The Cross and the Switchblade

I received this book at the Teen Challenge dinner I went to last night. I sat down and stared reading it casually this afternoon. I just finished it. It's that good. What's it about?

Basically, this book is the beginning of the Teen Challenge ministry. It centers around David Wilkerson's call to gang ministry in the roughest, toughest most violent places in New York City. He builds relationships by courageously going to the gang members and witnessing to the presence and love of God in their lives. He goes where Christ would have gone and proclaims the love that Christ proclaimed on the cross.

The book goes on to highlight the beginning of the ministry of Teen Challenge. It is extraordinary the way the Holy Spirit worked in the ministry to enable them to meet their spiritual and personnel needs. Just when the night was darkest, dawn broke. The Lord provided, for David and his family as well as the boys and girls who came to recognize themselves as sons and daughters of God. The story is not without lows to go along with the highs, but the presence of the Lord fills this story. It is inspiring and amazing to read about what God does in the lives of David and those who cross his path. I would highly recommend this easy to read testament to God's presence in every place.