We recently saw the movie Amazing Grace~ the story of William Wilberforce, the slaves' champion for freedom.  During the  viewing of that movie, I became very interested in the history of the slave trade, and William Wilberforce and his encourager (John Newton, author of the famous hymn Amazing Grace).  So, when I received Out of the Depths to review for Kregel Publications, I was thrilled!

Out of the Depths is an autobiography of John Newton, that has been written so that it can be more easily understood by modern-day readers.  I don't want to give away the story here on my blog, but I will say that John Newton, though his mother trained him in the ways of the church, strayed from his foundations and spent many years of his life as a slave trader.  Thankfully, though, he was able to turn his life around (hence the familiar words of the song~ "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me").  John Newton spent his later years pastoring a Church of England in Olney and writing other well-known hymns of the faith.  He worked with William Wilberforce and encouraged him to do everything in his power to abolish slavery. 

If you would like to read an excerpt from Out of the Depths, click here.  I find John Newton to be an amazing man!  His story will certainly encourage anyone who thinks they're "just too bad" for God's forgiveness and grace. 

I'm going to end this post with a video of Chris Tomlin's rendition of Amazing Grace, completes with scenes from the movie.  If you haven't yet seen it, I would encourage you to watch this movie also, in addition to reading Out of the Depths.

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Feb. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Paula (The Baby Journals)

I loved that movie. I bet the book is good too. I even talked my non-believing parents into renting the movie and they loved it too.

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Feb. 23, 2008 - Very Interesting!

Posted by ltjewel

I am going to have to check out this book; it sounds like something I would enjoy. Thanks,

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