“The truth sets us free (John 8:32) but the truth doesn’t always come to us just as facts & principles but as flesh & blood stories with real, imperfect, struggling people. The Bible is full of stories about people. Abraham, Moses, David and others teach us about faith, obedience, love, sacrifice, and following the Lord. Modern day examples can help us also. I’ve been blessed by reading and hearing how God has worked through different people. These next blogs will be a summary of some of my favorite stories. Here’s a few fine print disclaimers:

1. I’m not saying these are the best Christians ever. They are just the stories that have encouraged me. The greatest believers may very well be those who are low-profile and unknown. (Mark 10:31)
2. The list reflects only the stories I’ve heard and therefore it is biased toward the 19th, 20th, & 21st Century and America.
3. The list is biased toward people serving in a ministry similar to my calling so there are lots of Pastors and not artists or business owners. The list is heavy on the urban and evangelist side because those are the areas God has put in my heart. I think everyone needs to find their own examples which connect with them.
4. Of course our ultimate example is Jesus. From God alone is all goodness and to Him alone be all glory. And I know that the Bible gives us inspired stories of saints. However, it is good to be challenged by the example of other believers (Hebrews 13:7-8).
5. The people I have actually known and served with have really been life-giving to me. A book is no substitute for a relationship. We need fellowship. However, it’s sad that so many people read so many worthless stories and watch hours of TV & movies with no positive value when there are faith building examples available.

Hope these brief biographies encourage you because the Lord wants to use all of us in great ways!

Let me know some of your favorite stories and examples of the Christian life.

Favorite Story # 15: David Wilkerson

      Gang violence, drug & alcohol abuse, poverty, and broken homes. The story could be written just about anywhere at any time but something about the urban tragedy in New York City in the 1950s caught the attention of a young Pastor in Pennsylvania. He was born in 1931 in Hammond, Indiana, grew up in a Christian home and wound up in ministry in a small town in his mid to late 20s. After reading a Life magazine article about 7 youths in New York City that were charged with murder he felt called by the Lord to go to New York city. Without any human connections but with the leading of the Lord he went to the courthouse where the murder trial was taking place and began to talk to people.  Fifty years later he is still making a difference for the gospel in New York and around the world.

      David Wilkerson was 27 years old when he began to reach out to troubled youths in New York. Several people gave their lives to Christ, including a gang leader named Nicky Cruz, who went on to become a powerful evangelist. A book and movie were made about Cruz’ life called “The Cross and the Switchblade”. The book was a best seller and now has sold 50 million copies. Wilkerson and his wife, Gwen, along with 2 other couples started a rehab ministry called “Teen Challenge” and a missions organization called “YWAM”. Teen Challenge has had the highest recovery rate of any rehab program in America for years. They receive no government money, since they teach the Bible in their program, and yet they have better results than all other rehabs.

      After ministering in the inner-city for years Wilkerson started an evangelistic ministry called World Challenge and moved to Texas. In 1986 he took a trip to New York and while walking down 42nd Street he felt the Lord call him to move back to New York and start a church. He was obedient to that vision and started Times Square Church in 1987. After renting (in a very high rent area) they got a great deal on a theatre. During the Persian Gulf War the U.S. economy was struggling and they were able to purchase a large theatre in 1989. The church has grown to over 5000 people, has started other churches, shelters for homeless people, sent out missionaries, and run conferences for Pastors.

      I attended one of the conferences hosted by Times Square Church in 2002 and even had a chance to briefly meet David Wilkerson. He preached several times and there was a powerful anointing upon his messages. He is not a loud or very expressive speaker but you can tell that he is one who has spent time in the presence of God.

      Here’s some of the reasons why David Wilkerson is such an encouragement to me:

1. Urban Ministry. He has been serving and seeing great results in the hardcore inner city of New York for years. He is not just reaching ‘transfer believers’ from the church down the street.
2. Rehab Ministry. Anyone familiar with Teen Challenge knows the great work they do. We have sent many people to the Chicago branch of Teen Challenge. They are the real deal. Wilkerson doesn’t oversee it anymore but he started it and gave it the initial direction.
3. Perseverance. Here’s a guy who has been on fire for the Lord for over 50 years. He hasn’t given up or taken the easy road. I love the fact that he went back to New York to plant a church at age 56! He is still going strong now at age 77.
4. Family. He has been married for over 50 years and all 4 kids are serving in the Lord and involved with ministries. They have had trials. Besides living in some rough areas and having a heavy travel schedule they have dealt with illness. His wife has had many operation for cancer and one of their grandchildren died at a young age from cancer a couple of years ago. They are proof that you can serve the Lord for a long time, raise kids who love Jesus, and overcome trials.
5. Holiness. He has not changed his basic message about holiness throughout the years. At times Wilkerson has been criticized for being too strict but he has reached many people without watering down the gospel.

Check out www.tsnyc.org and www.worldchallenge.org to get an update on Times Square Church and World Challenge. 

David Wilkerson in 1958

Nicky Cruz

David & Gwen Wilkerson