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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The remarkable life of an esteemed religious leader |
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came to an end with the passing of the Reverend David Wilkerson of |
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Lindale on April 27, 2011, at the age of 79; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Hammond, Indiana, on May 19, 1931, David |
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Wilkerson entered the ministry in the 1950s and served as the pastor |
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of several small churches in Pennsylvania; in 1958, he had an |
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inspired moment when he saw a picture in Life magazine of seven New |
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York City teenagers who had been charged with murder; he decided |
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then to go to the city and minister to young people who had become |
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involved with drugs and gang activity; and |
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WHEREAS, Reverend Wilkerson's efforts in their behalf over |
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the next several years were chronicled in the best-selling book The |
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Cross and the Switchblade, which he wrote along with John and |
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Elizabeth Sherrill; since being published in 1963, it has sold more |
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than 50 million copies in more than 30 languages and was named one |
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of the "Top 50 Books That Have Shaped Evangelicals" by Christianity |
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Today; a film version of the chronicle was released in 1970; and |
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WHEREAS, Seeking to expand his efforts to address drug |
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addiction among the young, Reverend Wilkerson started Teen |
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Challenge ministries in 1959, and it eventually grew to more than |
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400 centers around the world; in 1967, he founded David Wilkerson |
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Youth Crusades in order to help middle-class teenagers avoid the |
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dangers of substance abuse, crime, and violence; and |
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WHEREAS, Another initiative pioneered by this innovative |
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leader was the CURE Corps, or Collegiate Urban Renewal Effort, a |
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Christ-centered service organization that followed the model of the |
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Peace Corps and Vista; and |
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WHEREAS, After more than a decade in New York City, Reverend |
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Wilkerson relocated his ministry headquarters to Lindale, and |
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through the years his operations came to include rehabilitation |
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centers, a publishing enterprise, video production, and other |
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avenues of evangelism; he continued to write and eventually |
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authored more than 30 books; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1986, Reverend Wilkerson was drawn again to New |
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York City; in this instance, he was moved by the plight of |
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preadolescents he saw on 42nd Street who were using crack cocaine; |
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in response, he started the Times Square Church, which opened the |
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following year and today has nearly 8,000 members; and |
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WHEREAS, For more than five decades, the Reverend David |
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Wilkerson devoted himself to helping those in need, and his legacy |
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will continue to serve as a beacon of inspiration to others who are |
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carrying on that vital work; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Reverend David |
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Wilkerson and extend sincere condolences to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Gwen; to his 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and |
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2 great-grandchildren; to his other relatives; and to his friends |
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and the members and supporters of his ministry; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Reverend |
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Wilkerson. |