'Cross and Switchblade' author dies

Written by Eric Tiansay

Thursday, 28 April 2011 03:32 PM America/New_York

David Wilkerson—pastor and author of the 1963 best-seller The Cross and the Switchblade (Chosen Books/Baker Publishing Group), which helped birth the charismatic-publishing market—died in a car crash in East Texas yesterday, April 27. His wife, Gwendolyn, was injured and airlifted to a local hospital, where she was in critical condition.

Wilkerson, 79, was founder and senior pastor of Times Square Church in New York City. He authored more than 30 books, including Have You Felt Like Giving Up Lately? (Revell/Baker Publishing Group), and Knowing God by Name and Hungry for More of Jesus (both Chosen/Baker Publishing).

He is best known for The Cross and the Switchblade. Since its original publication, the book has sold more than 15 million copies, introduced readers to the struggles of inner-city youth recruited by gangs and chronicled the origins of the Teen Challenge ministry.

Released by Chosen for its 45th anniversary in 2008, The Cross and the Switchblade was adapted into a 1970 movie starring Pat Boone as Wilkerson and Erik Estrada as gang member Nicky Cruz. Christianity Today ranked the book as No. 32 on its list of "Top 50 Books That Have Shaped Evangelicals."

Jane Campbell, longtime editorial director of Chosen Books, said that Wilkerson's "ministry and books changed lives all over the world."

Wilkerson is also the founder of Teen Challenge, a Christian recovery program that teaches biblical principles to help people struggling with addictions. The nonprofit has 233 locations in the United States and 1,181 centers worldwide, helping as many as 25,000 people.

Wilkerson is survived by four children and 11 grandchildren. Times Square Church plans to hold a memorial service at a later time.