Who was D. L. Moody?

Answer

Dwight Lyman Moody, also known as D. L. Moody, was a renowned evangelist in the 19th century who transformed evangelism in the United States.

D. L. Moody was born in Northfield, Massachusetts, in 1837 to Edwin and Betsey Holton Moody. Edwin passed away in 1841, leaving Betsey to raise nine children under the age of 13 on her own. This is likely why D. L. Moody never progressed beyond the fifth grade; however, at age 17, Moody began a brief yet successful career selling shoes. While working in the Holton Shoe Store—owned by his uncle—Moody joined a Sunday School class, and, after the teacher visited Moody in the shoe store’s stockroom to share the good news, Moody accepted Christ. About a year later, Moody moved to Chicago where he continued selling shoes. His initial aim was to accumulate a fortune of $100,000, a feasible goal due to his business acumen and outgoing personality, but that changed when Moody began to sense God’s call on his life.

Sociable, energetic, and industrious, Moody became increasingly involved with the local YMCA, even though the YMCA could not compensate him. His time there likely sparked Moody’s interest in social work, as he soon established a Sunday school class in the inner city of Chicago with the aim of reaching less fortunate, uneducated children. This endeavor eventually evolved into a full-fledged church, and Moody continued with both evangelism and social work, attracting children of immigrant families to Sunday school with treats and pony rides. He also initiated evening prayer meetings, English classes for adults, and other ministries. It was at this church where Moody met the woman he would later marry: Emma Revell, a Sunday school teacher. The couple eventually had three children.

Eventually, Moody became the president of the Chicago YMCA. The American Civil War began around this time, and although Moody declined to fight, he dI’d begun a ministry to the soldiers at Camp Douglas, the base for the 72nd Illinois Volunteer Regiment. Throughout the war, Moody traveled to battlefields across the state and the country, ministering to both Union and Confederate soldiers.

The early part of Moody’s evangelistic career was marked by preaching and social work. However, Moody also recognized the importance of educating others so they could assist in spreading the gospel. He enlisted a woman named Emma Dryer, who had a strong background in ministry and education. Together, they established a training program for women for evangelistic outreach and missionary work. Things appeared to be progressing well until the Great Chicago Fire destroyed the YMCA, the church, and Moody’s home in 1871. This challenging period signaled a change in Moody’s evangelistic approaches. While on a trip to New York to raise funds for rebuilding, Moody sensed a strong calling from the Lord to increase his preaching of the Word and reduce his focus on social work.

In 1873, Moody received an invitation to help spread the Word of God throughout the British Isles. He gathered his family and, along with his song leader, Ira Sankey, journeyed to England to embark on a two-year European mission. Upon his return to America, Moody had become a globally recognized revivalist. He promptly launched campaigns in various cities and states, during which he pioneered many evangelism techniques still in use today. These included featuring a gospel singer as a primary attraction for each crusade, renting a large central venue, providing a space for quiet confession and repentance, and conducting neighborhood canvassing before the crusade commenced. Moody conducted numerous campaigns across the United States and Europe, estimated to have reached over 100 million people. Throughout it all, Moody remained humble: “I know perfectly well that, wherever I go and preach, there are many better preachers . . . than I am; all that I can say about it is that the Lord uses me.”

Ultimately, Moodygain put his mind to the need for biblical education. He understood the importance of equipping future generations to carry out the work of spreading the gospel. He first began Northfield Seminary for girls and soon Mount Herman School for Boys. In 1886, he founded the Bible-Work Institute of the Chicago Evangelization Society, which, after his death, was renamed Moody Bible Institute. This school still functions and is part of Moody’s legacy, along with Moody Press, Moody Church in Chicago, and of course the many people he led to the Lord in his lifetime.

Near the end of his life, D. L. Moody still worked tirelessly to bring the gospel to as many people as he could. Even up to a month before his death, Moody was preaching six sermons a day. He passed away on December 22, 1899, while with his family on their farm in Northfield, Massachusetts. His work for the Lord had a lasting impact on evangelism and spiritual training in the United States and around the world, and many today still benefit from his dedication to the Lord.

Moody’s simple, straightforward style of preaching was mocked by some as rustic and uncouth. It’s true that his grammar wasn’t always correct and his illustrations lacked philosophical pizzazz, but there is no doubt as to the Holy Spirit’s power in his meetings. D. L. Moody was a man of prayer whose one text was always the Bible. His practical wisdom born from his study was eminently quotable. Here are a few examples:

• “There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things.”

• “He who kneels the most, stands the best.”

• “The best way to show that a stick is crooked is not to argue about it or to spend time denouncing it, but to lay a straight stick alongside it”

• “The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation.”

• “A holy life will produce the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine.”

• “I l

Look upon this world as a shipwrecked vessel. God has given me a lifeboat and said, ‘Moody, save all you can.’”

• “God makes a promise; Faith believes it; Hope anticipates it; and Patience quietly awaits it.”

• “God doesn’t seek golden vessels, and does not ask for silver ones, but He must have clean ones.”