Cross And The Switchblade Pdf
Charise Zelnick
The Cross and the Switchblade Summary & Study Guide includes comprehensive information and analysis tohelp you understand the book. This study guide contains the following sections:
- Plot Summary
- Chapters
- Characters
- Objects/Places
- Themes
- Style
- Quotes
The book begins with the author's description of the photograph (of a gang of teenagers accused of killing a polio-stricken fifteen year old) that eventually led him to change his life. He writes that through prayer, he came to believe that God's will for him was to travel from his small parish in rural Pennsylvania to the rough streets of New York City.
On his first trip into New York, the author discovers the depths of his innocence about the city, its justice system, and above all the nature of street gangs. His quest to visit the boys from the photograph is defeated at every turn; he feels humiliated and unsure about how to proceed. He is nevertheless reminded that "the Lord works in mysterious ways." After praying for further guidance, he decides to visit New York several more times, becoming more aware of how much work there is to do outside the particular gang he initially sought to help. A visit to his grandfather, a retired Pentecostal preacher, inspires him to consider broadening his mission to other members of other gangs. Again he prays and realizes he is being "called" to move to the city to begin his ministry there full time.
The author's first attempts at street corner evangelism result in the conversion to Christianity of a couple of the toughest gang leaders in the city - and the resentment of others. He also gathers allies, fellow ministers eager to help him free troubled young people from their addictions to drugs, sex and violence. At one point, the author initiates a series of rallies for the young people, which are at first sparsely attended and raucous, but through faith, prayer and trust, the author eventually wins the gangs over.
As the author's ministry expands and as he encounters increasing success with his techniques of reaching out to young people, the author again receives what he believes to be divine guidance. This time, he is inspired to fulfill his dream of establishing a drop-in center that the troubled youth of the area could use as a resource, a shelter from the horror of their lives. With the practical support of his wife and the financial support of some wealthy benefactors, he establishes what comes to be known as the Teen Challenge Center, and trains young students from Bible colleges across the country in the specific needs and circumstances of his ministry.
As the Center establishes itself and becomes more secure, it fosters and nurtures young people from the street as they awaken to a new, evangelically-based spirituality. Several of them, in fact (the author writes) move into the ministry. There are hardships (lack of funds, lack of food) but, the author writes, the Center's needs were all met through the power of prayer. Even though extended negotiations fail to win a full reprieve from the pending payment of a second mortgage, at the last minute (and exactly as prayed for) a donation for the full amount of the mortgage comes in from a wealthy donor. The Center, and the author, are free to continue their work. An epilogue describes how that work is expanding to other large cities with similarly troubled teen gang populations.
Wilkerson later founded the Times Square Church, now a non-denominational mega-church of 8,000 members, to this day a crossroads for those battling sin, drugs, and pornography, and a place where the message of Christ is discussed. He created the faith-based program Teen Challenge to wean addicts off drugs, and then World Challenge, dedicated since its beginning to promoting and spreading the Gospel throughout the world. Both now have branches worldwide, continuing the work that God began in the life of one man who believed
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The final scene has David speaking in voiceover while he walks the streets of New York. Nicky became an ordained minister himself, and he and David began a troubled teen center in New York and other cities across the country. The movie ends with David saying that in the battle of the cross and the switchblade, the cross won.
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Gay Teletubbies. Dung-splattered Virgins. Songs praising "God the slob". When faith collides with popular culture, Christians often come across as hysterical, naive, humourless, and parochial. Is this the result of media bias, or are Christians truly incapable of debating, or even creating, mainstream art? Why are Christian attempts to produce popular culture ("The Cross and the Switchblade" , "Davey and Goliath" or "Entertaining Angels" ) so ham-fisted and dull? Should we keep trying to improve or simply give up?
Kathy Shaidle's first poetry collection, Lobotomy Magnificat was shortlisted for the 1998 Governor-General's Award. Her latest book, God Rides a Yamaha: Musings on Pain, Poetry and Popular Culture collects her award-winning essays for the Catholic New Times. Along with Dr. Andrew Weil, Karen Armstrong and others, she was featured in the anthology The New Millennium Spiritual Journey. A columnist for the Sunday Toronto Star, she also hosts the Roman Catholicism website at Suite71.com, and is a regular contributor to The Door, the Catholic Register, BriefMe.com, and other publications.
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