The Cross and the Switchblade [Mass Market Paperback]

David Wilkerson (Author), Elizabeth Sherrill (Author), John Sherrill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 1986

A young preacher from the Pennsylvania hills comes to New York City and influences troubled teenagers with his inspirational message.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The tortured face of a young killer, one of seven boys on trial for a brutal murder, started country preacher David Wilkerson on his lonely crusade to the most dangerous streets in the world. Violent gangs ruled by warlords, drug pushers and pimps held the streets of New York's ghettoes in an iron grip. It was into this world that David Wilkerson stepped, armed only with the simple message of God's love and the promise of the Holy Spirit's power. Then the miracles began to happen. The Cross and the Switchblade is one of the most inspiring and challenging true stories of all time. It has sold millions of copies throughout the world and has been made into a feature film. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From AudioFile

Paul Michael recounts the lives of teenage gangs in New York City in the '60s. He has just the right amount of drama and inflection in his voice as he characterizes street kids who are addicted to drugs and crime. This is the true story of David Wilkerson, an Assemblies of God preacher who left a little country church to go to the streets of New York. There he faces life-threatening situations and hears heart-wrenching stories as he seeks to bring change into the lives of these kids through faith in God. The book tells the story of the beginning of Teen Challenge, a thriving ministry today. Paul Michael does an excellent job creating a believable drama of God's work through the vision of just one man. N.L. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Jove (November 15, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0515090255
• ISBN-13: 978-0515090253
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Religious
  • #11 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality > Inspirational
  • #18 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > General

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The reality of recovery ministry, June 28, 2001

By 

Charles A. Fletcher (Spokane, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cross and the Switchblade (Mass Market Paperback)

The story of how David Wilkerson came to found Teen Challenge should be a must read for anyone who follows Jesus Christ. The Cross and the Switchblade describes how Wilkerson put feet on his faith that took him from rural Pennsylvania to the streets of New York City. It's the story of how a pastor followed the leading of the Holy Spirit and reached out to minister to people with whom the churches would not associate.

Wilkerson describes in his book how essential it is to meet the unloved where they are, rather than waiting for them to show up in church all dressed up and ready to worship within the ranks of the clean and respectable. He also rightly emphasizes the importance of follow up, how one can't just expect to go out and distribute tracts or preach from street corners without also developing real, loving relationships with people and ministering to their needs, both spiritually and physically.

Now that Teen Challenge International has grown to over 200 centers around the world, it is interesting to note that the struggle in recovery ministry continues to be much the same: It's extremely difficult to get people to reach out in love to those who have never been loved, and it's nearly impossible to get church members to venture outside their doors to love their neighbors as they love themselves.

I praise God for Rev. Wilkerson and the way that he listened to God and ventured out in faith. I thank him for sharing the story of his work.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Cross and the Switchblade, February 25, 2000

By 

Gary Lo (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cross and the Switchblade (Mass Market Paperback)

The book The Cross and the Switchblade, which took place in 1958, was an excellant book. It was an really inspirational story. It can open people's eyes and let them know that things in this world are worse than we think. It made me more considerate.

This book is about a reverend named David Wilkerson who went to New York to get seven teenagers off a murder trial. He spontaneously went because he saw their faces in LIFE Magazine and felt the need to help them. It helped people know of a Christ through reverend Wilkerson.

This story opended up a lot of people's eyes. The reverend's for one, because he didn't know theat these problems existed in New York. It also affected the people that he came in contact with and the people who read his book because he was and still is an inspiration to all of them. Me personaly because it helped me become more courteous and aware of people with those kinds of problems.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can be life-changing, March 12, 2004

By 

tintin2002 "tintin2002" (Singapore, Singapore Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cross and the Switchblade (Paperback)

This book brought tears to my eyes at God's love and mercy, and made me want to dance for joy at His provision and greatness. David Wilkerson started out as a preacher in a country church -- where he is a good Christian, and doing God's work. But one day, he feels as if God is leading him to New York to minister to a few thugs who have killed a boy. He follows the still small voice of the Holy Spirit and goes, and what follows is an amazing ride. God comes through again and again -- often at the 11th hour, when all seems lost. Isn't that just like God?
I highly recommend this book because it is a great testimony to what untold miracles can happen in the lives of Christians when we step out of our comfort zones and go out on a limb for God. And the way He comes through will take your breath away. If I wasn't a Christian, I would think the story was pure fiction because it sounds too amazing to be true. But because I am one, and I have caught glimpses of what God can do for His children, I can say of the miracle upon miracle in Cross and the Switchblade: "Yes, God is totally capable of that!''
To my mind, most of us don't enjoy this exhilerating journey with God because we don't trust Him enough to take risks for Him. David Wilkerson did, and God displayed all his wonders. Read this and be challenged. I certainly was.