Honoring Reverend Wilkerson

On my way back from China, I heard the news that Reverend David Wilkerson, the founder of the Church I called home during my college years, Times Square Church, had suddenly died in a tragic car accident and was called home to our Heavenly Father.  At the time, I was shocked to hear the news and in curiosity, canvassed the ultimate source of information - google - for news on what had happened.  While I have not regularly attended that Church in quite a few years, it is a body that I continue to think about and visit when I am in NYC.  It is a body that has spoke truth into my own life over the years.  It is a body that inspired me to live faithfully and boldly... to worship... to worship freely and as the spirit leads... to love beyond human-made barriers.

As a college student, I didn't always appreciate Pastor Wilkerson's preaching because it made me feel uncomfortable... sometimes prophetic.. serious business... but that is what I needed - that is a voice that NYC needed... that the world needs more of.  I repent for the immaturity of my heart.  Pastor Wilkerson is someone who feared the Lord... and that is something I could not swallow then because I did not understand.  That is a lesson God is still teaching me right now.  I thank God for this faithful servant who transformed NYC.. who changed lives... who brought light into darkness... who brought so many to know Him... someone who loved Him and wasn't afraid to speak truth in the midst of darkness.  I've been following the news and watching recent times square church sermons, and yesterday was going to attend the memorial service in nyc but instead watched it online live streamed around the world.  I'm saddened by this loss, but also so encouraged by the response I've been reading and watching.  His life is truly a testimony to many, including me.  His life challenges me to live a life worthy of His calling.  My life today doesn't reflect that.  I have much refinement, much character development needed.  I'm thankful to serve the God Pastor Wilkerson worshipped.  I'm thankful to be on the same team as him.  I want to carry on the charge God gave him... the charge He gave to us all.  I need to step out in boldness... to proclaim His love... for His glory.

I hope anyone who sees this post will watch a recording of the memorial service and be challenged by the service to live a life worthy of our calling.  Rev Wilkerson Memorial Service

Also wanted to share some snippets that really touched and spoke to me during his memorial service honoring this man, as his son-in-law described.. with "single minded devotion to Christ". 

When Wilkerson's grandsons were questioning their faith, they asked their grandfather: "If God is really there, why is there so much suffering in this world? Why so many hungry people in the world. Why all the genocide, atrocities, crisis, natural disasters in the world."  P. Wilkerson's response: "Boys I don’t have the answers to those questions any more than you do. I’m not going to sit here and throw a bunch of scriptures at you.  #1 the people who complain the most about this question do the least about it. #2 personally I don’t even bother myself with the question anymore. I just intend to spend the rest of my life helping the most hurting people and feeding the most hungry mouths that I can"...  which he did faithfully for a lifetime.

A friend of Pastor Wilkerson's who went the day after the accident to the scene.  He sat there and cried and said "here we are again with that question again -- why would you let such a wonderful man of God die in a manner like this.  why not let him go quietly in his sleep."  but God spoke to him very clearly… this accident happened near an artesian well that people go to fill up water all the time.  And he was reminded... "Bro Dave was just like this well. His life was an artesian well that just kept giving and giving. It was almost as if He allowed Bro Dave to come and finish up what he was saying to him.. and he could hear in the voice so well… don’t let the well run dry."

And the challenge his son-in-law gave in his closing: "if Bro Dave has touched your life... or some other man or woman of God has touched your life.. or if God himself has sovereignly touched your life.. I challenge you today, then pass it on.. pay it forward... let the rivers of living water pour out of your life just like they did David Wilkerson.  Don't just love in words...love with your deeds. Don’t go pat your neighbor on the back and say God bless you. Be warm, be filled. Do something about it.... He didn't just talk.  he didn't just pat people on the back and say God bless you, hope things get better for you.  He did something about it."

Teresa Conlon shared about the olympic torch... "to be successful pass, that torch has to be lit... the race we continue today is not to the swift but to he who runs and passes it lit.  i've been handed a torch, not because i was the fastest but because i stretched out my hand to receive it, burning.  thank you for being that bright light to us... your love for the Holy Spirit has deeply impacted us."

A 4th grader from Arkansas wrote a letter to Gary Wilkerson, Pastor Wilkerson's son: "I’m sorry to hear your dad died.  It is good to know that he was a Christian so that there is a great chance that he may have ended up in heaven.  I feel in my heart he went to heaven but I’m still going to send money to his ministry." And his son continued: "The greatest joy is that he is in heaven.  The greatest joy is that he dragged a lot of people with him to heaven."

other quotes throughout the service:

• when you speak, you have to be vulnerable
• We are the recipients of God’s grace, and his ministry and his generosity
• Today we stand here and we thank him for for the many lives he touched because he was willing to stand before God on our behalf...  he was willing to weep day and night for the ministry, for his people for his family, for his friends..
• This generation needs people who preach wheat and not chaff.. fire and not fluff... willing to bring  the hammer down again uncompromisingly who need the word of the Lord.
• The heart of the church is grace, mercy, and love… 
• It’s not by works of the flesh… it’s by faith in Christ. The power to cleanse and heal your body…
• My prayer is that the holy spirit would always be in charge. God has always protected us. I don't think there is any power on earth that can move us. because God has set His hand upon us.
• Devil can’t kill you without God’s permission. And if God permits it, then instant glory… instant glory…

And to close this post with P. Wilkerson's own words... in his final blog post, posted the date of the tragic accident:

To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.”

Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail—his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.