A compelling historical docudrama (64 minutes) — presented by Haven Ministries, a 90+ year-old ministry dedicated to sharing the gospel worldwide — is scheduled to release globally on streaming platforms on November 1.

Few hymns have touched as many lives as “Amazing Grace.” Written over 250 years ago by John Newton, a former slave trader turned pastor, the hymn has become the most well-known and most-sung song around the globe.

Newton’s life was anything but ordinary. Raised in England, he lost his mother at a young age and spent much of his childhood alone with his father at sea. As a teenager, he felt adrift and unloved, and at 18, he was forcibly recruited into the Royal Navy. Captured, imprisoned, and flogged after attempting to desert, he eventually found himself working on a slave ship.

Newton’s spiritual transformation began in 1748 during a violent storm off the coast of Ireland while aboard the ship Greyhound. Fearing for his life, he prayed for mercy, marking the start of a journey that would ultimately lead him to fully renounce the slave trade in 1798, dedicate his life to Christ, and become a pastor and prolific hymn writer. Among his 348 hymns, “Amazing Grace” endures as a testament to the power of redemption and God’s transforming grace.

To recognize this year’s 300th birthday of John Newton, Haven Ministries produced Amazing Grace: The Untold Story, a new docudrama featuring acclaimed actor John Rhys-Davies. Filmed on location at Newton’s church in Olney, England, this vivid retelling explores Newton’s life, ministry, and enduring legacy. Dr. Bruce Hindmarsh, the world’s leading Oxford scholar on John Newton, brings decades of research and insight into Newton’s influence during the Great Awakening and beyond.

To bring this powerful story to life, Haven joined forces with Kappa Studios — the post-production house behind The Chosen, Reagan, and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.