David Wilkerson Quotes

Powerful David Wilkerson for Daily Growth

About David Wilkerson

David Wilkerson (1931-2016) was an American pastor, evangelist, and author, best known for his ministry in New York City's inner-city neighborhoods. Born on March 4, 1931, in Ronceverte, West Virginia, Wilkerson grew up in a humble family and found faith at the age of fourteen, which shaped the trajectory of his life. Wilkerson graduated from Hyles-Anderson College in 1952. He moved to Pennsylvania and became the pastor of the Independent Baptist Church. However, a vision of young people being burned alive in a New York City subway sparked his desire to minister to the city's troubled youth. In 1958, he founded Teen Challenge, an international Christian residential program that offers faith-based recovery services to those struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. In the same year, he published "The Cross and the Switchblade," a memoir detailing his experiences in New York City. The book became an instant bestseller, selling millions of copies worldwide. Wilkerson continued to minister in New York City, founding the Times Square Church in 1969. He also authored numerous books, including "The Vision" and "Set Apart." His works sought to portray the transformative power of faith and the importance of compassionate service. In 2007, Wilkerson wrote "The Last Reformation," predicting a coming revival that would see Christianity return to its roots as a grassroots movement. He believed this revival would lead to the dismantling of traditional church structures and a renewed focus on living out one's faith in practical ways. David Wilkerson passed away on April 27, 2016, but his legacy continues to inspire many through his powerful writings and tireless service to those in need. His works remain influential within evangelical circles, emphasizing the power of personal faith and the importance of helping those less fortunate.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints."

This quote by David Wilkerson emphasizes that the Church's primary purpose is to provide a place of healing, acceptance, and transformation for people struggling with sin, rather than being a showcase for individuals who have already attained spiritual perfection. It underscores the notion that all people, regardless of their flaws or past mistakes, are welcome in the Church and can find solace, growth, and restoration through faith and community.


"We must remember that no revival has ever started with great preaching; it's always been with great prayer."

This quote by David Wilkerson suggests that true spiritual awakening or revival in a community is not primarily driven by eloquent sermons, but by fervent, heartfelt prayers. Wilkerson emphasizes that the key to igniting profound change lies not in our ability to preach effectively, but in our dedication to prayer—deep, sincere, and persistent communion with God. The implication is that genuine transformation happens when individuals humble themselves before God in earnest supplication, seeking His will and intervention rather than relying solely on oratory skills to bring about change.


"Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you are willing to pay."

This quote highlights the destructive nature of sin and its potential consequences. By indulging in sinful behaviors, one may find themselves traveling deeper into situations they didn't intend (farther than they want to go), staying longer than desired (keeping you longer than you want to stay), and ultimately facing costs that exceed their willingness to pay. Essentially, it warns about the dangers of giving in to temptation as it can lead to unwanted circumstances from which it is difficult to escape.


"There is a real war going on between the powers of darkness and the forces of God, and the battlefield is in the heart of every man, woman, and child."

The quote underscores that there exists an ongoing spiritual struggle between evil and good. The battleground for this conflict is not geographical but psychological - within each individual's heart. This implies that every person faces a personal inner battle between their own desires (the powers of darkness) and the divine influence (the forces of God). It calls attention to the importance of self-awareness, spiritual discernment, and making conscious choices in one's daily life to align with the good.


"The devil does not mind small sins, for they will make a great sinner."

David Wilkerson's quote suggests that small, seemingly insignificant sins are not harmless but rather contribute to the creation of a person who is morally corrupt or sinful on a larger scale. This means that engaging in minor transgressions can lead to an accumulation of sin and ultimately result in a significant moral decline. The implication is that one should be mindful of even seemingly innocuous sins, as they can have long-term negative effects on a person's character and spiritual well-being.


Every Teen Challenge ministry is responsible for raising its own finances, but we assist these works with finances, prayer and counseling, especially overseas in areas such as Siberia, Africa, South America.

- David Wilkerson

Africa, Raising, Works, Counseling

Our nation is being led astray by ungodly judges, mayors and governors, who are given to change, defying the Constitution and substituting their own wicked agendas.

- David Wilkerson

Governors, Given, Mayors

The greatest fear that haunts this city is a suitcase bomb, nuclear or germ. Many people carry small gas masks. The masses here seem to be resigned to the inevitable, believing an attack of major proportions will happen.

