A ship carrying 300 African men, women and children chained and trapped in horrible conditions sailed from the Indies Islands to the ports in England. A man by the name of John was the captain of the slave-carrying ship. John grew up on the great Sea; he was born to a commander of a merchant ship. In his adulthood, he succeeded in overseeing his own ship. Having taken the route many times, John felt as though this time would be no different. One night, a great storm came over the sea and threatened the lives of all inhabitants on the ship. This man, the great captain, cried out to God in fear of his and his crew’s lives. “Oh Lord, have mercy on us.” This was May 10, 1748, the date that John would celebrate as the day of humiliation in which he subjected his will to a higher power. May 10 was the day of his conversion.
Although John proceeded in being a part of the slave trade in Great Britain, he made sure that the slaves under his care were treated humanely. In 1775, John gave up seafaring and began to educate himself in Latin and other subjects. He began to listen to an evangelistic preacher, George Whitefield. Newton became George’s enthusiastic disciple. He also met John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, around the same time.
John became a minister and began to preach in Olney. His church pews began to overflow with people coming to hear his sermons. He soon began preaching in other areas around the country. It was at this time that he met the poet, William Cowper. Cowper helped John with his weekly church meetings and together began to hold weekly prayer meetings. They had a goal to write a new hymn for each of these meetings. They collaborated on many hymns such as “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds” and “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken” but none as famous as the most beloved and sung hymn of all time, Amazing Grace.
God’s love flows down to us in the form of grace. A free gift! John Newton did not receive God’s grace by being proud or boastful. He was in the pit of despair, fearing for his life and when he cried out to God, God raise him up and deliver him. He received the desire and power to do God’s will. John Newton’s life helped to inspire a mighty chain reaction that eventually led to not only a brilliantly written song, but the abolishment of the slave trade in England.
As Christians, we are ships through which God carries out His plan. All that we do should be by faith and from God as we humbly receive His grace. God uses each of us as a beacon of His glorious light. No matter what situation you are in, God can use you to be a witness for Him. Your past does not matter. What you allow him to do through you is what really counts.
Although John proceeded in being a part of the slave trade in Great Britain, he made sure that the slaves under his care were treated humanely. In 1775, John gave up seafaring and began to educate himself in Latin and other subjects. He began to listen to an evangelistic preacher, George Whitefield. Newton became George’s enthusiastic disciple. He also met John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, around the same time.
John became a minister and began to preach in Olney. His church pews began to overflow with people coming to hear his sermons. He soon began preaching in other areas around the country. It was at this time that he met the poet, William Cowper. Cowper helped John with his weekly church meetings and together began to hold weekly prayer meetings. They had a goal to write a new hymn for each of these meetings. They collaborated on many hymns such as “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds” and “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken” but none as famous as the most beloved and sung hymn of all time, Amazing Grace.
God’s love flows down to us in the form of grace. A free gift! John Newton did not receive God’s grace by being proud or boastful. He was in the pit of despair, fearing for his life and when he cried out to God, God raise him up and deliver him. He received the desire and power to do God’s will. John Newton’s life helped to inspire a mighty chain reaction that eventually led to not only a brilliantly written song, but the abolishment of the slave trade in England.
As Christians, we are ships through which God carries out His plan. All that we do should be by faith and from God as we humbly receive His grace. God uses each of us as a beacon of His glorious light. No matter what situation you are in, God can use you to be a witness for Him. Your past does not matter. What you allow him to do through you is what really counts.
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