Former gang leader, Nicky Cruz, will speak to youth about crime and drugs at the request of President Mauricio Funes

Contact: Patrick Dow, 719-598-2600

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Aug. 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- Nicky Cruz will be traveling to San Salvador, capitol of El Salvador, on October 1st and 2nd, speaking to 40,000 young people in three soccer stadiums over a 2-day period. His team has secured permission to distribute free copies of his autobiography, Run Baby Run, to the students. They are currently raising donations to cover the costs of printing and shipping. He will also meet with President Funes to discuss, among other things, the country's request for Cruz to serve as an official advisor to the El Salvadoran government on matters of youth and gang violence.

Cruz has already visited the national prisons in El Salvador, also at the government's request, to meet with the leaders of the 18th Street Gang, and MS 13, the two most-feared drug trafficking gangs in the western hemisphere.

Cruz was once the leader of one of the most feared gangs in New York City, the Mau Maus. His story is chronicled in his international bestseller, Run, Baby Run, which has been translated into over three dozen languages with more than 12 million copies in print.

Cruz is also the subject of an upcoming Hollywood movie based on his life. Currently in pre-production, the film is set for international theatrical release in mid-2010.

Cruz travels extensively throughout the year recounting the miraculous change that happened in his life over 50 years ago. Recent outreaches in Eastern Europe (Lativa, Ukraine) drew thousands of attendees.

Cruz is also assisting with a new church plant and evangelistic outreach in Colorado Springs at The Springs Church, pastored by Gary Wilkerson, son of David Wilkerson (pastor of Times Square Church in NYC, and author of The Cross and the Switchblade.) He will be speaking at The Springs Church later this year.

For further information or to make arrangements for an interview, contact Patrick Dow at 719.598.2600. More details can be obtained at the following websites:

http://nickycruz.org   

http://runbabyrunmovie.com

http://thespringschurch.com 

http://twitter.com/nickycruzorg