Little did he know that from the very beginning the bigger plan was to change lives around the world, freeing people from the life-controlling clutches of addiction and the destructive behaviors that ensue with the very same message that he started out with: Jesus loves you. He can transform your life. Pastor Dave Wilkerson developed a program to address the challenges of addiction utilizing education, counseling, and the hope of new life through Jesus Christ.
Nicky Cruz - Exchanging a Weapon for a Bible. The first impact of this new program was seen on July 12, , when the leader of the gang, Mau Maus, Nicky Cruz, and another founding member, turned their weapons over to Pastor Wilkerson in exchange for a Bible. Both of these men continue to be friends and ambassadors for Teen Challenge to this day. Their stories have been published in books such as Run, Baby Run, The Cross and the Switchblade and in a major motion picture of the same name.
Since that day Teen Challenge has grown to be a leader in the solution to the drug and alcohol crisis both nationally and internationally. Currently, there are centers worldwide..
He was there because he had a message for me. One day he had been telling me and the gang about how God is powerful. God has no power. Gangs have power. Then I told my gang to go.
We were going to get some power…in pills, in chicks, in some weed. We left and went to a basement. We put some music on and did just that; pills, chicks, weed. He walked right up to me, put his hand out and said he wanted to be my friend. I stood up and hit him. I spit on him, beat him and pushed him up against a wall.
