Bill Text: TX HR1966 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of the Reverend David Wilkerson of Lindale, the founding pastor of Times Square Church in New York City and best-selling author.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-05-25 - Reported enrolled [HR1966 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HR1966-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 1966 |
|
||
WHEREAS, The remarkable life of an esteemed religious leader | ||
came to an end with the passing of the Reverend David Wilkerson of | ||
Lindale on April 27, 2011, at the age of 79; and | ||
WHEREAS, Born in Hammond, Indiana, on May 19, 1931, David | ||
Wilkerson entered the ministry in the 1950s and served as the pastor | ||
of several small churches in Pennsylvania; in 1958, he had an | ||
inspired moment when he saw a picture in Life magazine of seven New | ||
York City teenagers who had been charged with murder; he decided | ||
then to go to the city and minister to young people who had become | ||
involved with drugs and gang activity; and | ||
WHEREAS, Reverend Wilkerson's efforts in their behalf over | ||
the next several years were chronicled in the best-selling book The | ||
Cross and the Switchblade, which he wrote along with John and | ||
Elizabeth Sherrill; since being published in 1963, it has sold more | ||
than 50 million copies in more than 30 languages and was named one | ||
of the "Top 50 Books That Have Shaped Evangelicals" by Christianity | ||
Today; a film version of the chronicle was released in 1970; and | ||
WHEREAS, Seeking to expand his efforts to address drug | ||
addiction among the young, Reverend Wilkerson started Teen | ||
Challenge ministries in 1959, and it eventually grew to more than | ||
400 centers around the world; in 1967, he founded David Wilkerson | ||
Youth Crusades in order to help middle-class teenagers avoid the | ||
dangers of substance abuse, crime, and violence; and | ||
WHEREAS, Another initiative pioneered by this innovative | ||
leader was the CURE Corps, or Collegiate Urban Renewal Effort, a | ||
Christ-centered service organization that followed the model of the | ||
Peace Corps and Vista; and | ||
WHEREAS, After more than a decade in New York City, Reverend | ||
Wilkerson relocated his ministry headquarters to Lindale, and | ||
through the years his operations came to include rehabilitation | ||
centers, a publishing enterprise, video production, and other | ||
avenues of evangelism; he continued to write and eventually | ||
authored more than 30 books; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 1986, Reverend Wilkerson was drawn again to New | ||
York City; in this instance, he was moved by the plight of | ||
preadolescents he saw on 42nd Street who were using crack cocaine; | ||
in response, he started the Times Square Church, which opened the | ||
following year and today has nearly 8,000 members; and | ||
WHEREAS, For more than five decades, the Reverend David | ||
Wilkerson devoted himself to helping those in need, and his legacy | ||
will continue to serve as a beacon of inspiration to others who are | ||
carrying on that vital work; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas | ||
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Reverend David | ||
Wilkerson and extend sincere condolences to the members of his | ||
family: to his wife, Gwen; to his 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and | ||
2 great-grandchildren; to his other relatives; and to his friends | ||
and the members and supporters of his ministry; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of | ||
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Reverend | ||
Wilkerson. | ||
Flynn | ||
Garza | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 1966 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
rising vote of the House on May 19, 2011. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||