John Newton wrote the hymn “Amazing Grace” in 1773.  In his earlier years he had been beaten and treated like a slave.  He recovered both mentally and physically, but then almost lost his life in a ship that nearly sank.  He called out to God and was miraculously saved.  This was his conversion experience.  He wrote in his journal: “For it was on that day he discovered, ‘How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed’.”  Every year that followed he observed that date as a day of remembrance, for thanksgiving, fasting and prayer.  He became an Anglican priest, pastor, author, and wrote many other hymns.  His life story is told in a feature film that was released this year called “Newton’s Grace”.