How to Wreck your Life Beautifully

Pete Greig, May 6th, 2011

When David Wilkerson died in a car crash last week we lost a hero of prayer, mission and justice. His autobiography ‘The Cross and the Switchblade’ describing his work with NYC gang members has sold more than 50 million copies. Some people see it as one of the catalysts for the charismatic renewal in the Roman Catholic church. Wilkerson also founded Teen Challenge, which helps 24,000 young people a day get free from their addictions, operating out of 1000 centres in 82 countries.

These incredible Kingdom ministries began (like all incredible Kingdom ministries) in a prayer room rather than a board room. On February 9, 1958, David Wilkerson felt the Spirit prompting him to spend late evenings praying rather than watching TV. He obeyed and after a couple of weeks, during his late night time of prayer, felt prompted to pick up Life magazine. Suddenly he began weeping over a picture depicting seven gang members who were on trial for killing a 15-year-old polio victim. David Wilkerson felt the Spirit say to him, ‘Go help those boys’. It was a moment that wrecked his life for good.

Cut me into a thousand pieces

Although he’d never been to New York City, within three days Wilkerson was there, reaching out to lawless gang members. When Nicky Cruz, leader of the Mau Maus threatened to kill him, Wilkerson famously replied ‘You could cut me into a thousand pieces and every piece would cry out that God loves you’. Speaking at Wilkerson’s funeral last week, Nicky Cruz said ‘I’ve come to say goodbye to my spiritual father,’ adding that he never met his own father. ‘I’ve told people for years that if it weren’t for David Wilkerson, I’d be in the pit of hell today.’

He also recalled being offered the gift of speaking in tongues by Wilkerson and how he requested Italian because there was a pretty young Italian girl he liked.

David Wilkerson’s life reminds us once again of the explosions of life which can take place when we combine prayer, mission and justice. God turned him from a provincial pastor into a world-changer because he prayed instead of watching television.  Every sacrifice we make for God is worthwhile, especially when the sacrifice is to pursue prayer. If God is challenging you to watch a little less television, or to spend a little less time on the internet, or to get out of bed a little earlier, in order to pray, can I encourage you to obey? It might well be the simple key that unlocks his destiny for your life.

Go Help Those Boys

Eleven years ago, when I finally relented to a similar call to pursue God in prayer (after years of excuses), it was the beginning of the 24-7 Prayer movement and the most exciting turning point in my life. I suppose you could call it my ‘Go help those boys’ moment. It wrecked my life for good.

Tonight Brian Heasley will be out on the streets of Ibiza with the puke wagon rescuing people because God spoke to him six years ago when he was a rural pastor. That was his ‘Go help those boys’ moment.

Two months ago, as we interceded for the people of Japan in the wake of their catastrophes, God spoke to us and told us to send Jon Petersen to bless the nation. When Jon arrived, God proceeded to open incredible doors. Later this month a 24-7 team will be deep inside the disaster zone praying and serving. Jon says he’s been waiting forty years for this opening. Sometimes our prayers take a little longer but this is now Jon’s ‘Go help those boys’ moment. His life has been beautifully wrecked for the people of Japan.

The simple secret to unlocking your destiny is prayer. Is God waiting for you in a prayer room somewhere, inviting you to switch off your screens and seek his face? Is he wanting to wreck your life for good; longing to give you the ‘Go help those boys’ moment for which you were born? There really is only one way to find out!

Get Involved

Find out how to establish a 24-7 Prayer Room

Come on a 24-7 Mission team this year

Or join me in Frankfurt for this years 24-7 gathering

This feature has received 4 comments so far...
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• Richard Clark
  15th May

  

  David was an inspiration to us in urban mission. His message of compassion, mercy and “tough love” offered a beacon of hope to those trapped in drugs and all the desperate depravity that went with it.

  His legacy lives on, but its up to all of us to seek to pick up his mantle in an age where we face rampant urbanisation and ever-increasing drugs problems worldwide

• Gemma
  13th May

  

  Oh wow thanks for sharing this, I hadn’t heard the news…

  I know my life was impacted powerfully through reading the Cross and the Switchblade when I was a teenager, and I personally know people who’s lives have been transformed through the ministries of Teen Challenge which have extended right down here to Australia.

  What an amazing story, and how sad to have to say goodbye to such a man but what a legacy to leave behind. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

• Chana Keefer
  13th May

  

  Thank you so much for sharing this, Pete. This makes three important “spiritual father” figures this year that have finished their race. David Wilkerson has been on my mind lately because I remember seeing a video production when I was a little girl of a vision he had from God about where America was headed in the last days. The facts seemed so stark, hideous and far-fetched thirty-five years ago, yet he perfectly described the spiritual depravity of today’s American culture. I was not aware of his death. Enjoy that homecoming party, Dave!

• David
  11th May

  

  Thank you so much for this article.
  It is one of the most encouraging things I have read in a long time.
  It hit me exactly where I needed it tonight.