Dwight L. Moody

Dwight Lyman Moody (1837–1899) was a renowned American evangelist, educator, and pioneer of modern mass evangelism. Born on February 5, 1837, in Northfield, Massachusetts, Moody grew up in humble circumstances. His father died when he was four, leaving his mother to raise nine children in poverty. Despite limited formal education, Moody’s entrepreneurial spirit and determination shaped his early years.

At 17, Moody moved to Boston to work in his uncle’s shoe store, where he encountered the gospel through the witness of his Sunday school teacher, Edward Kimball. Moody’s conversion in 1855 marked the beginning of a lifetime devoted to Christian ministry. In 1856, he relocated to Chicago, where his work as a traveling shoe salesman gave way to a passion for urban ministry. He founded a Sunday school for children in the city’s poorest neighborhoods, which grew into the Illinois Street Church (later Moody Church).

Moody gained national and international prominence during the American Civil War, ministering to soldiers and advocating for spiritual revival. In the 1870s, he partnered with gospel singer Ira D. Sankey, and together, they conducted large-scale revival campaigns in the United States and Great Britain, drawing thousands to hear Moody’s compelling and straightforward preaching of salvation by grace through faith.

A visionary leader, Moody founded several institutions, including the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and the Northfield Schools in Massachusetts, to equip Christians for ministry and provide education rooted in biblical values. His legacy of evangelism, education, and service continues to influence generations.

Moody’s life exemplified his unwavering belief in the power of the gospel to transform individuals and society. Known for his humility, energy, and deep love for God and people, Moody remains a towering figure in the history of Christian revivalism and missions. He passed away on December 22, 1899, in Northfield.