Council lifts ban on controversial US evangelist

-26/07/06

Hackney council have rescind


Council lifts ban on controversial US evangelist

-26/07/06

Hackney council have rescinded a ban placed on American evangelist and former gangster Nicky Cruz, after he apologised for comments he had made about homosexuality.

Hackney Council was going to pull the plug on minister Nicky Cruz’s two concerts at the local Ocean music venue, after Cruz said that homosexuality was a “sexual perversion” and an “evil practise.”

His comments brought fierce opposition from local residents and campaigners. MP for Hackney North & Stoke Newington Diane Abbott also expressed concern about his organisation.

But Cruz has now publicly apologised for the comments in a statement that was published in the Hackney Gazette. ìI have nothing against gay people” he said. “I just want to help…that’s all”

Cruz became well-known amongst evangelicals in the US and UK in the 1970s after his story was published in two books “The Cross and the Switchblade” and “Run Baby Run” which related his experiences as a leader of the violent Mau Maus gang in New York City, who later converted to Christianity.

The main focus of Cruz’s work is TRUCE which is billed on his website as “an aggressive and unorthodox vehicle to reach the inner cities of North America”. His TRUCE team travels to targeted cities months in advance to set up ‘camp’ and work with local churches.

In some places they use a ‘Hit-and-Run’ approach, going into a neighbourhood, setting up our equipment, and beginning to play loud music to attract a crowd. TRUCE team members then fan out through the crowd looking for opportunities to pray with people, and invite them to a main event: a Broadway-type production of Cruz’s life story.

Bringing his TRUCE team to the borough of Hackney was the brainchild of Supt Leroy Logan, of Hackney Police.

He said: “The TRUCE campaign is targeted at addressing the problems of gang and youth crime in the borough predominantly amongst young men of African and African-Caribbean origins, who have a cultural respect for Christian outreach work.”

Following Cruz’s apology for his comments and extensive talks between the Metropolitan Police and Hackney Council, Cruz will now be allowed to perform his ‘Broadway style event’ at the local Ocean venue later this week.

Superintendent Leroy Logan of Hackney Borough Police commented, ìNicky Cruz reassured all concerned that he was here to do a specific piece of work to reduce gang activity and help reduce crime in Hackney by building on the excellent work of TRUCE.î


Council lifts ban on controversial US evangelist

-26/07/06

Hackney council have rescinded a ban placed on American evangelist and former gangster Nicky Cruz, after he apologised for comments he had made about homosexuality.

Hackney Council was going to pull the plug on minister Nicky Cruz’s two concerts at the local Ocean music venue, after Cruz said that homosexuality was a “sexual perversion” and an “evil practise.”

His comments brought fierce opposition from local residents and campaigners. MP for Hackney North & Stoke Newington Diane Abbott also expressed concern about his organisation.

But Cruz has now publicly apologised for the comments in a statement that was published in the Hackney Gazette. ìI have nothing against gay people” he said. “I just want to help…that’s all”

Cruz became well-known amongst evangelicals in the US and UK in the 1970s after his story was published in two books “The Cross and the Switchblade” and “Run Baby Run” which related his experiences as a leader of the violent Mau Maus gang in New York City, who later converted to Christianity.

The main focus of Cruz’s work is TRUCE which is billed on his website as “an aggressive and unorthodox vehicle to reach the inner cities of North America”. His TRUCE team travels to targeted cities months in advance to set up ‘camp’ and work with local churches.

In some places they use a ‘Hit-and-Run’ approach, going into a neighbourhood, setting up our equipment, and beginning to play loud music to attract a crowd. TRUCE team members then fan out through the crowd looking for opportunities to pray with people, and invite them to a main event: a Broadway-type production of Cruz’s life story.

Bringing his TRUCE team to the borough of Hackney was the brainchild of Supt Leroy Logan, of Hackney Police.

He said: “The TRUCE campaign is targeted at addressing the problems of gang and youth crime in the borough predominantly amongst young men of African and African-Caribbean origins, who have a cultural respect for Christian outreach work.”

Following Cruz’s apology for his comments and extensive talks between the Metropolitan Police and Hackney Council, Cruz will now be allowed to perform his ‘Broadway style event’ at the local Ocean venue later this week.

Superintendent Leroy Logan of Hackney Borough Police commented, ìNicky Cruz reassured all concerned that he was here to do a specific piece of work to reduce gang activity and help reduce crime in Hackney by building on the excellent work of TRUCE.î