David Ray Wilkerson (May 19, 1931 – April 27, 2011) was an American Christian evangelist, best known for his autobiographical book The Cross and the Switchblade (1963) where he portrayed the true stories of gang leaders and drug addicts who encountered Christ through Wilkerson’s ministry.[1] He was the founder of the addiction recovery program Teen Challenge, and founding pastor of the non-denominational Times Square Church in New York.[2] His specialty was reaching out to middle-class kids who were restless and bored.[3]
In a 2009 message, he predicted end-time economic collapse, riots, fires, and looting in Times Square, New York City.[4]