WARREN – Former mob boss Michael Franzese, once known as “Prince of the Mafia,” will share his story of coming to faith and ditching his life of crime during two programs at Packard Music Hall.

The mobster-turned-evangelist is being brought to Warren by a group of local churches.

Franzese will share his testimony and challenge people seeking to beat the odds in his free talk, “Unexpected Journey to Faith,” which will be held at 7 p.m. March 4 and 5.

Pastor Jody Baker of Wildare United Methodist Church in Champion, spokesman for the program, said Franzese’s life ”has been transformed by Jesus Christ, and he comes to share his powerful testimony with us both nights, a different message each night, as he left the mob and is still alive.”

Franzese, 63, was a captain of the Colombo crime family who was heavily involved in the gasoline tax rackets in the 1980s. He made more than $300 million for the Columbo crime family, Baker said.

Franzese tells audiences how he went from being “one of the biggest money earners the mob had seen since Al Capone” to becoming known as the “Born Again Don.”

After renouncing organized crime, he created a foundation for helping youth and became a motivational speaker.

In his talks, he tells how he engaged bankers, corporate executives, union officials and professional and student athletes in a wide variety of financial scams, then how he went through dozens of grand jury appearances, three major racketeering indictments, five criminal trials, seven years in prison and a Mafia death sentence.

His story of transformation has been featured through both Christian and secular news and talk shows, including the “700 Club,” Billy Graham’s “Decision Today” radio, “Life Today with James Roberson,” “The Jim Rome Show,” and “All Things Considered” and “The Eleventh Hour” for PBS.

All seating is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis each evening. Doors open 6 p.m. both days.