In 1748, his return voyage to England aboard the ship Greyhound, Newton had a spiritual conversion. He awoke to find the ship caught in a severe storm off the coast of Donegal, Ireland and about to sink. In response, Newton began praying for God’s mercy, after which the storm began to die down. After four weeks at sea the Greyhound made it to port in Lough Swilly, Ireland. This experience marked the beginning of his conversion to Christianity.[10]

He began to read the Bible and other religious literature. By the time he reached Britain, he had accepted the doctrines of evangelical Christianity. The date was 10 March 1748,[11] an anniversary he marked for the rest of his life. From that point on, he avoided profanity, gambling and drinking. Although he continued to work in the slave trade, he had gained sympathy for the slaves during his time in Africa. He later said that his true conversion did not happen until some time later: “I cannot consider myself to have been a believer in the full sense of the word, until a considerable time afterwards.”[12]

Look on the web for Gunhild Carlin, Jazz trumpet players rendition of Amazing Grace. Let me know what you see – and hear. The author of this was correct – WE ALL are saved by Amazing Grace. I am in the middle of reading Greg Laurie’s, “Alice, Dylan, Lennon and Jesus.” Very interesting. Wife and I just returned from dropping off some donations to Catherine’s Children’s Home in Rosarito, Mexico. God is good.

Blessings,

Brother Chuck

Teri