"John Newton" by John Crotts

"Amazing Grace," one of the most beloved and sung hymns in history, was written by John Newton  But, that was only one part of his life. In this new bitesize biography, John Crotts gives a wonderful overview of this man and the impact he had on history.

John Newton was an ordinary man who through extraordinary circumstances found Christ and became a Christian. Through his time on board a slave ship, Newton learned the evils of slavery and worked with his friend, William Wilberforce, to abolish the practice. Newton's life never seemed easy, as he was tested and tried all along the way. Still, his example is a shining beacon for all who would come to Christ. It was truly "Amazing Grace" that ruled his life.

I love these "Bitesize Biographies" because they are deceiving. While they look small, they are packed with information. This book is no exception, and I recommend this and the others in the series to anyone who wants to learn how to read biographies. There is so much information in this book about John Newton, yet it isn't boring or tedious. I recommend it to all readers. I received my copy from Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for participation in the blog tour.

About the Book:

The people who know John Newton’s name often only know one or two things about him. They recognize that he authored one of the most popular hymns of all time, ‘Amazing Grace’. The other thing they sometimes know is that he was a slaveship captain before he wrote that hymn. Those facts are true, but there is a great deal more to his story!

About the Author:
John Crotts has been the pastor of Faith Bible Church, Sharpsburg, Georgia, since 1995. He graduated from Liberty University and The Master’s Seminary. He serves as a board member of F.I.R.E. (The Fellowship of Independent Reformed Evangelicals). His other works include Mighty Men: The Starter’s Guide to Leading your Family; Craftsmen: Christ-Centered Proverbs for Men; Tying the Knot Tighter and Upsetting the World: Following Paul’s Example of Frontline Evangelism. John and his wife Lynn have four children.

Praise For Bitesize Biographies – John Newton:

“These pages provide a memorable and powerful portrait of the epic life, the epic romance and the epic salvation and ministry of the author of ‘‘Amazing Grace’’, John Newton (preacher, evangelist, abolitionist and poet). Enthralling! And there is more. The author’s expositions of Newton’s greatest hymns will elevate the heart and worship of every reader. A superb introduction to an amazing life for this generation. Highly recommended.”
-R. Kent Hughes, Senior Pastor Emeritus, College Church in Wheaton

“This book is a very useful introduction to John Newton’s life and ministry. It is as fast-paced and exciting as Newton’s Narrative, and captures the essence of the man and his grace-affected heart.”
-Marylynn Rouse, John Newton Project. www.johnnewton.org

“This is a beautiful introduction to the unparalleled life of an often over-looked leader of the Evangelical movement in the eighteenth century. John Crotts has captured the essence of Newton’s radical conversion, extraordinary life, and exemplary pastoral ministry. Just reading the account causes the heart to rejoice in God’s saving power. Readers will find themselves, no doubt, anxious to further explore the legacy of Newton’s letters, hymns and sermons.”
-Todd Murray, Author of Beyond Amazing Grace, Pastor of Family of Ministries Grace Immanuel Bible Church, Jupiter, Florida

Book Information:

• Publisher: EP Books (2013)
• ISBN:  9780852349083
• Page Count: 128