Auburn Friends

"I aim to speak plain truths to a plain people! May it please the God of all grace, to accompany my feeble endeavors to promote the knowledge of His truth! If my letters are owned to comfort the afflicted, to quicken the careless, to confirm the wavering — I will rejoice." - John Newton
John Newton, well known as the author of the song, Amazing Grace, was radically changed by the Lord Jesus Christ and became an outstanding witness to that grace that never ceased to amaze him. From his letters we come to know a man of great humility and wisdom, and though written some 250 years ago, they continue to comfort and encourage those who take the time to read them.
Of Mrs More, the editor of the Letter, Josiah Bull, writes:
THERE are few, if any, of our readers who are ignorant of the history of this distinguished and most useful woman; who have not become acquainted with the remarkable story of the talents and accomplishments which at an early period of life introduced Miss More into the highest circles of the literary and fashionable world, of her religious enlightenment, and of her energetic and devoted labours, in connexion with her sisters, in the establishment of schools in the darkest neighbourhoods around her and over a wide extent of country, and of the great success, notwithstanding bitter opposition, which followed these efforts, and finally of her tracts and other writings which achieved so extraordinary a popularity: truly a wonderful instance of the blessed fruits of talents sanctified and consecrated to the service of God.

Mr. Newton's acquaintance with Mrs. More commenced in 1787. She had read Cardiphonia. Struck with its truths, and the manner in which they were presented, she sought to know its author, and an interesting correspondence was the result.
[Newton, John. Letters by the Rev. John Newton: Edited by Josiah Bull, Kindle Edition ]

Sundar Singh was born into a Sikh family in Punjab state in northern India. He was educated by his mother in their religion but also attended a Christian school to learn English. After his mother's death when he was just fourteen he was very angry and felt life had no meaning. But he was soon dramatically converted to Christ and resolved, despite intense opposition, to preach the gospel to his own people.
(Recorded 11 June 2017)

This is part 2 of the story of Sadhu Sundar Singh. We begin when he is just 16 years old and has committed himself to living as a sadhu.
Sundar Singh was born into a Sikh family in Punjab state in northern India. He was educated by his mother in their religion but also attended a Christian school to learn English. After his mother's death when he was just fourteen he was very angry and felt life had no meaning. But he was soon dramatically converted to Christ and resolved, despite intense opposition, to preach the gospel to his own people.
(Recorded 23 July 2017)

James Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, was a man passionately driven to seek God's will in all that he did. He is best known for the drastic difference he made in the evangelisation of China.
Born in 1832, Hudson Taylor was raised in Yorkshire, England. His father was a chemist and a Methodist preacher. But as a teenager Hudson began to doubt whether he actually believed in God. Only after much thought and seeking did he turn to God and find true peace.
By the age of 17 Hudson Taylor knew what was to be the direction God had for his life. He was called to China, where he was to spend 51 years.
The mission he founded was ultimately responsible for sending to China over 800 missionaries, and these began 125 schools and saw some 18,000 Christian conversions throughout the country.
(Recorded 26 March 2017)

John Newton (1725 - 1807) was an English Anglican clergyman and abolitionist
After coming to Christ, Newton renounced this trade and became a prominent supporter of abolitionism. Now an evangelical, he was ordained as a Church of England clergyman and served in the parish at Olney in Buckinghamshire for two decades. Newton lived to see the British Empire’s abolition of the African slave trade in 1807, just months before his death.
John Newton is well known for the hymns he penned, including "Amazing Grace" and "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken".