A lot of people have found peace, love, and inspiration from the song "Amazing Grace," but do they know how that song came to be written, or more precisely, who wrote the song?
"Amazing Grace" is written by none other than English slave ship captain John Newton who, despite being a Christian, still got heavily involved in the slave trade. Now his inspiring story of redemption and forgiveness will be told on Broadway.
"It's the story of John Newton, who was a horrific slave trader," executive producer Carolyn Rossi Copeland told CBN. "Through his faith (he) became the man who wrote the hymn and started the abolitionist movement in England."
In fact, Newton himself became a slave at one point in his life when he was betrayed by one of his own crew in West Africa. He was sold by Amos Clowe to an African duchess named Prince Peye, and he suffered the same abuse he himself made his own slaves endure.
He was rescued years later, and during his voyage back to England, he converted to Christianity and went from being a slave trader to a "soldier for the cross."
"Learning about John Newton, I was embarrassed I didn't know anything about him and I feel like the world needs to know about him," Copeland admitted.
"Amazing Grace" composer Christopher Smith said the play would be suitable for all ages despite its true-to-life depiction of the slave trade. "Nobody in this industry thought there was an audience for this," he said. "I had to prove myself along the way and step out in faith. The desire to be loved in spite of your faults is not a religious impulse or a secular impulse, it's a human impulse."
"It's an immensely relevant and resonant story for our time right now," he added. "I think it shows about second chances and overcoming anything and be hopeful about second chances and starting with yourself to make a bigger change."
