Seafarer, slave trader, abolitionist, cleric, son, husband, and writer of letters and hymns. These are some of the ways to describe John Newton. Perhaps you have heard a sermon that mentioned him or read a book that revealed information about his life. Working on a slave ship at a young age and later becoming a slave himself influenced Newton’s attitudes and positions on slavery and religion. Years later, after finding faith and trusting God, he wrote one of the most famous hymns ever: “