Luncheon gathering at The Space for Grace and Spiritual Caregivers Conference.

Photo by Oladele Barr

Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come;

’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home. — John Newton

Dear Reader,

When my children were young, one of the songs I enjoyed singing them to sleep with was “Amazing Grace.” I sang it so often I began to worry that one day they might fall asleep in church while singing this beautiful testimony of God’s ever-present grace.

Having spent years at sea prior to his conversion—first in the Royal Navy and then as crewman and captain of slave ships—the hymn’s author, John Newton, understood firsthand the dangers, toils and snares of life. Some he suffered at the mercy of unforgiving seas. Some he brought to bear upon others as an active participant in and beneficiary of the slave trade.

Only later, some time after his conversion, would Newton come to understand that it was grace that had been moving in his life to bring him safely through. Only later, as a participant in the movement to abolish slavery, would he come to understand this same grace would lead him home.

God’s grace is just as near to us and just as sufficient, although we, like Newton, may at first be unaware of its presence. God’s grace is yet moving in our midst, reaching out to us, even though our lives be entangled in the brokenness and injustice of the times in which we live,

The preceding was part of a story I wrote six years ago, before the American Baptist Home Mission Societies 2018 Space for Grace conference. These words ring just as true for me today at the close of this week’s Space for Grace and Spiritual Caregivers Conference which took place April 9 to 11 in King of Prussia, Pa.

I want to thank everyone who registered to attend in person or online and I want to thank those who took the time to visit The Christian Citizen corner of the ABHMS exhibit. It was wonderful meeting readers, writers, and prospective writers.

Listen for the sweet sound of God’s amazing grace. Look for its manifestation in your lives and in the lives of those around you. Make space for its healing presence and growth in our communities, nation, and world. Do so with confidence that grace, which has brought us safe thus far, will yet lead us home.

Gracefully,

Curtis