Customer Reviews

Soul Obsession: When God's Primary Pursuit Becomes Your Life's Driving Passion

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Nicky Cruz, once a terrorizing gang leader in New York City, now a world-renown Christian evangelist, opens this compelling compilation of personal true stories with a particularly heartwrenching recollection of the moment he received the news that his mother was dying. At only twenty-two, Nicky felt stunned and confused by the myriad of emotions he experienced when the word came that his mother, who once called Nicky a "child of the devil," was near death in his home country of Puerto Rico.

Cruz recalls his tainted early childhood as the son of a man who was a spiritist and a mother who was a medium. His memories of bizarre séances, inexplicable physical occurrences, and otherworldly happenings all figured into Cruz's reluctance to re-enter his parents' demonically driven home. As a Christian, Cruz felt repulsed by his family's occultist practices, yet his passion for Jesus, his mercy toward the lost, and his visionary heart compelled him to revisit the last place on earth he would willingly choose.

Go he did, and God met Cruz's faithful obedience with an outpouring of support from surrounding churches that encircled Cruz's home and prayed for his mother's deliverance from demonic influences. Cruz credits God for releasing his mother from the grips of satanic power, and miraculously she didn't die but lived another twenty-five years after having committed her life to Christ.

Cruz's own scurrilous past makes him the ideal communicator to those lost in the grip of poverty, drugs, alcohol, sexual addictions, and crime. And communicate he does --- daily, hourly. Cruz's own rescue from a life of violence came at age nineteen, and sadly he recounts how slimly he escaped from the all-too-frequent sting of prejudice and discrimination from within the church itself. Citing the need for believers to embrace a lifestyle characterized by passionate love for all people, Cruz tells how after having received an invitation from the pastor of a local New York church, he was rudely accosted by an elderly horror of a woman who blatantly criticized Cruz and his fellow gang members' appearances and instructed them to leave. Even today, Cruz is incredulous at the woman's arrogance, as he admits how even one week previous to this encounter, his gang would have killed her, no question about it. Thankfully, something within Cruz realized that this woman wasn't representative of all Christians. Yet this experience sobered Cruz, and he continues to speak out in support of those who are not the lovely, the gifted, or the favored.

Throughout this three-part text based upon developing personal passion, mercy and vision, Cruz challenges Christians to get involved in their community and their world by developing a dependence upon God and his power. He speaks with sincerity, humility, and bold intensity as he cites numerous times and places across the globe where God has turned tragedy into triumph. Nicky Cruz's ministry and message will draw a wide range of enthusiastic readers, and even those from the more conservative evangelical camp will applaud his ongoing and ever-increasing zeal for reaching the world with Christ's message of redemption.

--- Reviewed by Michele Howe

"Soul Obsession" is a great blessing to the body of Christ. It is filled with inspiring testimonies about the love and power of God as He works in dark, needy lives.

The author also openly shares about God's love, guidance and provisions to him as he's served the Lord over the past 40+years; he speaks of God's faithfulness in the face of his weaknesses and vulnerabilities. This makes Soul Obsession very encouraging to those serving the Lord in any capacity.

I found the book easy to read and had some good laughs in the process. The stories are very engaging - emotional at certain times and humorous at others but never losing the anointing that makes God so real while reading it.

The title of the book represents its text in a rather indirect way. The text does not lecture the reader on HOW TO make Christ one's soul obsession, rather it paints a picture of lives sold out to God.

This book is a stimulating and an inspired read. I heard of Nicky Cruz some 25 years ago and remembered reading his book "Run Baby Run". I thought I'd try to find that book to buy for someone special to read and I came across this book. I decided to buy this one also. I couldn't have made a better decision.

This book is very carefully put together. This author's writing style is very easy to read but also very thought provoking at the same time. You know exactly what he's trying to say, there's no beating around the bush here. He is very clear, direct and honest.

From the time I received this book in the mail I had a hard time putting it down. I couldn't stop reading about the powerful experiences this man of God has been lead into in his life. He seems to know just what to say to Christians today or maybe it's his willingness to let God speak through him.

If you're feeling a little tired or stale in your walk with God, this book will sure wake you up and get you moving. If you feel comfortable and relaxed, this book will also wake you and get you moving. If you're ready for a challenge, get this book and read it.

Read this book and let yourself be convicted to give over your whole world to God.

Former gangleader Nicky Cruz relates many of his experiences as a Christian in pursuit of winning souls. In so doing, he relates many insights into prayer/faith/evangelism and there is a lot of "hands on" wisdom that will definitely help Christians in their daily walk. If you need a spiritual "reality check" then this book is for you. The author's zeal and passion for evangelism is very evident and is sure to rekindle one's faith and desire for winning souls for the Kingdom. A great read and one I highly recommend.

I loved this book. It is a great witness tool for people who have lived a life like Nicky Cruz and shown how through Jesus Christ you can come out of that life and live victorious. It is also very eye opening on different things he saw and went through including witchcraft in family members and the things that happen, but how God Almighty prevailed and brought him out through it all.

THIS BOOK WILL SHOW YOU NICKY CRUZ HEART AND THAT IS TO WIN SOULS FOR THE KINGDOM.

This book made me want to give God more of the passionate love that Nicky Cruz gives Him. It was continuously interesting and, most of all, inspiring.

Renowned Evangelist Nicky Cruz writes an utterly compelling book on his life and his own Christian experience. Cruz has never been one to mince words, or hide even appalling truths. Some of what he shares is at once profoundly disturbing and yet a true testament to the life-changing transformations of those who are genuinely converted.

There is some information on Cruz' early family life, which I believe was little known previously. Most people familiar with Nicky's ministry know he was the son of a terrifying former warlock for a father, and a satanist for a mother. The combination served to make Nicky's childhood just has horrifying as one might expect, but reading about actual events and details is still very shocking.

Nicky Cruz does not pretend to be anything more or less than the human being that he is. He shares his complex and painful feelings about his mother. Nicky is living proof that while there are no easy answers, there is a loving, caring God who does still transform lives and heal hearts, even those some might assume are past the point of rescue.

I believe that many of Nicky's writings are must-reads for any Christian. The exception would be very young people, who may be unable to understand some of the frightening and painful material within the pages of this book. Many adults will find Nicky's story to be painful, and at times extremely disturbing.

But then, this is why and how Nicky is such an appropriate voice to the lost, an-nihilistic generation of today.

Soul Obsession is well written, eloquent, and is plainly a can't-put-it-down-till-the-last-page read.

Nicky Cruz has been described as the "Billy Graham" for the inner city, a fact that is evident in this book.

I wouldn't say that Nicky is a "writer" but he is passionate about what he writes so one can overlook the sometimes spotty narratives. His heart is blatantly displayed for all to see and in it, I believe, we can truly get a glimpse of God's heart for his people.