Videos of Remembrance

During Founder’s Week 2011, Moody launched a five-part video series that is now available on www.moody125.org. For today’s post, the producer shares his experience working on the project.

By Paul Butler, freelance producer, Moody Radio

Somewhere near the Jordan River is a pile of stones that were to be a reminder of God's faithfulness to an entire generation of Israelites.  Not a historical marker like we see along the highway or a statue of Joshua in a battle pose—just a pile of rocks taken from the Jordan river bed. Children in later generations were sure to ask, "What are these stones?" And, the parents and grandparents were to tell them of God's strong arm and everlasting promises. There is incredible power in the telling of old stories. A reminder that just as God was faithful in the past, He will be to our generation as well.

I had the privilege of working on the five-part video series for this year's celebration of Moody’s 125th anniversary. These short videos are like that pile of rocks—a reminder of God's hand of blessing on our founder and the ministries of the organization that find their mission in the vision of D. L. Moody.

One of the best parts of this project was the hours spent in the Moody Archives, selecting the photographs for the series. There are so many compelling images that capture a moment in time. One of my favorites shows two men standing next to one of our missionary pilot training planes. I love the logo (notice the Bible as wings). I think the flight program would do well to consider bringing it back. 

Another image I came across is an illustration of Mr. Moody on horseback. It's not the one we're most familiar with. I like this one because you can see adults looking on—not just children. What did adults think of this young man? They called him "Crazy Moody," but he is an amazing a testimony and picture of God's seeking us out and plucking us from sin. Just like the stones near the Jordan, these images don't tell the entire story, but taken together, they remind us of God's mighty work in the generations before us.

 

We're not telling this story to put D. L. Moody or the school he founded on a pedestal, but rather to point to his/our Master. As we look at these stones of remembrance, may we marvel at God's faithfulness, provision and grace.

Service in the City by Photo

This past Saturday, Mar. 5, 2011, Moody Bible Institute coordinated with various local ministries around Chicago to serve its communities. More than 100 volunteers comprised of Moody Theological Seminary (MTS) faculty, students, family, friends, ministry partners and coordinators, participated this year’s Service in the City at nine locations.

Min Soo Choi, first year Masters of Divinity student in the pastoral studies program, gathered photos from the day that we posted below.

Photo by Jantzen Loza

Photo by Jantzen Loza

Photo by Jantzen Loza

Photo by Laju Sani

Photo by Laju Sani

Photo by Laju Sani

Serving the City

On Saturday, Mar. 5, students from Moody and other schools will visit various ministry sites throughout Chicago to reach the city for its annual service retreat, Service In the City. In anticipation of this purposeful day, we asked Connie Koo, last year’s Service in the City student coordinator, to reflect on its impact.

By Connie Koo, Moody Theological Seminary graduate

Last years’ Service In the City (SITC) was a great success with 240 students from Moody Theological Seminary, Moody Bible Institute’s Undergraduate School and Campus Crusade for Christ at colleges across Chicago registered for the annual outreach event, serving 12 communities across the Chicagoland area. The theme of last year’s SITC was “Seek the Shalom of the City” from Jeremiah 29:7.

Under the leadership of Dr. John Fuder, our students visited many neighborhoods on Chicago’s Southside, where gun violence and poverty are part of people’s daily lives. With the partnerships and generosity of World Vision International, Willow Creek Community Church, Harvest Bible Chapel and the Chicago Food Depository (through the City of Chicago), our outreach teams were able to seek the shalom or peace of these communities by giving out care packages and groceries to local families, senior homes, homeless shelters and community churches.

During the visits, we learned valuable lessons on the importance of a holistic gospel, caring for not only the soul but the wellbeing of the whole person. We saw how positively communities respond when they can see our love and desire to care for them in a tangible way, and that gave us opportunities and pathways to talk to them about our Savior and the reason for the hope that we have.

       

Having learned this from last year, we have continued our partnership with World Vision International and the Chicago Food Depository for this year’s SITC. Our theme this year is “Zealous For Good Deeds” (Titus 2:14) as we continue our Moody tradition of doing good in the name of Christ. This Saturday, once again, teams of students will mobilize to reach different parts of the city, meeting needs and consoling hearts.

The zeal of the Lord was evident among our students last weekend as they gathered together and prayed while assembling care packages in preparation for the big day. There is a sweet sense of anticipation among the student body as we prepare for Service in the City 2011.

A Varied History—from Hotel Moody to the NBA

On January 31, 2011 we announced the launch of the official release of The MBI Story: The Vision and Worldwide Impact of Moody Bible Institute. We asked the author if he would highlight some facts he found most interesting in his research.

By Jim Vincent, senior editor, Moody Publishers

Here’s a fun fact: The Bible Institute for Home and Foreign Missions—Moody Bible Institute’s formal name when D. L. Moody was alive—operated a hotel for six months in 1893.

The Bible Institute had begun classes in 1889, and one year later President Benjamin Harrison designated Chicago as the site of the World’s Columbian Exposition. When this elegant world’s fair opened May 1, 1893, Moody the evangelist was ready. He had invited singers, speakers and noted evangelists from the United States and abroad to join him in an international outreach at various sites near the exposition, located just eight miles from the Bible Institute.

