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Nicky Cruz was born on December 6, 1938, in Puerto Rico.

His parents practiced witchcraft and as one of nineteen children he endured severe physical and mental abuse.

He grew up in a very tough neighbourhood in Puerto Rico.

Aged fifteen, his parents sent him to live with an older brother in New York City. He soon ran away and joined the notorious Brooklyn street gang - the Mau Maus, quickly rising to become their president. The gang ruled the New York streets by fear.

Lost in a cycle of drugs, alcohol and violence, his life took a tragic turn after a fellow gang member was stabbed, beaten, and died in Nicky’s arms.

Nicky's life changed when he met David Wilkerson, a preacher, at a Christian outreach meeting in his neighbourhood. Wilkerson told Cruz that Jesus would never stop loving him.

Cruz responded by slapping him, spitting on him, and threatening to kill him.

Years later, reflecting on this confrontation with Wilkerson, Cruz said: “Jesus sent him there to bring a message to the gangs. I almost killed him then because I really was full of hate. That was when he told me that Jesus loved me.”

Despite the opposition Wilkerson faced, he remained persistent in his contact with the gangs.

This paid off as Cruz gave his life to Jesus during a meeting held by Wilkerson. The love Wilkerson showed him, and the Bible’s message of forgiveness hugely impacted his life.

Since then, Cruz has dedicated his life to helping others and sharing the love of Jesus as an evangelist.

For more than five decades he has ministered around the world in inner cities, prisons, street corners, and stadiums.

He has reached thousands of inner-city gang members by sharing his own experiences.

His life story was told in a book by David Wilkerson called The Cross and the Switchblade, which later became a movie.