Lonely, But Never Alone

by Nicky Cruz

This book is in good condition. Some cover wear, has a note on the inside cover, pages clean.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction

166 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1981

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

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was given to me as a gift by relatives who know a little bit about my situation and what I've been going through, and what I'm still going through. I would say that they were spot on in giving me this book. Because of what I went through growing up I've had to deal a lot with feeling abandoned, being alone, having a hard time to trust other people and feeling alone even when being around other people.

Reading this book I felt that Nicky Cruz has been through a lot of the same emotions that I have regarding feeling alone. His path was very different from what mine has been like, but the basic problem were the same and it felt good to read this knowing that the author knew in so many ways exactly what it feels like being alone. Being the victim of a bad childhood. Being saved and still feeling alone. In some ways I guess his story made me feel a little less alone in knowing that I'm far from being alone in having all of these emotions.

There were also some good points of how to deal with all of this from his own experience and walk with God. As well as a deep knowledge that love is the key. Love is the most important thing in fighting loneliness. Especially the love of God.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

The strength of this book is Nicky's testimony of how he was saved, what he was saved from, and the fact that he continued to be saved from all of that when he could have easily become a slave again to old ways. Although I've read/heard/seen his testimony dozens of times, God's mighty deliverance in his life struck me afresh as I read the accounts of his life retold here from the angle of personal loneliness and rejection.

There are abundant cultural references which render the book a bit dated in some places, and the explosion of what's happened in the last thirty-odd years since the book was published almost makes some of the problems described here seem like small potatoes compared with the issues facing today's generation; however, the fundamental problem - as well as the Solution - remain the same.

I personally felt, too, that God used this book to highlight some areas in my own life that need to be surrendered - letting go of wrongs people have done and choosing instead to love them more fully. It's amazing how Nicky Cruz continues to toil tirelessly for the Kingdom of Heaven, long past "retirement age." What a blessing he is.

[Ilze · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book follows on from David Wilkerson's work and I found the latter much more interesting than the former.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those books I read as a teenager. I don't remember very much about it now, but at the time it was very encouraging and helped me to deal with my own lonely feelings.

[Davina Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encouraging account of Nicky cruz' (from cross and the switchblade)challenges as a christian and how he learned to trust in God.