Augustine of Hippo

Augustine of Hippo (345-430) was born in North Africa to a devoutly Christian mother and pagan father. He was given Christian instruction but waited until later in life to be baptized. Augustine's sexual appetite drove him to seek pleasure where he could find it, but also plagued his conscience. His hunger for religious things led him through many of the belief systems of the day. Augustine finally turned to God in 386 when he heard a child say, "Take, read" a copy of Paul's letter to the Romans.