John Newton: God's Amazing Grace
This is an electronic version of our Glimpses for Kids children's worship bulletin inserts.
These are designed to present Christian biographies for Children's church, educational or worship ministries.  John
Newton (1725-1807)
Eleven-year-old John Newton struggled under
the weight of the coiled rope as he helped get the ship ready for departure.
"Aren't you too little for such a big job?" the deck hand asked
as he began to ready the sails. "No sir, I'm strong for my age,"
John replied as he continued his task. "But don't your mom and dad
mind you being out at sea?" continued the curious deck hand. "No,"
John answered again. "My mother is dead and my father is the captain
of the ship!"
John Newton's mother died just before he turned seven years old. In
her short time with her son, Mrs. Newton eagerly taught him God's word
and prayed that he would become a minister when he grew up. Unfortunately,
in the years that followed, no one would have guessed that John Newton
would ever be a preacher.
After his mother's death John's life took a turn that would lead him
in a very different direction. While his father, the sea captain, spent
months at sea, John was left in the care of his new stepmother. She really
didn't want John around and he was left to go his own way. All that freedom
was too much for John. His behavior grew worse and worse until finally
his father began taking him on voyages to keep him out of trouble. Of
course, the rough sailors did not provide the good influence John needed.
By the time he returned from sea, he was even more drawn to shady characters
and rough living. John seemed to have forgotten all that his mother had
taught him in his early years.
The Capture
"Hey you," called the voice of a strange man John had seen staring
at him earlier that night. John took off running down the darkened alley
as fast as he could. His father had warned him to beware of the gangs
of navy officers who captured young men, forcing them to serve on war
ships. As John ran, several men closed in on him, tackling and then cuffing
him. The men dragged John, kicking and screaming to a ship. He was thrown
into a dark hole where he found himself with a group of other unfortunate
young men. This time at sea made John an even angrier young man.
There is No God
By his early twenties, John Newton had become a rebellious person. Even
the toughest sailors, known for their cursing and drinking, were sickened
by John's bad attitude and foul language. He refused to follow the captain's
orders and constantly made fun of anyone who believed in God. When John
remembered what his mother taught him, he would try to be good, but his
efforts would only last a short time.
One day while at sea, John began reading a book which left him convinced
there was no God. At first John was afraid not to believe in God, but
over time he began to like the freedom of not having to worry about answering
to God someday for his doing wrong.
Find out how a storm changed John Newton's mind
in part 2 of this "Glimpses for Kids" children's worship bulletin
insert.
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