The Cross and the Switchblade, Young Reader's Edition

The True Story of One Man’s Fearless Faith

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The True Story of a Man Who Risked It All for God

The streets of New York in 1958 are a perilous place. Gangs, drugs and violence hold the city hostage. It's about as far as you can get from the country church where Pastor David Wilkerson preaches.

But one night, God speaks to David through the pages of a news story--a story that will change his life forever. As he stares at a pen drawing of seven teenage gang members on trial for murder, David knows that God is telling him to go to those wounded and angry boys. To help them. And despite the danger and darkness of the world he will have to enter, David obeys.

This is the incredible story of how God used one man's faith, despite his fear, to start a seemingly impossible movement of grace among the violent gangs of New York.

The Authors

  1. David Wilkerson

    David Wilkerson

    David Wilkerson (1931-2011) was the founder of Teen Challenge and World Challenge and longtime senior pastor of Times Square Church. He authored more than 30 books, including the bestselling The Cross and the Switchblade and Knowing God by Name.

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  2. John Sherrill
    john l. sherrill

    John Sherrill

    Elizabeth and John (1923-2017) Sherrill co-authored numerous bestsellers and co-founded Chosen Books. In 2018 they were awarded ECPA's Kenneth N. Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award.

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  3. Elizabeth Sherrill
    john sherrill

    Elizabeth Sherrill

    Elizabeth Sherrill (1928-2023) (elizabethsherrill.com) coauthored numerous bestsellers such as The Hiding Place, The Cross and the Switchblade, and God's Smuggler. In May 2018, the Sherrills were awarded ECPA's Kenneth N. Taylor...

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