Teen Challenge Presents Nicky Cruz

Nicky Cruz

Nicky Cruz was the leader of Harlem, New York's infamous Mau Mau street gang back in the '50s. He later turned his life around through David Wilkerson's teen reform programs and would go on to a career as an inspirational circuit speaker. This story was immortalized in Wilkerson's book "The Cross and the Switchblade" that would later be adapted into a feature length film of the same name starring Pat Boone and Erik Estrada.

When I was a kid growing up in Cambridge, Mass, that book blew my mind. I had non-religious parents so that part was hard to relate to, but the New York City youth gang part left a lasting impression.

Not sure why I'm telling you this.