The Cross and the Switchblade (1962)

by David Wilkerson, Elizabeth Sherrill, John Sherrill

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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Fifty years ago, when a lanky country preacher stepped onto the gang-ridden streets of New York City, most people thought he had gone over the edge. But David Wilkerson had faith that God was leading him and never looked back. Today his inner-city ministry, Teen Challenge, boasts residential and crisis counseling centers in more than seventy countries. Its Christian discipleship program has restored hope to tens of thousands of men and women with drug or alcohol addiction.… (more)

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English (15) Portuguese (Portugal) (1) Dutch (1) Portuguese (Brazil) (1) All languages (18)

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Apparently it has become a classic for those American Evangelicals who like a certain amount of violence porn and police procedural in their tales of missionary efforts in the inner city. It was not to my taste, as at the age of 18 my memories of a working class neighborhood clashed with the mindset displayed. i read my Bantam paperback copy in April 1963, so this site has only reprints listed. (

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DinadansFriend | Dec 20, 2021 |

This is a truly moving and powerful story and I think it will affect each reader differently. What really spoke to me was the fact that David kept 'putting the fleece before the Lord' and was blessed abundantly when he did this. It has encouraged me to consider praying out loud more and to not feel shame or embarrassment about praying for things. After-all in order to receive we must ask. (

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zacchaeus | Dec 26, 2020 |

I read this in the past and a friend gifted me with a copy so I could reread it. As I read, I wondered "where are the David Wilkersons of today?" I'm not sure if there aren't any or if we just don't hear about them in the anti-Christian mentality of the day. (

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JenniferRobb | Jan 17, 2016 |

True story about a small-town minister called to serve inner-city youth struggling with gang violence and drug abuse. Witnessing people languish in heroine addiction, he states that he had "never felt so close to hell," but unflinchingly reaches out in love. Awesome story of faith and hope. (

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krista.rutherford | May 16, 2015 |

A bit dated but still a good read (

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gslykhuis | Apr 16, 2010 |

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▾Other authors

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Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
David Wilkerson	—	primary author	all editions	calculated
Sherrill, Elizabeth	—	main author	all editions	confirmed
Sherrill, John	—	main author	all editions	confirmed
Michael, Paul	Narrator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

▾Series and work relationships

Has the adaptation

The Cross and The Switchblade [videorecording] by Don Murray

Is abridged in

The Cross and The Switchblade - Special Condensed Edition by David Wilkerson

▾Awards and Honors

Awards

Audie Award (Finalist – Inspirational/Faith-Based Non-Fiction – 2009)

Notable Lists

Christianity Today's Top 50 Books That Have Shaped Evangelicals

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Canonical title

Original title

The cross and the switchblade

Alternative titles

Original publication date

1962

People/Characters

Nicky Cruz

Important places

Important events

Epigraph

Dedication

To my wife, Gwen

First words

This whole strange adventure got its start late one night when I was sitting in my study reading Life magazine, and turned a page.

Quotations

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

Original language

Canonical DDC/MDS

Canonical LCC

▾References

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Wikipedia in English

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▾Book descriptions

Fifty years ago, when a lanky country preacher stepped onto the gang-ridden streets of New York City, most people thought he had gone over the edge. But David Wilkerson had faith that God was leading him and never looked back. Today his inner-city ministry, Teen Challenge, boasts residential and crisis counseling centers in more than seventy countries. Its Christian discipleship program has restored hope to tens of thousands of men and women with drug or alcohol addiction.

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Book description

This famous book by David Wilkerson has now been published in approximately 30 languages and a worldwide circulation of ten million copies. In it he talks about his calling to New York and the start of his difficult work among drug addicts, youthful gangsters, prostitutes and other youths who have become marginalized. A fascinatingly written, but shocking book. It was made into a film with ex-teen idiot Pat Boone starring as Dave Wilkerson. Photos from the film are included in this edition of the Dutch version. David Wilkerson, whose faith has made a deep impression on thousands of Christians and Nechristians, was one of the very first to play a role in today's revival ice youth movement.

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