"David Wilkerson, whose book "The Cross and the Switchblade" made Christianity Today's Top 50 Books That Have Shaped Evangelicals list, has died in a car crash in Texas... "The Cross and the Switchblade" tells the story of how in the late 1950s the young rural-Pennsylvanian pastor was moved by a Life magazine article to go to New York City to minister to violent teen gang members. The book became a best-seller and was made into a movie in 1970."
http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/04/28/..."On the evening of Wednesday, April 27, Rev. Wilkerson, 79, and his wife, Gwen, were driving on U.S. 175 in Cherokee County in Texas when they hit a tractor trailer driven by 38-year-old Frederick Braggs. Rev. Wilkerson was pronounced dead on the scene, but his wife was transported to ETMC Tyler, where she is currently in fair condition (a step down from critical) in the Intensive Care Unit."
http://www.examiner.com/christian-living...David Wilkerson dies... so they say, but we have the Word of Jesus Christ, that David Wilkerson lives on! His grand entrance into Heaven is applauded, and a great welcoming party is still going on... while we morn the death of one of the greatest men of God we have seen in this century. I don't get too teary-eyed over the passing of anyone... but the passing of this man of the Gospel chokes me up. There are few public "men of the cloth" that haven't fallen from public graces... David Wilkerson is one.
My first encounter with the life of David Wilkerson was by watching "The Cross and the Switchblade" movie with Eric Estrada as "Nicky Cruise" ...the story gripped me, that worthless street hoods could be reached and saved. In my life I have sunk to the bottom and caused pain for those around me... yet here was hope and purpose personified. A preacher of the Truth yes! ...and a model of compassion, absolutely! There was hope for the likes of me and for anyone... good, bad or ugly... the last two I resembled easily, and I found the grace that millions of others have without exception.
Our prayers are with David's family and wife Gwen, may the peace of God touch their lives...
as the faithfulness and obedience of David Wilkerson has touched ours... See you soon brother David... Praise the Lord God Almighty!
"For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:11)