"Amazing Grace," the hymn beloved by our late president, Ronald Regan, was penned by John Newton of England, who had been a godless slave trader. Newton wrote that he was "once an infidel and libertine." Flogged as a navy deserter in his youth and later half-starved and ill-treated, he lived as a slave in Africa.

A chance reading of Thomas a Kempis sowed the seed of Newton’s conversion. His faith in God deepened through a terrifying night steering a waterlogged ship in the face of apparent death. Afterward, he wrote: "Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home."

After studying Hebrew and Greek in England and becoming acquainted with other devout Christians of that day, Newton eventually was ordained a minister and served in the church nearly 40 years.

When Newton composed "Amazing Grace" more than three centuries ago, he couldn’t have foreseen that his hymn would be televised worldwide at the memorial service of our beloved Ronald Reagan.