I had something happen today that I think may work into a new adventure for me in days to come. Back in the 70s when I was in high school I was assisting with the ministry Teen Challenge in downtown Phoenix for a while, helping at the office and ministering in the prison. The thing that compelled me to do that was the story of David Wilkerson. The film, The Cross and the Switchblade came out back then. It starred Pat Boone as David Wilkerson and Erik Estrada (in his screen debut) as Nicky Cruz, the teen gang member whose life was transformed through Wilkersons ministry. David Wilkerson left his pastorate in rural Pennsylvania during the 50s to work on the street among teenage gang members and socially marginalized people in New York City. He founded Times Square Church and pastored it for many years. The film has been viewed by an estimated 50 million people in over 30 languages in 150 countries and has also been promoted through Billy Graham Ministries. I have been receiving newsletters, messages from David Wilkerson over the years and have found them to be profound and prophetic. I believe he was truly unique, a prophet of God during these last days. Well, recently I remembered how I visited the offices of a small ministry here in the Springs, way back about 3 or 4 years ago, and they told me David Wilkerson had begun this Colorado Springs ministry and often came to speak. I love Woodmen Valley Chapel but it is so very large I have had a hard time trying to connect and build close relationships. So this last week I decided to look this church up. I had heard of Nikki Cruz coming to the Springs to speak and would like to hear him, as well as take my granddaughter Nicole, who is now 14. I found the church- and David Wilkerson’s son, Gary Wilkerson is pastoring it. I visited this morning and really liked it. The worship was much like at Bethel Church in CA, which I have grown to love after attending a home meeting in Payson for some time where the services were streamed in - Thanks Chuck and Nancy Funk Hallock. It seems that this church is at the place in their growth and has the type of ministries where I might be able get involved on a personal level, especially with the women. I met three wonderful sisters in the Lord and had a great time with them. I also learned that Nikki Cruz and his family live here and he attends this church when he is not traveling to minister elsewhere. I was able to pick up a copy of the movie, The Cross and the Switchblade so I can now show Nicole. They also gave me Nikki Cruz’ famous book, Run Baby Run, which I have never yet read. I figure I had better go ahead and read it since I will most likely soon meet him, especially since I have been familiar with his testimony all these years. God is good...all the time! If you are interested, you can watch The Cross and the Switchblade on YouTube: https://youtube/watch?v=amg_Q4aT6Mg
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 06:09:58 +0000
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