The Cross and the Switchblade


The Cross and the Switchblade is a biographical book written by pastor David Wilkerson with John and Elizabeth Sherrill, published by Random House in 1963.

Summary

In 1958, Pentecostal pastor David Wilkerson of Assemblies of God is touched by an article in Life Magazine about seven teenagers who are members of a criminal gang. Alone and with little money, he will go to Brooklyn, sometimes at the risk of his life, to talk about Jesus with members of street gangs. A meeting will particularly mark him, that of Nicky Cruz, a member of a street gang, the "Mau Maus."

Reception

The book became a bestseller, with more than 15 million copies distributed in over 30 languages.

Adaptations

In 1970, a film adaptation was released, starring Pat Boone as David Wilkerson and Erik Estrada as Nicky Cruz, the teen gang member whose life was transformed by Wilkerson's ministry.