President:

Don Wilkerson

Don Wilkerson, co-founder of Brooklyn Teen Challenge, returned in June 2008 to the Center where it all began 50 years ago. He now leads the ministry for a second time and has been elected by the Board of Director’s to be President of the organization. 

Don joined his brother David at the beginning of Brooklyn Teen Challenge serving in various capacities and early on became the Executive Director where he served for over 26 years. Don was instrumental in developing the residential rehabilitation/discipleship program that has been the success in changing lives for so many students of the program. He along with Frank Reynolds had the vision to have the biblical curriculum that eventually became the standard teaching for the residents. The Brooklyn Teen Challenge Center also became the inspiration and model for similar programs to be launched across the United States.  

In 1987 Don joined his bother David in founding Times Square Church on Broadway in Manhattan, New York. The church grew to a weekly attendance of 5,000. Don states, “being a pastor with my brother is one of the highlights of all my years of ministry." 

In 1995 Don took on a new assignment when he founded Global Teen Challenge (GTC) that helps establish Teen Challenge Centers worldwide.  He served there for about 13 years helping to plant new Centers around the world training leaders and workers.

Today Teen Challenge is in 90 countries with 1025 Centers and growing. 

Don Wilkerson has authored 12 books including Within A Yard Of Hell, Counseling By the Scriptures, Called To The Other Side and Dear Graduate. The latter book consists of 12 letters Don wrote to graduates to help them face the challenges of life outside of Teen Challenge. 

Don Wilkerson is also Founder of Behold Ministries, Inc., a mission organization by which he conducts his personal ministry of speaking, teaching, and writing.  Behold Ministries also provides Don Wilkerson a support basis through individuals and organizations that contribute to his ministry.  

Don and his wife Cindy now live in Brooklyn. They have three children. Kristy Johnson and her husband Doug also live in Brooklyn. Todd and Allison live in Hollywood with their daughter Gracie. Julie Klose and her husband Dan live in Richmond, Virginia and have three children named Abigail, Hannah, and Ethan. Don and Cindy spend as much time as possible with their grandchildren.