The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson
Week 11: Chapter 11 — Teen Challenge is Born
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What began as one frightened preacher following a strange impulse becomes, in this chapter, an institution — and the birth of Teen Challenge raises important questions about what it means to steward a God-given vision as it grows beyond what any one person can manage.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Teen Challenge grows out of Wilkerson's simple, improvised responses to the needs he encountered — not from a strategic plan drawn up in advance. What does this 'obedience first, structure later' pattern suggest about how God often builds lasting ministries and institutions?
2.Wilkerson faces significant skepticism — including from within the church — about whether a ministry to gang members and drug addicts is a legitimate use of resources and energy. How does he respond to this skepticism, and how does the gospel itself respond to it?
3.The founding of Teen Challenge requires Wilkerson to trust God for finances, staff, and facilities in ways that feel consistently miraculous — just-in-time provision rather than long-term security. How do you personally navigate the tension between wise planning and the kind of dependent faith Wilkerson models?
a.Is 'trusting God for provision' ever just an excuse for poor planning? How do you tell the difference?
b.Can you think of a time when God provided for you in a way that arrived at exactly the right moment? What did that do to your faith?
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