Whose Child Is This?

At the age of fourteen, Bill Wilson was abandoned. Now he leads a crusade to rescue children in Brooklyn's "war zone"--and beyond. His dramatic story is more than a life-and-death struggle in the midst of crime, drugs and poverty. It is a vision of hope and promise for America's children. "Lately in the news they've been talking about how likely it is for a black male teenager to get shot and killed--especially in my neighborhood. They say it's even more likely that in a couple of years I'll be carrying a gun. But what they don't know is what a difference God's made in my life. Ever since I was three I've been going to Sunday school, and I've learned about God and His ways. And I made up my mind to follow Jesus. No, you'll never see me with a gun shooting anyone. Ever! Because no matter what's going on around me, I am standing for Jesus."--Vincent, age 12 

With Bill Wilson the need has always been the call. For more than 10,000 children in the Brooklyn area, Bill Wilson and the ministry of Metro Church are a major source of love and encouragement.

Wilson was abandoned at age 14 by his alcoholic mother. Caring Christians rescued him and later helped him attend Southeastern College (Lakeland, Florida), where he earned degrees in Bible and theology. At age 19 Wilson started a Sunday school ministry in St. Petersburg, Florida. Because of the success of his bus ministry in Florida, he was invited by the Rev. Tommy Barnett to fortify and develop his church's bus ministry and Sunday school in Davenport, Iowa.

During his four years of service in Iowa, Wilson made trips to the Northeast and the most desperate parts of New York's ghettos. Compelled by the violence, poverty and hopelessness, he began a Sunday school in Brooklyn. Today he pastors Metro Church, a congregation of 11,000 children and 1,000 adults. Through weekly meetings and visits to each child's home, Wilson and his staff teach children the danger of drugs and violence. They present them with a sense of right and wrong and the hope of Jesus Christ.