SATAN ON THE LOOSE: The wide spread and powerful influence of satan.

by Nicky Cruz

paper back copy, 144 pages,

Genres: Biography, Christian

153 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Nicky was only 3½ years old when his heart turned to stone. As one of 18 children born to witchcraft-practicing parents from Puerto Rico, bloodshed and mayhem were common occurrences in his life. He suffered severe physical and mental abuse at their hands, at one time being declared the "Son of Satan" by his mother while she was in a spiritual trance.

When he was 15, Nicky's father sent him to visit an older brother in New York. Nicky didn't stay with his brother long. Instead, full of anger and rage, he chose to make it on his own.

Tough, but lonely, by age 16 he became a member of the notorious Brooklyn street gang known as the Mau Maus (named after a bloodthirsty African tribe). Within six months he became their president. Cruz fearlessly ruled the streets as warlord of one of the gangs most dreaded by rivals and police. Lost in the cycle of drugs, alcohol, and brutal violence, his life took a tragic turn for the worse after a friend and fellow gang member was horribly stabbed and beaten and died in Nicky's arms.

As Cruz' reputation grew, so did his haunting nightmares. Arrested countless times, a court-ordered psychiatrist pronounced Nicky's fate as "headed to prison, the electric chair, and hell."

No authority figure could reach Cruz - until he met a skinny street-preacher named David Wilkerson. He disarmed Nicky - showing him something he'd never known before: Relentless love. His interest in the young thug was persistent. Nicky beat him up, spit on him and, on one occasion, seriously threatened his life, yet the love of God remained - stronger than any adversary Nicky had ever encountered.

Finally, Wilkerson's presentation of the gospel message and the love of Jesus melted the thick walls of his heart. Nicky received the forgiveness, love and new life that can only come through Jesus. Since then, he has dedicated that life to helping others find the same freedom.

He reaches today's youth because they relate to his background, trust his peer authority, and respond to the message of hope he delivers with both passion and conviction.

Run Baby Run is Nicky's story in book form.

Reviews

[Juniper · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok i'll admit i did get engrossed in this books but as an atheist it just felt weird to read this lmfao

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the stupidest most bullshit book I’ve ever read. (And I tried to read “Twilight”.) None of this ever happened. None of these interactions ever happened. No one talks like this. All of this is story time at best, self-aggrandizing hallucinations at worst. Abject moronity. If I could give it less than one star, I gleefully would. This is one book I might toss in the recycling instead of donating anywhere. No sense in inflicting this fever dream on anyone else.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book highlights the danger of becoming involved in anything to do with the occult and explores the strategies of Satan. Writen by a man who was wonderfully saved and rescued from the clutches of the enemy. Well worth a read.

[Glenn Van · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short read of under 150 pages. 'A day in the life of' kinda format - written by an evangelical Christian, the brand that I have grown to have a distaste for. A story about how Satan effects our daily lives - I was disappointed mainly because I was rooting for Satan.

[Chad Zody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't written to the level of The Cross and the Switchblade and Run Baby Run. The book starts off OK but the occult topic tends to drag and become draining.

[Kiet Pham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful testimonies of Jesus saving many from witchcraft and spiritualism

[Joanne Compton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I read this in my 20s. Discusses the widespread and powerful influence of Satan, occult horoscopes,ouija etc. Another must read.