Faithful

David Wilkerson

Street preacher and prophet of repentance (1931-2011)

Biography

David Wilkerson was an American Christian evangelist, best known as the founder of Teen Challenge and the Times Square Church in New York City. His ministry focused on reaching drug addicts, gang members, and the broken. He was known for his prophetic warnings about moral compromise in the church and his calls to repentance.

Biblical Assessment

Every preacher is tested against our 5-point biblical framework. Here's how David Wilkerson measures up:

1

Title & Authority

VERDICT: CALLED-AND-SENT

Ordained Assemblies of God minister. Called by God to urban ministry. Served under accountability and raised up biblical leaders.

Scripture:

Acts 13:1-3, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Ephesians 4:11-12

2

Gospel Message

VERDICT: CROSS-CENTERED

Preached repentance, the cross, and holiness. Warned against lukewarm Christianity and false grace. Emphasized Christ as the only hope.

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 1:18, Luke 13:3, Hebrews 12:14

3

Fruit & Lifestyle

VERDICT: SACRIFICIAL-SERVANT

Gave his life to serve the poor and broken. Lived modestly. Known for prayer, fasting, and personal devotion to God.

Scripture:

Matthew 25:35-40, James 1:27, 1 Timothy 3:2

4

Revelation vs. Scripture

VERDICT: BALANCED-DISCERNMENT

Believed in prophetic ministry but always tested by Scripture. Emphasized God's Word as final authority.

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:20-21, 1 Corinthians 14:29, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

5

Finances & Transparency

VERDICT: TRANSPARENT-MINISTRY

Teen Challenge and Times Square Church are financially accountable. Wilkerson lived simply and gave sacrificially.

Scripture:

Acts 20:33-35, 2 Corinthians 8:21, 1 Peter 5:2

Key Quotes

These statements from David Wilkerson exemplify biblical truth.

"God hates the lukewarm gospel of half-truths that is now spreading over the globe. This gospel ignores the whole counsel of God."
— David Wilkerson
Aligned with: Luke 9:23, Matthew 7:13-14, 2 Timothy 4:1-4
Source: America's Last Call sermon
"Faith is not to get you out of a hard place but to change your heart in the hard place."
— David Wilkerson
Aligned with: James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Source: Times Square Church sermon

Sources & References

All assessments are based on verifiable, publicly available sources:

  • •The Cross and the Switchblade (1963)
  • •Times Square Church sermons - tscnyc.org
  • •Teen Challenge ministry
  • •Prophetic writings and sermons

See an error? We strive for complete accuracy. If you believe we've misrepresented David Wilkerson's teaching, contact us with evidence and we'll review.

Assessment Summary

Faithful

David Wilkerson demonstrates biblical faithfulness in doctrine, character, and ministry practice. Safe to learn from.

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Our Method

Every assessment uses our 5-point biblical framework. Learn how to test any teacher against Scripture.

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