Teen Challenge Founder David Wilkerson
As DPS reports, 79 year old David Wilkerson passed away yesterday when his vehicle crossed over into oncoming traffic and hit an 18 wheeler head-on.
The accident occurred on the Neches River Bridge on Highway 175 in east Texas around 1 p.m. Wednesday. 38 year-old Fredrick Braggs was driving the semi truck and suffered cuts after his 18 wheeler diverted into a dry river bed after the wreck. As of yesterday, he was recovering in a Jacksonville, TX hospital.
Wilkerson’s wife, Gwendolyn, was also in the wreck. She was admitted to Tyler’s ETMC and is listed as being in “fair condition.”
Reverend David Wilkerson spent his life influencing the lives of thousands. His book, The Cross and the Switchblade, is a best-seller that has been translated into more than 30 languages and sold over 15 million copies. Written in 1963, it details Wilkerson’s inaugural five years in New York City. Wilkerson spent those years, and subsequent decades, ministering to inner city citizens ensnared by substance abuse and gang violence.
This initiative led to the founding of Teen Challenge in 1958. Currently headquartered in Ozark, MO, Teen Challenge is on mission to to provide youth, adults and families with an effective and comprehensive Christian faith-based solution to life-controlling drug and alcohol problems in order to become productive members of society. It has recovery centers throughout the world and offers year long discipleship programs to facilitate life change in those suffering from addictions.
David Wilkerson is a man who made his life count. From Jeff Rasansky and the attorneys at Rasansky Law Firm, thank you for being an advocate for change in U.S. and abroad. R.I.P.
