People who have read the unforgetta-

ble best seller, THE CROSS AND THE

SWITCHBLADE, often ask its author,

David Wilkerson, what has happened

since its publication in the early 1960s.

Their gratifying interest in his story and

his ministry has prompted him to bring

his many readers up-to-date with a fitting

sequel-and BEYOND THE CROSS

AND THE SWITCHBLADE is just the

book we ve all been waiting for.

Here is a nostalgic look back at memor-

able characters from the original book

and a brief review of what they re doing

today. We are treated to a behind-the-

scenes look at the making of the movie

version of THE CROSS AND THE

SWITCHBLADE, starring Pat Boone,

and find that, surprisingly, the venture

brought fame but not fortune.

The publicity accompanying the book

and the movie turned the skinny preacher

from Pennsylvania into a reluctant celeb-

rity, and eventually forced him to with-

draw from the rat race for a while. Only

then was he able to place things in their

proper perspective-waiting upon "Holy

Ghost timing," as he puts it-thus renew-

ing his person-to-person ministry that had

been temporarily sidetracked by other

commitments. The past decade was filled

with many ups and downs for the entire

Wilkerson family, and David frankly re-

counts it all: his wife Gwen s gallant bout

with cancer, his brother Jerry s now-

conquered battle with alcoholism.