David Wilkerson

American Clergyman

About David Wilkerson

David Ray Wilkerson (May 19, 1931 – April 27, 2011) was an American Christian evangelist, best known for his book The Cross and the Switchblade. He was the founder of the addiction recovery program Teen Challenge, and founding pastor of the non-denominational Times Square Church in New York City.

Wilkerson’s widely distributed sermons, such as “A Call to Anguish”, are known for being direct and frank against apostasy and serious about making the commitment to obey Jesus’ teachings. He emphasized such Christian beliefs as God’s holiness and righteousness, God’s love toward humans and especially Christian views of Jesus. Wilkerson tried to avoid categorizing Christians into distinct groups according to the denomination to which they belong.

Wilkerson was killed in a head-on car crash in Texas on April 27, 2011. He was 79.

Get to know David Wilkerson better

Frequently asked questions about David Wilkerson

No FAQ for this author.

Quotes by David Wilkerson

A final word: I am not knowledgeable about the internet. I do not have a computer. I guess that at 74 years of age, I don’t have the patience to learn.

David Wilkerson

Also, I preached to gangs on the streets of Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx – and miracles began to happen.

David Wilkerson

America is a giving nation and very compassionate.

David Wilkerson

As I look back over fifty years of ministry, I recall innumerable tests, trials and times of crushing pain. But through it all, the Lord has proven faithful, loving, and totally true to all his promises.

David Wilkerson

Both of our daughters, Debbie and Bonnie, are also cancer survivors.

David Wilkerson

Christ died to save this lost world; he did not come to destroy, maim or pour out wrath.

David Wilkerson

Eighteen years ago, the Holy Spirit led me to establish a church in the heart of Times Square.

David Wilkerson

Every Teen Challenge ministry is responsible for raising its own finances, but we assist these works with finances, prayer and counseling, especially overseas in areas such as Siberia, Africa, South America.

David Wilkerson

From the beginning, this has been a faith-based ministry.

David Wilkerson

God has never, in the history of mankind, allowed his name to go long offended.

David Wilkerson

Gwen and I have four children and ten grandchildren.

David Wilkerson

How quickly we forget God’s great deliverances in our lives. How easily we take for granted the miracles he performed in our past.

David Wilkerson

I am not officially involved now in the direction of the Teen Challenge ministry, but I rejoice that God permits me to be the father of these ministries.

David Wilkerson

I believe in walking in the Spirit.

David Wilkerson

I have no ghost writers. I personally write every message and every piece of published mail.

David Wilkerson

In these times, God’s people must trust him for rest of body and soul.

David Wilkerson

Likewise today, some Christians are content to merely exist until they die. They don’t want to risk anything, to believe God, to grow or mature. They refuse to believe his Word, and have become hardened in their unbelief. Now they’re living just to die.

David Wilkerson

Love is not only something you feel, it is something you do.

David Wilkerson

Many of those who once were so passionately in love with Christ now run about pursuing their own interests. They’re burdened down with stress and problems, chasing after riches and the things of this world.

David Wilkerson

My oldest son, Gary, is a seasoned minister and travels with me for ministers’ conferences.

David Wilkerson

Our ministry also supports orphanages in the U.S. and overseas, thousands of poor children in Latin America, drug centers for addicted men, and a drug center in Israel.

David Wilkerson

Our ministry is debt free and we have not had to beg or plead for finances.

David Wilkerson

Our ministry is supported entirely by faith, through the missions gifts of readers who receive my messages every three weeks. We seldom mention money, and we never burden supporters.

David Wilkerson

Our nation is being led astray by ungodly judges, mayors and governors, who are given to change, defying the Constitution and substituting their own wicked agendas.

David Wilkerson

Riches and the things that are necessary in life are not evil in themselves. And all of us face cares and troubles in this life. The sin comes in the time and energy we spend in pursuing these things, at the expense of neglecting Christ.

David Wilkerson

The greatest fear that haunts this city is a suitcase bomb, nuclear or germ. Many people carry small gas masks. The masses here seem to be resigned to the inevitable, believing an attack of major proportions will happen.

David Wilkerson

The Teen Challenge ministry was born out of those humble early days of ministry. It now includes over 500 drug and alcohol rehab centers around the world, even in Muslim countries. These include homes for girls and women addicts and alcoholics, all which are reaching many.

David Wilkerson

The Teen Challenge Training Center on Pennsylvania farmland houses over 200 men in rehab. Other farms and centers have been birthed out of this ministry all over the world.

David Wilkerson