Each new wave further weakened the damaged ship, and John wondered how much more the hull could endure. He had often pondered how he would die. Perhaps he would die in Africa from some tropical disease, or from wounds sustained in a brawl with another sailor. But now he had no doubt—he would drown in the North Atlantic and disappear without a trace.
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John Newton's life was spiraling out of control. After being forcibly conscripted into the Royal Navy, he clashed with his shipmates and ended up as a servant to a slave trader on the west coast of Africa. Later, while traveling aboard a ship on the verge of wrecking, he finally cried out to God, pleading for help.
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John began to embrace Christianity while captaining a slave ship. Over time, he abandoned that life and transformed into a man with a deep passion for souls, joining the abolitionist movement (1725–1807).
