John Newton wrote “Amazing Grace” for a service on New Year’s Day 1773. Little could he have known that this hymn would be sung in churches all over the world, by millions of Christians every year, 250 years later.

Songs rarely endure this long. Can you think of a song that isn’t a hymn, which was written more than 250 years ago and is still regularly sung by the masses (not just elite collegiate choral ensembles) today? I can’t. This is the power of songs written for the church. A great, singable hymn has staying power. And staying power is increasingly rare in the age of disposable streaming ephemera.

Speaking of streaming, one benefit of Spotify-type streaming sites is the easy access they give to countless versions of beloved hymns like “Amazing Grace.” As Bruce Hindmarsh notes in his article below, the U.S. Library of Congress has a collection of more than 3,000 recorded performances of “Amazing Grace” by different musicians. I’d imagine there are thousands more available online. To celebrate the 250th birthday of “Amazing Grace,” I put together a Spotify playlist of 25 of my favorite renditions of the hymn. Listen to the diverse interpretations across time and genre, and let it inspire you to encourage quality songwriting in your own church. The next John Newton might be in your small group. The next 250-year-enduring hymn might be written by your church.