Nicky Cruz is a renowned Christian evangelist and the founder of Nicky Cruz Outreach, an evangelistic Christian ministry. Born on December 6, 1938, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nicky was one of 19 children born to parents who practiced witchcraft. His early life was marked by severe physical and mental abuse. At the age of 9, a particularly abusive episode led to a failed suicide attempt, further hardening his heart.

When he was 15, Nicky was sent to live with an older brother in New York City. Filled with anger and rage, he left his brother and soon joined the infamous Brooklyn street gang, the Mau Maus. By the age of 16, Nicky had risen through the ranks to become their leader, feared by both rivals and the police.

Nicky's life was defined by violence and alcohol, culminating in the tragic death of his best friend, Manny, who died in Nicky's arms. Despite being declared a hopeless case by a psychiatrist, Nicky's life took a turn when he met David Wilkerson, a preacher who showed him love and compassion.

Through Wilkerson's influence, Nicky underwent a spiritual transformation, which he describes as a heart transplant by Jesus Christ. He left his life of violence behind and became a new creation.

Today, Nicky Cruz continues to spread a message of hope and salvation, reaching out to people from all walks of life, especially those in the urban culture who relate to his story. His work addresses the violence and hopelessness pervasive in modern communities, delivering a message of change and redemption.