Amazing Grace in 50 Languages - a New Record on Guinness this Christmas

Minister Julius Fabregas of Every Nation Ministry in the Philippines is very happy to announce that their efforts in singing the gospel song Amazing Grace in 50 languages last July, 2010 paid off at Guinness World Records.

Last December 15, the announcement was made known to people via news on tri-media.

Fabregas explained that the inclusion of their gospel entry on Guinness is very timely because the Christmas season is here already.

Thanking the Savior about the blessings people are receiving around the world is being interpreted by the song.

I know the song by heart and from the story of my father, it was written as one of the Thanksgiving song.

I did some research about the song and found out that it actually came from the passages from the Holy Bible.

This Christian hymn was written by an English poet and clergyman John Newton (1725-1807) and published in 1779.

Newton's former occupation as sailor in the Royal Navy of England enabled him to witness the atrocities of his time, especially slavery. Repenting on what he did, he had written about it through the song that was used for New Year's celebration in 1773, being ordained as curate of Olney, Buckinghamshire by the Church of England.

He don't have any concrete religious afiliation. Although his father wanted to be associated with the Protestants, his mother's Catholic devotion to her faith made the difference on his family.

Because of his stint in the church, he began writing music with the help of poet William Cowper.

The popularity of the hymn spread in the UK and have been adoptive by Christians of different denominations.

Although the lyrics have been changed, as in wretched to strengthen...the meaning of redemption and salvation is there. the name God for the Supreme Being is not mentioned, but Grace is the most appropriate word for Him.

The legacy that Mr. Newton left is the inspiration of the Christian world. By just hearing the song, it penetrates our hearts and the longing for redemption is manifested by our sincere repentance.

In the early 90s, the most popular singer in the USA was Whitney Houston.I've seen how she brought Amazing Grace to its new heights in pop music by reaching Top 5 at the Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Chart (the B side of Star-Spangled Banner - US National Anthem).

Before Whitney, Mahalia Jackson, famed gospel singer sang her version in 1947 which received a massive radio airplay that paved the way to become the US most popular hymn these days. It is a very flexible song that even civil rights marchers in the 60s used it as their marching hymn; likewise during their protest on Vietnam War.

It even graced the Woodstock Music Festival, through Arlo Guthrie. Joan Baez, a rock singer herself, didn't even know where this song came from, but she philosophically concluded that it has "developed a life of its own".

Folk singer Judy Collins recorded it in the late 60s and peaked at #15 at the US Billboard chart for 15 weeks. But when it came back to UK again with the bagpipe and drums band version, Ms. Collin's voice resonated and topped the UK charts.

America's known soul singer Aretha Franklin also popularized the song. Wait 'til you can hear the version of the King of Rock 'N Roll Elvis Presley or other country artists, like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson or even Sam Cooke & The Soul Stirrers, The Byrds, Skeeter Davis, Amazing Rhythm Aces, and The Lemonheads.

It was totally incorporated in the American culture when it was literally played 24 hours or so during the major disasters, like Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, Oklahoma City bombing and the September 11 attacks.

It became the USA's "spiritual national anthem".

Another popular country singer, LeeAnn Rimes, included it in her album.

Recently, it became the title of a movie that I hope I can watch one of these days. It featured the true story of slavery and the man behind its successful abolition in the UK.

One of the 2010 Most Talented Kids in the USA c/o Maury Povich show, Rhema Marvanne sang this beautifully that landed her a solo album at a very young age of seven!

Many pages of Amazing Grace accounts are on Facebook. You'll just have to choose which to 'LIKE'. And the videos on YouTube, too! You can read some blogs about it for a wider understanding.