Doing good and helping the poor

Cover story: Amazing Grace author Eric Metaxas uncovers the "rare and bright gem" that was William Wilberforce | Russ Pulliam

Eric Metaxas is the author of Amazing Grace, a new biography of William Wilberforce (HarperCollins, 2007) that serves as companion to the new Hollywood film of the same title (see p. 10). Wilberforce led the fight to abolish slavery and reinvigorate British Christianity in the late 18th century and early 19th century.

Metaxas uses his lively wit and character to talk with non-Christians in Manhattan, where he is an author and teacher. He has been a writer for VeggieTales and Chuck Colson's Breakpoint radio program. An earlier book, Everything You Always Wanted to Know about God (but were afraid to ask), mixed humor and evangelism.

WORLD: Why should Americans care about William Wilberforce, a dead British fellow who lived in the days of powdered wigs?