{"id":211,"date":"2011-04-28T12:33:43","date_gmt":"2011-04-28T16:33:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/?p=211"},"modified":"2011-04-29T01:23:47","modified_gmt":"2011-04-29T05:23:47","slug":"david-wilkerson-and-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/04\/david-wilkerson-and-you.html","title":{"rendered":"David Wilkerson and you"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The first magazine article I wrote that was accepted by a national magazine was entitled, “David Wilkerson and Me.” \u00a0<\/p>\n

In the piece, I chronicled how much his book, The Cross and The Switchblade <\/em>had been used by God to change my life. \u00a0My husband and I had just moved to Central Florida. \u00a0I was a brand new mother when a new friend came to the hospital. \u00a0She gave me Wilkerson’s book. \u00a0Because I respected her, I read it with fascination.<\/p>\n

To read related story of Wilkerson’s death on Wednesday, CLICK HERE<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This, Wilkerson person, was a young man–only 10 year older than I–but he had something in his Christian life that I didn’t have. \u00a0Yet, I desperately wanted whatever it was that he had. \u00a0He was able to share Jesus with people on the streets or in a small crowd. \u00a0New York City gang leaders became Christians. \u00a0Drug addicts were set free by God’s power.<\/p>\n

During my \u00a0stay in the hospital, nursing aids and orderlies came to my room to “hang out.” \u00a0This was a new experience for me. \u00a0I’m not a magnetic personality but they came and they wanted to talk. \u00a0Several of them burst into tears and asked my help. \u00a0I was dumbfounded, scared and speechless. \u00a0No matter how hard I tried, I could not tell them about my wonderful Savior. \u00a0There was no power in my life, even when people were asking legitimate and heart wrenching questions.<\/p>\n

At night, when the TV was off and only one light was shining, I would pull out my book. \u00a0I read and I cried. \"\"<\/a> Why couldn’t I tell these hurting, hungry women about the wonderful Lord who gave me peace. \u00a0When a woman twice my age poured out her heart because her son was fighting an unpopular war, I sat numb and speechless. \u00a0When perky Maria talked about her boyfriend who was sick and could be dying, I could only smile and hold her hand.<\/p>\n

I began a search through the Scriptures for what made Wilkerson different. \u00a0I wanted what he had. \u00a0I needed the power of the Holy Spirit to reach out and touch me because I’d seen a small glimpse of a hurting world who desperately needed the Lord. \u00a0In God’s time, I discovered what Wilkerson had found and so did millions of other people.<\/p>\n

From the Jesus Movement of the 1960’s, the Church in the US was radically changed. \u00a0All of us still feel the affects of the outpouring of God’s Spirit on our nation. \u00a0Things changed from the music we sing to the length of our sermons to the way the Bible is taught. \u00a0Sure, not everything that happened was good but much of it was holy and powerful.<\/p>\n

I don’t live in the past. \u00a0I don’t even miss the past. \u00a0There are many wonderful days ahead. \u00a0However, with the death of David Wilkerson, it seems good to stop hoeing God’s fields for a moment. \u00a0It’s a time to lean against my hoe and catch a vision of the past fears and God’s glorious release. \u00a0It’s time to reflect and rejoice in a young man who dared to follow God’s calling, risking all to “go into the highways and hedges and compel” us to come in. \u00a0His godly influence reached more than the gangs in New York City. \u00a0God’s spirit touched a young mama sitting in a hospital bed, crying out for more of the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who is someone who has influenced your life for good? \u00a0What books have helped you to know God better?<\/p>\n

Photos: Rev. David Wilkerson by John Baw and New Mother by Leannrlee<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The first magazine article I wrote that was accepted by a national magazine was entitled, “David Wilkerson and Me.” \u00a0 In the piece, I chronicled how much his book, The Cross and The Switchblade had been used by God to change my life. \u00a0My husband and I had just moved to Central Florida. \u00a0I was…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,20,40,10,12,41,1],"tags":[21,688,696,63,14,18,699,693,701,692,700],"class_list":["post-211","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christianity","category-church","category-faith","category-inspirational","category-religion","category-spirituality","category-uncategorized","tag-christian","tag-christianity","tag-church","tag-david-wilkerson","tag-death-and-dying","tag-discipleship","tag-faith","tag-grief","tag-inspiration","tag-religion","tag-spirituality"],"yoast_head":"\nDavid Wilkerson and you - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/04\/david-wilkerson-and-you.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"David Wilkerson and you - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The first magazine article I wrote that was accepted by a national magazine was entitled, “David Wilkerson and Me.” \u00a0 In the piece, I chronicled how much his book, The Cross and The Switchblade had been used by God to change my life. \u00a0My husband and I had just moved to Central Florida. \u00a0I was…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/04\/david-wilkerson-and-you.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2011-04-28T16:33:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2011-04-29T05:23:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/files\/2011\/04\/Rev.-David-Wilkerson-dies-in-car-crash-by-John_Baw1.jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Linda G. 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