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A History of the Church in Africa

From Disgrace to Amazing Grace

John Newton’s biography From Disgrace to Amazing Grace makes a
succinct statement about the impact Christ had on a slave trader.

John Newton was the captain of a ship that transported slaves from
Africa to England. By his own admission, he was a wretched sinner.
In 1748, he steered his ship through some troubled waters and faced a
violent storm. He recorded in his journal: “When all seemed lost and the
ship would surely sink, I exclaimed ‘Lord have mercy upon us.’”

He was gloriously saved by the grace of God, and shortly thereafter he
left the shipping industry and became a part of the Great Awakening in
England. Even though he had very little formal education, he studied the
Bible and read many books, and eventually he learned both Greek and
Hebrew. Although he became a disciple of George Whitefield and John
Wesley, he remained in the Anglican Church. After being initially refused a
pastorate, he was given a small church at Olney, but before long the church
could not hold the crowds. Later, he was transferred to a church in London
where he drew large crowds of people who listened to his sermons.

Among those who were influenced by Newton’s ministry was William
Wilberforce who became the leader in the campaign for the abolition
of slavery. In 1787, he wrote a tract in order to persuade people that
slavery should be abolished. Although he was blind, Newton continued
to preach until he died in London, December 21, 1807. He had lived until
the British Parliament passed the Abolition of Slave Trade Act of 1807.
He is often remembered for writing the beloved English hymn “Amazing
Grace.” The words of the first verse state:

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.

Some have wondered whether the tune for Amazing Grace originated
as a tune of a song sung by slaves on Newton’s ship. Be this as it
may, the marvelous truth is that all of us can find amazing grace and
freedom from the captor, Satan, and for that very reason Christ has
come (Luke 4:17–21). The epitaph (an inscription placed on the grave of

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