Remembering David Wilkerson                                  

From the perspective of a former staff member and family friend.

By Jerry Nance PhD, President, Global Teen Challenge    

As a 16 year old youth I attended a David Wilkerson Crusade with no idea that within a few years I

David Wilkerson preaching in New York City Mid 1980's

would be serving on his staff in Lindale, Texas. I graduated Bible College at the age of 21 and was working as a youth pastor when the leadership team of David Wilkerson asked me to serve as a teacher in the Twin Oaks Leadership Academy and to serve as an assistant on the David Wilkerson Crusade team.  Twin Oaks was the Teen Challenge staff training facility developed by David Wilkerson. It was such a joy to work with some of the greatest leaders I had ever had the privilege of meeting.

One of the joys of working with Brother Dave was knowing that you were working for someone who truly sought God for direction. Brother Dave was always spiritually focused and passionate about what he was hearing from God.  The staff knew that Brother Dave had the discipline of studying late into the night and when you did see him, he would have a fresh fire in his heart from the Lord.

David Wilkerson preaching

I believe David Wilkerson truly lived his life getting to know Jesus. He heard clearly from the Lord in his prayer closet, back stage before speaking to thousands, and standing on the street talking to gang members.

I remember one day when God spoke directly through Brother Dave while we were doing a street outreach in Union Square park in Manhattan, NY.  The park was filled with gang members, drug dealers, prostitutes and onlookers who came to hear the music group 2nd Chapter of Acts. The crowd of several hundred had gathered and David Wilkerson with boldness took the microphone and delivered a message of hope in Christ. He could connect with the crowd in seconds and preach the power of Jesus to change lives.

He looked at one woman that day in the crowd and began to speak to her about her life and the life of her son. He said, "You have spent a lifetime trying to help your son. He is a drug addict and he has broken your heart. You have done everything in your power to help him but to no avail. Jesus is going to change his life." The woman dropped to her knees saying, "How do you know these things? I don't know you." With tears running down her face she began to call on the Lord. She made a commitment to Christ. Hundreds came to the altar for salvation that day.

As a young Christian leader, my life was being impacted. I saw faith in action in so many areas. I worked on a team who served our leader and who partnered in the victories at the altars each night of the crusades. I witnessed Brother Dave give vehicles to missionaries, support families who were headed out on missionary assignments and saw him manage the call of God on his life to deliver what God had called him to do.

He was humble, never sought attention from the press, "never chased headlines." He was focused on one thing-winning people to Jesus.

When I look now at how this man of God was used over his lifetime, I can only describe it in two

David Wilkerson praying with converts

words, "Simple Obedience." He simply obeyed God and lived his life to the fullest to please the Lord and to introduce others to the Lord he loved. David Wilkerson carried the flame of the Lord and finished well.

Now the responsibility passes on to you and to me. Each of us as Teen Challenge leaders now share in the responsibility of taking what our founder modeled for us and living it out in our lives. We must carry the torch on to the next generation with the same passion for souls. We must pray and study with the same kind of intensity if we hope to make a lasting impact on our sphere of influence. The kind of impact David Wilkerson made with his life came with self-discipline, pure faith, passion, and a lot of hard work.

David Wilkerson fought the good fight of faith, he finished his course, he kept the faith. Now it is up to us!

May God grant us the grace to measure up when we finish our race.

Jerry Nance 

Book of Appreciation planned for Wilkerson family 

David Wilkerson 1931 - 2011

This past weekend we honored the life of Dave Wilkerson, founder of Teen Challenge. The memorial service at Times Square Church was a great celebration of a life well lived, a true man of God. Memorial Service video 

We invite you to send us a letter of appreciation that we can assemble and put in a book and give to the children of Dave Wilkerson. Your letter can talk about your personal connection with Dave Wilkerson, or share the impact his ministry had on your life. Perhaps you never met him, but would like to communicate the positive influence Teen Challenge has had on your life. You are welcome to include pictures in your letter.

Please email your letter to Patty Batty at pbatty@globaltc.org and we will include it in this book.

Please invite others that you know, family, friends, co-workers, Teen Challenge graduates, to also submit a letter to us.

Please send your letter by June 30, 2011.

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Global Teen Challenge welcomes Doug & Kelley Samuelson    

Doug and Kelly Samuelson

Doug and Kelley Samuelson have been appointed as the new Global Teen Challenge Regional Representative for Northern Asia, and they will be assisting the Teen Challenge centers in China.

Doug has been working at Minnesota Teen Challenge first as the Director of Marketing beginning in 2005. He then became the Aftercare Director in 2008. During that time he helped over 600 Teen Challenge graduates successfully transition back into society as responsible citizens through developing training programs and providing them with a variety resources.

Prior to Teen Challenge he was employed for 18 years at Bethel University (St. Paul, MN) as Associate Director of Admissions and Major Gifts Officer. He was involved in leadership during critical years of Bethel University's return to increasing enrollment and fiscal stability.

Kelley served at Minnesota Teen Challenge from 2008-2011 as a teacher and mentor to women, and faithfully joined with Doug in working with Teen Challenge graduates. She has been a business entrepreneur since 1995. She has successfully started and operated five small businesses to fund her previous outreaches to women and children in the USA and Costa Rica.

Doug and Kelley have 5 children, 4 children which reside in Minnesota, and one teenage son living with them.

Doug and Kelley are preparing to move to China in the near future as they transition into these new responsibilities. Their desire is to serve current Teen Challenge centers in any way to help them effectively reach out to those seeking help. They will assist Chinese leaders in the development of new centers, assist in the training of leaders, and provide any other support requested by Teen Challenge centers in China.

The Samuelson's are currently raising their financial support for their new position with Global Teen Challenge. If you would like to support them, you can send your gift to Global Teen Challenge, PO Box 511, Columbus, GA 31902 or you can go online and donate to them at www.Globaltc.org or use the direct link to donate to the Samuelson's. Donate to Samuelsons