert background photo: naphtalina / iStockphoto

Interior design: Katherine Lloyd, The DESK

First Printing July 2014

This book looks into what God has done through one man of unshakable faith. I dedicate it to those whose faith is just now beginning to shape the course of a history yet to come:

To the unknown, unsung of this radical young generation who will answer Jesus question, When I return, will I find faith on the earth? and whose lives will be his yes.

CONTENTS

by JIM CYMBALA

IT WAS A WARM SUMMER Sunday evening and our church building was filled to capacity. Our featured speaker was Nicky Cruz, former gang leader of the Mau Maus who decades before had rumbled right here in downtown Brooklyn. Nicky and I had already been friends for a few years. His dramatic conversion story had become almost legendary through the overwhelming popularity of The Cross and the Switchblade, authored by David Wilkerson. The book had circulated around the world and was translated into dozens of languages. It told the story of a young country preacher from western Pennsylvania who felt compelled to come to New York City to spread the message of Gods love to troubled young men and women who made up the violent gang culture of that day. David Wilkersons courage and preaching had reached even Nicky Cruz, seemingly the most hopeless of them all.

In a few minutes, I was to introduce Nicky to share once again his incredible testimony. As my wifes choir was singing, an usher came to the platform and whispered in my ear, David Wilkerson and his wife just arrived and are sitting in the balcony. I hadnt met David Wilkerson but quickly invited him to join us on the platform. And that was the beginning of my long, valued friendship with the author of The Crossand the Switchblade and founder of the Teen Challenge ministry that ministers so effectively to drug abusers around the world.

But David Wilkerson was much more than that. He was a man raised up by God as an effective evangelist both in America and overseas. He authored books that inspired people to be serious about their relationship with Christ. His financial generosity reached around the globe, providing homes for the destitute and feeding programs for the hungry. He later became the founding pastor of Times Square Church. He also was, in some sense, a prophetic voice to his generation, confronting ungodly trends within the church of Christ and warning both pulpit and pew with no thought as to the popularity of his message.

David Wilkersons outstanding character trait was his passion for God. He longed for closeness to Christ above everything else. His quest was to experience God in deeper ways and not merely understand Christian doctrine. His dependence on the Holy Spirits empowering and guidance was often breathtaking to behold. When at his best, Brother Dave wanted to be led by God no matter the consequences. Insincere, lukewarm, mechanical Christianity grieved him to the core.

Its ironic that Ive been honored with the privilege of writing the foreword to this biography. David Wilkerson spoke countless times at The Brooklyn Tabernacle, and our friendship deepened over the years even though he remained somewhat of a loner his whole life. We traveled together, worked together for the cause of the gospel, and often talked about spiritual matters.

One day we were walking up Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn toward Prospect Park, where our church had arranged an outdoor street meeting with Brother Dave as the speaker. He opened up to me about a recent misjudgment he had made and some of the spiritual struggles he was undergoing. Suddenly he stopped in his tracks and said, Jim, just imagine! One day Ill die and someone will probably write a book about my life. Theyll paint a picture of some superspiritual giant of the faith who never battled with sin and Satan like everyone else. How ridiculous! Here was the famous David Wilkerson reminding a young pastor that without the grace of Jesus every moment of the day, he, like everyone else, would quickly fall apart. That was vintage David Wilkerson unpretentious and candid, humbly expressing his constant need of Gods help.

We finally reached the band shell in the park, where people had gathered, drawn by the sound of gospel music. David Wilkerson, then living in Texas, had returned to his element a street preacher telling folks about the love of Jesus. That afternoon, for some reason, David broke down in tears as he spoke. He seemed to recognize some older, chronic drug abusers in the crowd. How many more times will you have a chance to come to Jesus? he asked. What more can I say to you about Christ and his love? Youve heard it all before. You still have time today. Dont say tomorrow; come to him now!