For my doctrine assignment I am researching a man named Nicky Cruz. Nicky Cruz was born on the 6th of December, 1938 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was raised in a family with 17 other siblings. His parents practiced brujeria and were both followers of spiritism. His childhood was quite hard because his parents mentally and physically abused him. One day, when Nicky was only eight, his mum had a couple of her friends over at their house. When Nicky walked in the door all her friends thought he was beautiful and they were saying to his mother how lucky she was to have a boy like Nicky. Then his mum lashed out “ This is not my son, he is the son of Satan!” Devastated, Nicky ran to his room crying and heartbroken. Another time Nicky did something wrong and his father shut him up in a shed full of pigeons biting and pecking him. He ran away from home often because he was treated so badly. Finally his parents had had enough and they sent him to live with his married brother in New York.
That was when all the troubles began Nicky was so naughty that he got expelled from his school within weeks of arriving in New York. His brother didn’t want anything to do with him so he kicked him out on the street. Nicky, now living on the streets, had his first run in with a gang at a party.Carlos, the Mau Maus gang leader, asked Nicky if he was willing to fight and be in his gang. By the time he was 18 he had been arrested 21 times but the only reason why he got released was because no one wanted to testify against him in fear of being killed by one of the Mau Maus. A couple of months after Nicky had joined the gang the leader , Carlos, had been arrested and was sent to goal. Nicky being the toughest and roughst guy in the gang was then elected the new leader of the Mau Maus. In the time that Nicky was leader 15 people had been killed by the Mau Maus and he had personally stabbed 16 people.
One Day Nicky and a couple of the gang members were at Nicky’s apartment. They all heard a knock on the door and Nicky answered it. When he opened the door he saw the skinniest man he had ever seen. His name was David Wilkerson. He started to talk to Nicky about God and Nicky said “Go away preacher or I will kill you and chop you into a thousand peices and lay them all oer the streets.”Then David said even if you chop me into a thousand peices every peice will still cry out for God. This struck Nicky but the next thing David Wilkerson said to him seemed to leave Nicky confused and astonished. He said “Nicky, Jesus loves you.” Then David Wilkerson left a room full of bewildered and wondering boys. Nicky heard the next day that the skinny man was holding a conference and he was inviting lots of notorious and leathal gangs including the Mau Maus. His gang agreed to go so the next night they all went. As David Wilkerson was preaching Nicky’s past was haunting his mind over and over again. Then David Wilkerson asked if any one would like to devote their life to Christ. Suddenly Nicky felt himself being pulled to the front and that night lots of members from different gangs converted their lives to Jesus including Nicky and most of the Mau Maus.
The very next day the Mau Maus went to the police station and handed all their guns, bricks and weapons over to the police. Nicky then decided to go to Bible College and study the bible. There he met his wife Gloria and they were later married and had four girls. One day He was walking the streets and he saw all the troubles that were facing New York teens: drugs, smoking, parties and drinking. Nicky felt like he needed to do something to help all these homeless unwanted teenagers.
So thats when he started ‘Teen Challenge’. Their aim was to collect teenagers from the street and house them , feed them, educate them and teach them about the bible. It was doing really well but Nicky Cruz sometimes felt like a failure when he could not convert all the teenagers that walked through his door everyday. Nicky also wrote a couple of books based on his life story and on God. Now Teen Challenge is helping teenagers all over the streets of New York. Nicky has accomplished lots of things during his life time. Even though he had a very terrible up bringing and a dreadful teenage life his life is an example of how God can change even the worst of criminals. Nicky Cruz is a amazing man and preacher. He has been an insperation to many people around the world today and his story will touch the lives of many generations to come.
Bibliography
Book:‘Run Baby Run’ By Nicky Cruz
Internet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicky-Cruz
Magazine Article: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/aprilweb-only/nickycruz.html?all comments=true
School Assignments 