We Lost A Prophet On a US Highway
The news was devastating to me. Here is the story.
DALLAS, Texas (AP) — Rev. David Wilkerson, founding pastor of Times Square Church in New York City and author of the best-selling book, "The Cross and the Switchblade," has died. He was 79.
Wilkerson died Wednesday afternoon in a car accident in East Texas, Texas Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Tela Mange said. Wilkerson's car smashed head-on into a tractor-trailer rig after veering into oncoming traffic on U.S. 175 west of Cuney, about 95 miles southeast of Dallas, Mange said.
Wilkerson founded the non-denominational Protestant Times Square Church in 1987 in an area of Manhattan that was then riddled with X-rated movie houses, strip clubs, prostitution and drugs. He also founded Teen Challenge, which uses a biblically based recovery program for drug addicts.
In "The Cross and the Switchblade" Wilkerson wrote about his early years in New York City administering to drug addicts and gang members. The 1963 book became a best-seller and was made into a movie starring Pat Boone.
Wilkerson was not wearing a seat-belt at the time of the crash, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. His wife, Gwendolyn, was also in the car and was wearing a seat-belt, Mange said. She was taken to a hospital, where she was in stable condition with cuts and bruises, Mange said.
Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
David Wilkerson was one of those preachers who told it honestly and truthfully. He didn't bend to the whims of money, power, or fame. When you heard the message he would deliver, you knew that David had spent time with God and was prepared to say what needed to be said. If you have been a reader of this blog, you know I have used many of David Wilkerson's sermon clips to illustrate the point of the theme of the day. You also know that I am not a fan of most pulpits today, because I believe preachers have sold out. At one time people who wanted to be preachers had a calling on their lives to be prophets. Today the requirement is to be a statesman, a politically correct person who markets a product. I still think the number one criteria for being a preacher is the calling of speaking as a prophet and a true prophet of God speaks for God, not about Him. David Wilkerson for me was that kind of prophet. He didn't tell us what we all have heard a thousand times before about God, He spoke to us about the things that were on God's heart, much of which was about repentance.
Prophets of old always brought a message of repentance. The people have strayed away, and they need to be brought back, how true that is for today's Church? I will miss the ministry of David Wilkerson, and I pray with his passing we won't forget his message. David Wilkerson always kept it honest and truthful...K
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69Io08K7aGk&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Larry Kutzler
Reader Comments (1)
We have truly lost a man of God!!