Nicky Cruz: He
wrote a chilling
autobiography (Run Baby Run) of his violent, hate-fueled youth—and powerful,
love-driven conversion—it has made a lasting impact on generations spanning over
4 decades! From hate, power and survival to forgiveness and redemption, this
journey with Nicky into the streets of his past is one you don’t want to miss!
Over 8 million copies have been sold in the United States alone. Millions more
in over 40 languages have been sold worldwide. In fact, Nicky’s story is
required reading in many European schools. Find out why this story is so
powerful!
Born in 1941, Nicky was only
3-1/2 years old when his heart turned to stone. As one of 18 children born to
witchcraft-practicing parents from Puerto
Rico, bloodshed and mayhem were common occurrences in his life. He suffered
severe physical and mental abuse at their hands, at one time being declared the
"Son of Satan" by his mother while she was in a spiritual trance.
When he was 15, Nicky's father sent him to visit an older brother in New York.
Nicky didn't stay with his brother long. Instead, full of anger and rage, he
chose to make it on his own.
Tough, but lonely, by
age 16 he became a member of the notorious Brooklyn street gang known as the Mau
Maus (named after a bloodthirsty African tribe). Within six months he became
their president. Cruz fearlessly ruled the streets as warlord of one of the
gangs most dreaded by rivals and police. Lost in the cycle of drugs, alcohol,
and brutal violence, his life took a tragic turn for the worse after a friend
and fellow gang member was horribly stabbed and beaten and died in Nicky's arms.
As Cruz' reputation grew, so did his haunting nightmares. Arrested countless
times, a court-ordered psychiatrist pronounced Nicky's fate as "headed
to prison, the electric chair, and hell."
No authority figure could reach Cruz — until he met a skinny street-preacher
named David Wilkerson. He disarmed Nicky — showing him something he'd never
known before: Relentless love. His interest in the young thug was
persistent. Nicky beat him up, spit on him and, on one occasion, seriously
threatened his life…yet the love of God remained — stronger than any
adversary Nicky had ever encountered.
Finally, Wilkerson's presentation of the gospel message and the love of Jesus
melted the thick walls of his heart. Nicky received the forgiveness, love and
new life that can only come through Jesus. Since then, he has dedicated that
life to helping others find the same freedom, becoming an evangelist...becoming
a legend, preaching to multitudes -- as many as 50,000 at one time. He went from
gang leader to evangelist in just four years. [his web site]
[his testimony] The
autobiography is Run Baby Run by Nicky Cruz and Jamie Buckingham,
1968 & later editions. Nicky lives in Colorado.