Our Guest: Gary Wilkerson
Gary Wilkerson is the President of World Challenge, an international mission organization that was founded by his father, David Wilkerson. He has traveled to speak at mission leadership conferences in 70 different countries and has supported church planting, relief, and evangelism among some of the most unreached people groups around the globe. Gary believes in practicing pure religion by caring for orphans and widows.He and his wife, Kelly, have 12 grandchildren and live in Colorado Springs, CO.
Scriptures and Key Points:
“In ministry, draw a small circle and stay within it.” – David Wilkerson
- If you had to cross off all but one thing, what is left? What is your non-negotiable?
James 1:27 NLT Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
- The primary purpose is caring for the orphans and widows, the poor and neglected. And in doing so, to glorify God.
- Are we hungry for purity?
- Jesus considers lack of compassion an impurity.
- Why are you doing what you do?
- Social Justice vs. Biblical Justice, where the heart of God touches lives
- Gary shares that compromise gets in when it’s personal. We need to stay attuned to Jesus.
- It has to be Jesus first and in everything.
- If not, we will wrongly theorize that the ends justify the means.
- Teach the untaught, Reach the unreached, Touch the untouched.
- Have the heart of God become tangible through you.
- Seeing the tangible heart of God opens hearts to the Gospel.
- The need doesn’t always constitute the vision.
Gary’s Mission Critical Points for a Christian:
- Prayer life
- Discipleship
- Christian community
- Tithing
- Offerings
- The Great Commission, which includes the mandate in James 1:27
Zechariah 7:10-11 ESV Do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart. But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear.
- The Church needs to awaken to our biblical responsibility.
- Gary encourages us to step out in faith.
Isaiah 60:2 EASY Look! Darkness covers all the earth and its people. But the Lord shines his light on you, so that his glory appears over you.
- When God’s light shines on you, it gives your life meaning.
- Live with a purpose greater than yourself.
- Those who tell the story define the narrative and create the history.
- Change comes by choice or by circumstance.
- “Go home and care for the poor.”
- If you want the anointing and the joy, care for them in Jesus’ name.
- When the Holy Spirit isn’t welcomed, we are prone to wander.
- Everything is out of prayer and presence.
- Don’t forget the fundamentals of why you do what you do.
- Knee posture in our private place, then God gives us equipping and commissioning in the public place.
- Be a tangible expression of Christ.
- Don’t let the machine of ministry rule the minister. It’s a stewardship.
- You spend the time with God, so He can give you the vision to carry out the Kingdom of God.
Revelation 1:10-17 NKJV John’s vision
- Gary reminds us that we can have as much of Jesus as we want.
- “I want Jesus.”
- The end game is not having a big influence. It’s about having and sharing God’s heart.
- Have a humble spirit.
Links from Gary’s conversation:
- World Challenge
- Teen Challenge
- Compassion International
- “Leaning In To Legacy | Revival | Transformation” event on May 20, 2025
- Gary on Instagram
- Facebook for Gary
Books:
- The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson
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