Son of Satan
Nicky Cruz was born on December 6, 1938, in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico, into a turbulent world of spiritism and abuse. His parents, involved in Santería, even labeled him the 'Son of Satan.' By age 9, despair had driven him to attempt suicide. At 15, he was sent to New York City to live with his brother, but the chaos of his past followed him. Within a year, he became the warlord of the Mau Maus, a notorious gang in Brooklyn.
A Preacher's Relentless Love
In 1958, everything changed when Nicky met David Wilkerson, a preacher with an unyielding message of love. 'Jesus loves you, Nicky,' Wilkerson told him, 'you can kill me and cut me in a thousand pieces, but every little piece will cry out that Jesus loves you.' This relentless love began to chip away at Nicky's hardened heart.
Weapons for a Bible
That July, he attended one of Wilkerson's revival meetings. There, Nicky was overwhelmed by a sense of conviction and the realization of God's love. 'I threw myself into the mercy of Jesus,' Nicky later shared. 'I received his forgiveness, and he healed my heart and my mind.' That night, he traded his weapons for a Bible, letting go of his violent past.
From Nobody to Somebody
Nicky's transformation was profound. He went from a life of anger and violence to one of peace and purpose. He studied at a Bible school in California and, in 1961, married Gloria. By 1976, he founded Nicky Cruz Outreach, sharing his story and offering hope to troubled youth. His life is a testament to the power of Jesus' love, which turned a 'nobody' into a 'somebody'. Today, Nicky's ministry continues to impact countless lives, a living testimony to the transformative power of Jesus.
