David Ray Wilkerson was an American Christian evangelist, renowned for his influential book, The Cross and the Switchblade. He was the visionary founder of the addiction recovery program, Teen Challenge, and the founding pastor of the non-denominational Times Square Church in New York City.

Wilkerson emphasized significant Christian beliefs such as God's holiness and righteousness, God's profound love toward humanity, and especially Christian perspectives of Jesus. He was known for his direct and frank sermons, famously including "A Call to Anguish," which advocated for a committed adherence to Jesus' teachings. He deliberately avoided categorizing Christians into distinct denominational groups.

Tragically, Wilkerson passed away in a car accident on April 27, 2011.