David Wilkerson

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The Reverend David Wilkerson is an American Christian evangelist. He is also the founder of Times Square Church in New York, an interdenominational church.

Wilkerson's sermons are known for being direct and frank. He emphasizes Christian beliefs, such as: God's holiness and righteousness, God's love towards humans and especially Christian views of Jesus. Wilkerson tries to avoid categorizing Christians into distinct groups according to the denomination they belong to, and as such he is considered by many to be an evangelist with broad-based appeal.

1 Life
2 See also
3 External links
4 Additional References

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Life

Reverend Wilkerson served as pastor in small churches in Scottdale and Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, until he saw a photograph in Life Magazine in 1957 of several New York City teenagers charged with murder. He later wrote that, as he felt the Holy Ghost move him with compassion, he was drawn to go to New York in February 1958. It was then that he began his street ministry to underprivileged inner-city youth.

David Wilkerson is well-known for these early years of his ministry to young drug addicts and gang members in New York City in the 1950's and 1960's. During that time, he was instrumental in Nicky Cruz's decision to become a Christian. Wilkerson co-authored a book about Cruz's life: The Cross and the Switchblade, which became a best-seller. The book has sold over 10 million copies in over thirty languages since it was published in 1963. In 1969 the book was also released under the same title as a Hollywood movie starring Erik Estrada, and was included among the 100 most important Christian books of the 20th century.

In 1969, David Wilkerson founded Teen Challenge ministries, which has reached youth and adults with life-controlling problems worldwide through its centers. The ministry's biblically based recovery program for drug addicts has been recognized as one of the most effective efforts of its kind [1].

In 1967, David Wilkerson began Youth Crusades, an evangelistic ministry that was aimed to reach teenagers whom David Wilkerson called "goodniks" — middle-class youth who were restless and bored. His goal was to prevent them from from becoming heavily involved with drugs, alcohol, or violence. Through this ministry, CURE Corps (Collegiate Urban Renewal Effort) was founded. It was intended to be something of a Christian version of the Peace Corps and VISTA.

In 1971, David Wilkerson moved his ministry headquarters to the obscure town of Lindale,Texas, just outside of Tyler, where he founded World Challenge. The organization's mission is to promote and spread the Gospel throughout the world.

In 1986, while walking down 42nd Street in New York City at midnight, David Wilkerson believes that the Holy Ghost called him to return to New York City and to raise up a ministry in Times Square. This resulted in the establishment of Times Square Church. The church opened its doors in October 1987, first in rented auditoriums in Times Square, later moving to the historic Mark Hellinger Theatre, which the ministry purchased in 1989 and in which it has operated ever since.

For over four decades, David Wilkerson's ministry has included preaching, teaching and writing. He has authored over 30 books including,

The Cross and the Switchblade
Beyond The Cross and the Switchblade
Born Old
The Vision
Revival on Broadway
Hungry For More of Jesus
Have You Felt Like Giving Up Lately?, and
The New Covenant Unveiled.

Since the 1990s, David Wilkerson has 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."

Wilkerson and his wife Gwen live in New York City. They have four children and 11 grandchildren. His son Gary Wilkerson has also begun to gain fame as a Christian minister and evangelist.

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