Founder of Teen Challenge dies

David Wilkerson, 79, founder of Teen Challenge, was killed in a car accident on Wednesday,
April 27. His wife, Gwen, was also in the car and was airlifted to the hospital in serious condition.

The early years of his ministry with Teen Challenge are chronicled in the book, The Cross and the Switchblade, which was published in 1963. He first came to New York City in 1958 in response to a story in Life magazine about 7 teens on trial for the murder of Michael Farmer. His attempt to speak to these teens and the judge of the trial resulted in his being thrown out of the courtroom.

His failed attempt to speak to those 7 teens became the catalyst for him to establish Teen Challenge, a ministry to teens and adults involved in gangs and drug addiction. What started in New York City spread across the nation and around the world. Today Teen Challenge has over 1,100 outreaches in 87 countries around the world.

Thousands of people from all walks of life have been dramatically influenced by David Wilkerson. His writings and ministry have been a key factor in their decision to become a follower of Christ. Others were brought to a decision to enter fulltime ministry.

Within years of starting Teen Challenge, Wilkerson took his message across the nation and around the world, holding large crusades. By the mid 1960s he had turned over the daily operations of the Teen Challenge ministry in New York City to his younger brother, Don. He founded World Challenge which coordinated all his ministry activities both in the USA and around the world. He never sought to be the national or international director of Teen Challenge, but allowed others to carry on and expand this ministry.

In 1987 he founded Times Square Church in New York City, a non-denominational Protestant church, which now has 8,000 members.

He is survived by his wife, Gwen, and four children.

His influence will continue through the ministry of Teen Challenge around the world. His small steps of obedience in 1958 led to the birth of Teen Challenge which has seen tens of thousands of drug addicts discover God’s healing and deliverance. Those who were in such bondage and hopelessness have discovered a whole new way of living, one filled with hope.