- David Wilkerson

City, Small, Here, Suitcase

Likewise today, some Christians are content to merely exist until they die. They don't want to risk anything, to believe God, to grow or mature. They refuse to believe his Word, and have become hardened in their unbelief. Now they're living just to die.

- David Wilkerson

Die, Mature, Some, Likewise

Our ministry is debt free and we have not had to beg or plead for finances.

- David Wilkerson

Free, Had, Beg, Plead

Our ministry also supports orphanages in the U.S. and overseas, thousands of poor children in Latin America, drug centers for addicted men, and a drug center in Israel.

- David Wilkerson

Center, Addicted, Also, Supports

Christ died to save this lost world; he did not come to destroy, maim or pour out wrath.

- David Wilkerson

Christ, Save, Pour, Wrath

Our ministry is supported entirely by faith, through the missions gifts of readers who receive my messages every three weeks. We seldom mention money, and we never burden supporters.

- David Wilkerson

Through, Receive, Weeks, Supporters

As I look back over fifty years of ministry, I recall innumerable tests, trials and times of crushing pain. But through it all, the Lord has proven faithful, loving, and totally true to all his promises.

- David Wilkerson

Through, Over, Crushing, Promises

Eighteen years ago, the Holy Spirit led me to establish a church in the heart of Times Square.

- David Wilkerson

Church, Times Square, Holy, Establish

My oldest son, Gary, is a seasoned minister and travels with me for ministers' conferences.

- David Wilkerson

Son, Travels, Gary, Conferences

The Teen Challenge ministry was born out of those humble early days of ministry. It now includes over 500 drug and alcohol rehab centers around the world, even in Muslim countries. These include homes for girls and women addicts and alcoholics, all which are reaching many.

- David Wilkerson

Humble, Rehab, Early Days, Addict

I am not officially involved now in the direction of the Teen Challenge ministry, but I rejoice that God permits me to be the father of these ministries.

- David Wilkerson

Father, Teen, Am, Permits

The Teen Challenge Training Center on Pennsylvania farmland houses over 200 men in rehab. Other farms and centers have been birthed out of this ministry all over the world.

- David Wilkerson

Other, Over, Been, Centers

Many of those who once were so passionately in love with Christ now run about pursuing their own interests. They're burdened down with stress and problems, chasing after riches and the things of this world.

- David Wilkerson

Love, Own, Pursuing, Burdened

America is a giving nation and very compassionate.

- David Wilkerson

Giving, Nation, Very, Compassionate

How quickly we forget God's great deliverances in our lives. How easily we take for granted the miracles he performed in our past.

- David Wilkerson

Past, Quickly, Lives, Take For Granted

A final word: I am not knowledgeable about the internet. I do not have a computer. I guess that at 74 years of age, I don't have the patience to learn.

- David Wilkerson

Patience, Learn, Final Word, Knowledgeable

Love is not only something you feel, it is something you do.

- David Wilkerson

Love, Feel, Only, Love Is

Riches and the things that are necessary in life are not evil in themselves. And all of us face cares and troubles in this life. The sin comes in the time and energy we spend in pursuing these things, at the expense of neglecting Christ.

- David Wilkerson

Cares, Pursuing, Neglecting, Energy

I have no ghost writers. I personally write every message and every piece of published mail.

- David Wilkerson

Mail, Personally, Piece, Ghost

Both of our daughters, Debbie and Bonnie, are also cancer survivors.

- David Wilkerson

Cancer, Daughters, Also, Survivors

I believe in walking in the Spirit.

- David Wilkerson

Walking, Believe, Spirit, I Believe In

Also, I preached to gangs on the streets of Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx - and miracles began to happen.

- David Wilkerson

Happen, Streets, Bronx, Preached

From the beginning, this has been a faith-based ministry.

- David Wilkerson

Beginning, Ministry, Been, Faith-Based

Gwen and I have four children and ten grandchildren.

- David Wilkerson

Children, Grandchildren, Ten

God has never, in the history of mankind, allowed his name to go long offended.

- David Wilkerson

Never, Mankind, His, Offended

In these times, God's people must trust him for rest of body and soul.

- David Wilkerson

Trust, Soul, Times, Rest

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.