Remembering David Wilkerson: A Godly Preacher Has Passed Away

David Wilkerson (1931-2011). Image courtesy of Wikipedia.




Joel Kontinen


“David served the purposes of God in his generation, then he died” (Acts 13:36). This is how Gary Wilkerson introduced the death of his father David Wilkerson in a blog post.

On Wednesday, April 27th, David Wilkerson’s earthly life came to an end in a traffic accident. He died instantly in a head-on collision with a truck in Texas. His wife Gwen, who was with him in the car, was injured but is expected to recover fully from her injuries.

David Wilkerson (1931-2011) hardly needs an introduction. Millions of people have read his books, especially The Cross and the Switchblade that has become a Christian classic.

Rev. Wilkerson passed away just a month before his 80th birthday.

Wilkerson emphasised God’s love and holiness both in his personal life and his preaching. Love for the lost caused him as a young preacher to venture among drug addicts and gangsters in New York to live out the gospel.

Nicky Cruz, a gang leader seething with hate and anger, threatened to kill him, but as the book Run Baby Run shows, the cross overcame the switchblade.

David Wilkerson’s Teen Challenge ministry became the most effective way of reaching and rehabilitating drug addicts and alcoholics due to its “Jesus factor”.

God’s holiness made him speak against the excesses of what came to be known as the prosperity gospel and against some weird manifestations of the charismatic movement. He for instance warned his church members not to attend meetings in which Rodney Howard-Browne of the “holy laughter” fame was speaking.

In 1987 David Wilkerson founded Times Square Church in New York and served as its pastor until 2002. The over 8000-member Manhattan church also gives aid to the poorest of the poor both in America and elsewhere, for instance to orphans in South Africa and street children in Russia.

Wilkerson’s preaching focused on Christ and the cross.

In 1973 he saw a vision that was later published in book form. While Wilkerson repeatedly pointed out that he was not a prophet, he predicted many things, most of which have already been fulfilled:

· The Iron Curtain would fall
· Weird weather phenomena would become commonplace
· The global economy would crumble
· Homosexuality would gain popularity and acceptance to the degree that many denominations would begin to ordain homosexual priests
· Christians would be persecuted in the western world

Some of these predictions sounded too improbable in 1973, when people knew that the weather was getting cooler globally and the Iron Curtain would never come down.

In his last blog post David Wilkerson exhorted his readers: ”Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.”


Sources:

Pulliam Bailey, Sarah. 2011. David Wilkerson Killed in Car Crash Christianity Today (27 April).

Wilkerson, David. 1974. The Vision. New York: Pyramid Communications.

Hope in the Midst of Turmoil

Jesus Christ promised to give us His peace in the midst of turmoil. A Greek Christ Pantokrator mosaic from the 12th century. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.



Joel Kontinen


Reverend David Wilkerson, a famous NYC pastor, recently warned of impending catastrophes such as riots, food shortages and fires, in major U. S. cities and elsewhere.

David Wilkerson is known for his numerous books, especially The Cross And The Switchblade, which recounts his ministry to gang members and drug addicts in New York City. Translated into over 30 languages, over 50 million copies have been sold.

In 1973 he wrote The Vision in which he predicted a major economic downturn, the opening of the Iron Curtain and the rise of homosexual activism. Rev. Wilkerson, pastor of NYC Times Square Church, also foresaw trouble a few weeks before the 9/11 attacks happened.

David Wilkerson points out that he is not a prophet but a pastor. He does not want to incite fear but to warn his flock.

Some financial experts have also warned of a similar scenario. If shipping goods becomes unprofitable, it could result in food shortages and riots as angry people take to the streets.

It is good to remember that the Bible has much to say about hope. At a time when the future of the Jewish nation was in jeopardy, the prophet Jeremiah wrote:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". (Jeremiah 29:11)

The New Testament is also full of hope. Jesus encouraged his disciples:

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Many signs suggest that history is irrevocably approaching its grand finale. It spite of its sombre tone, Revelation is basically a book of hope. It clearly shows that although a few sparrows might fall to the ground, God is in control of history - even in the midst of financial turmoil and civil unrest.