David Wilkerson and the Cross and the Switchblade

Today, I finished rereading "The Cross and the Switchblade," a book I first read when I was a young girl coming to know the Lord in a deeper way.   At that time, when I read about how the author, David Wilkerson, experienced God's guidance and power, I was amazed!  Was it still possible, in this day and age to experience God in this way?  I asked myself.  Was it possible for me?  (Yes, it is!)  This book encouraged me to continue to seek God and know more of His ways.

The book tells of how David Wilkerson started a Christian ministry to young drug addicts and gang members in New York City in the 1950s and 1960s.  The ministry was eventually called "Teen Challenge" and many young people's lives were changed because of it.

Today, I googled David Wilkerson.  I was wondering what had become of Teen Challenge (Global Teen Challenge now has more than 1000 Teen Challenge programs in 80 countries.)  To my dismay and amazement, I found a news article that had just come out saying David Wilkerson had just died in a car accident.  Wow, it felt so strange.  I am saddened at the news but at the same time, I rejoice in a life so well lived.  Til the end, he served God, even writing an amazingly appropriate blog post on the day he died.

"Well done, good and faithful servant... Enter into the joy of your master."  Matthew 25:23