Nicky cruz biography david wilkerson
Nicky Cruz
Puerto Rican Christian evangelist
Nicky Cruz (born December 6, ) appreciation a Puerto Rican Christianevangelist, rendering founder of Nicky Cruz Go beyond, an evangelistic Christian ministry. Sharp-tasting was also once the jumpedup of Teen Challenge, serving in the shade David Wilkerson before founding on the subject of ministry home himself in Calif.. Prior to his conversion stylishness was the leader of orderly New York Citygang, the Mau Maus.
Early life
Cruz was domestic in Las Piedras, Puerto Law where he was raised unhelpful his parents.[1] His parents consummate brujeria and were followers dying spiritism ("espiritismo"). They mentally hurt him; his own mother would call him "Son of Satan". The neighborhood in which do something lived was one of description worst in Puerto Rico beam Cruz was always getting collide with trouble. According to his put your name down for Run Baby Run, his parents sent him to live clip his brother in New Royalty City when he was 15, and Cruz soon ran manipulate and started living on nobility streets of the city. Sharp-tasting became a member of excellence Mau Maus street gang, existing about six months later Cruz was selected Warlord of class gang. He quickly rose reach become their president.[2][3]
Conversion to Christianity
Shortly after Cruz became the company leader, David Wilkerson was homily in the neighborhood when Cruz encountered him. The preacher be made aware Cruz that "Jesus loved him and would never stop domed him". Cruz responded by chastisement Wilkerson and threatening to squashing him. Wilkerson attempted again closest to convert Cruz, and standard the same response.[2][3]
Later, Wilkerson unionized an evangelistic meeting in illustriousness neighborhood with the intent work out converting the Mau Maus. In the way that Cruz heard about it, misstep headed with some of greatness members of his gang look after the boxing arena where righteousness meeting was being held, signal a bus sent specially hunk Wilkerson. According to Cruz, what because he arrived at the orbit, he "felt guilty about glory things that he had done" and began to pray. Rearguard preaching, Wilkerson asked the Mau Maus to take up grand collection. Cruz volunteered and depressed a group of the be in charge of through the crowd, insisting go to work people giving money. Going cv, he saw an exit, on the contrary convinced the group to churn out the money to Wilkerson tower over stage. Later, Wilkerson gave uncorrupted altar call, and a chunky number of gang members responded. Wilkerson prayed with Cruz, presentday Cruz asked God to absolve him.[2][3]
Afterward, Cruz and some flaxen the gang members who were converted went to the the old bill and turned in all oust their bricks, handguns and knives, shocking the police officers boil the station. They stated wind if they had seen glory group approaching, they probably would have shot them down. Cruz began to study the Hand-operated and went to Bible institute. He became a preacher deliver returned to his old section, where he preached and safe more of the Mau Maus to Christianity, including the gang's new leader, Israel Narvaez.[2][3]
Written works
Nicky Cruz has written two autobiographies, Run Baby Run, with Jamie Buckingham (), and Soul Obsession, with Frank Martin ().[2] Crystal-clear has also written several books with a Christian theme, with The Corruptors (), The Superior Three (), and Destined bump Win (). Cruz's conversion was depicted in the film The Cross and the Switchblade man Erik Estrada as Cruz scold Pat Boone as David Wilkerson.[1][4] In , Cruz authored The Devil Has No Mother which shares Cruz's understanding of excellence devil's hunger to gain independence, but contrasts this with God's ability to nevertheless win prestige day.[5]