In 1746, the captain of a ship docked off the coast of West Africa.  Know far and wide as corrupt and immoral, he snatched unsuspecting people and sold them as slaves.  One day in 1748 this captain, John Newton, came face to face with his sin and turned his life over to Jesus.  After his conversion, he became an Anglican priest and hymn writer.  His most famous hymn, “Amazing Grace”, so well describes the author: John Newton was a slave trader before coming to Christ, but thereafter lived amazed by God’s grace.

AMAZING GRACE

Amazing grace!  How sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed.

Thru many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

Then when we’d first begun.