founder of World Challenge Ministries, was killed April 27 in a car
accident in east Texas. Wilkerson was well-known for his best-selling
book, The Cross and the Switchblade, in which he told how he
pioneered a minstry to gang members and drug addicts in New York City in
1958. Soon after, he founded Teen Challenge, today a worldwide ministry
reaching people with life-controlling habits. Wilkerson, who was 79,
was buried during a private ceremony in Tyler, Texas, on May 2. For an
online tribute to Wilkerson that includes photos, videos and memories of
his 50-plus years of ministry, visit wilkerson.charismamag.com.
former general overseer of the Church of God (Cleveland, Tenn.) and
past president of Lee University, died on April 5. He was 87. Hughes
served the Church of God denomination as its top leader on three
separate occasions—most recently in 1996—and is the only person in the
125-year history of the COG to serve as general overseer three separate
times.
turn over the pastorate of Bethany World Prayer Center in Baton Rouge,
La., to his son Jonathan on Oct. 2. Stockstill made the announcement in
April at the church, where he has been senior pastor for 28 years.
Jonathan Stockstill is the current worship leader for the church and
heads the Christian band Deluge. The elder Stockstill attributed the
decision to a shift in his ministry emphasis to pastoring pastors and
planting churches.
is heading back to prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit
stock fraud. In 1988 Minkow was convicted of stock fraud and
incarcerated. While behind bars he gave his life to Christ, emerged from
prison as a pastor and launched a stock-fraud investigation company to
uncover corporate corruption. It appears the temptation to cook the
books was too much for Minkow. He admitted to conspiring to manipulate Lennar Corp.’s stock and will return to prison for at least five years.