But where would he house the various guests that would come and go during the fair? One year earlier the Bible Institute had added two floors to the 153 Building, the first structure on campus. The additional floors would increase the dorm space for male students. It wasn’t fully occupied, however, so Moody and his team made the Institute the headquarters for the crusade.

Three hundred out-of-towners and preachers came, many staying in “Hotel Moody,” along with some students who participated as counselors and helpers. Preachers from Germany, Poland, Russia and France led services for international guests in their native languages. And at the end of a long day and evening, they would return to the Bible Institute for a good night’s sleep.

That is just one of several surprise discoveries I made while doing research for The MBI Story, a book that chronicles 125 years of Institute history as Moody Bible Institute celebrates its anniversary this year.

Here are three others:

R. A. Torrey, president from 1899 (upon Moody’s death) to 1904, later would become dean of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. As the second president of Moody Bible Institute and the first dean of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (now Biola University), Torrey became “the only man to have been head of the two largest Bible institutes in the world,” according to Will Houghton, Moody’s fourth president.

Equally amazing, President Houghton had been a vaudeville comedian before he sensed God’s call into the ministry. He left the theatrical genre to become a song leader, singer and, eventually, a preacher. His own spiritual turnaround caught the attention of audiences. When thenMoody President James Gray heard the gifted pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in downtown Manhattan, he declared, “There is the man to follow me at the Institute.”

A fourth discovery is the modern, much-in demand athletic facility known as the Solheim Center. I was a student and employee in the days of the cramped North Hall and I remember the cracker box court that gave players at most three feet before they would crash into the end wall.

I marvel at the Solheim, with its three side-by-side basketball courts. From 1991–2005 the NBA held its rookie camp here, and in the 1990s three different U.S.A. basketball teams trained at the Solheim before winning gold medals in international competition. Today, NBA teams still practice here before facing the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. What a blessing from God this spacious, modern facility is—one of several surprise developments during Moody’s 125 years.

There’s a New Player in Town

Earlier this week, Moody Radio Vice President Collin Lambert addressed the future of broadcasting at Moody in his blog post. He introduced two new online tools for listeners, and today, we will learn more about the Internet radio player.

By Adam Grandy, manager web marketing, Moody Radio

A popular trend in technology is the ability to stream audio content on desktop and laptop computers. At Moody Radio, we’ve found that technology like this has changed the landscape of radio and you now desire instant accessibility to our programs.

For some of you it’s more convenient to listen live online, while others may want to listen to previously aired broadcasts. As Collin mentioned, in just a few short weeks, Moody Radio will launch an exciting new Internet radio player so you can listen to your favorite Moody Radio programs whenever and wherever you would like.

This new player is easy to use, offers many new features, includes almost all of Moody Radio’s programs, and is fully compatible with Windows and Mac computers.

While our programs have been available via Internet for a while, the new radio player offers a substantially improved user experience. It provides information about programs and music not presently available to you. For example, live streams will display the program name and host.  And for music, the player will display the song’s name, artist and album.

The player also shows a list of recently played programs and songs for each live stream as well as links for more information about guests.

Additionally, in the age of social networking,  we are especially excited about the opportunities this player allows for you to share your favorite programs with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.

Finally, it uses new technology that allows for better cross-platform compatibility, which also equates to a better user experience. Its new interface and ease of use gives you the ability to discover new programs by making it easy to sample other programs on demand.

The player is scheduled to launch in early spring though a specific date has not been set. But, don’t worry, we wouldn’t mention it if it wasn’t coming soon. In the coming weeks, more information will be available on this blog, so stay tuned!

The Future of Moody Radio

Read below to learn how Moody Radio is preparing for its bright future with exciting new initiatives that seek to reach more people in more ways with the Good News it is called to proclaim.

By Collin Lambert, vice president, Moody Radio

In the world of communications we are asking the question, “What is the future of radio?”  I do not believe anyone knows for certain. But what we do know is that 93 percent of Americans still use radio on a weekly basis. That statistic indicates to me that the future of Moody Radio is bright. And we’re not sitting still, waiting to see what happens next.  

Collin Lambert

We have innovation and creativity in our DNA. From the very beginning, when we signed on our first AM station in 1926, Moody Radio has been on the cutting edge of technology. In the 50s, we were quick to add FM and in the 80s led the way to launch one of the first Christian satellite networks in the country. In recent years, we have implemented online streaming, podcasting and HD Radio. And, within the last 18 months, we launched an iPhone app that allows iPhone/iPod Touch users to access Moody Radio programming on the go. Still to come are the launch of an online media player and an Android app, giving even more people access to Moody Radio around the world.

In addition to exciting advancements in technology, we recently finished a comprehensive strategic planning effort. This plan will propel us into the future. And, in fact, some of those proposals are already being enacted, like creating a more diverse staff to more accurately reflect the Body of Christ, increasing Spanish programming and growing financial support. Still to come are execution of other community initiatives, construction of a Global Media Center and development of more creative programming.

Yet, all the technology in the world and all the strategic plans are pointless without a quality message. For 85 years, Moody Radio has been faithful to its calling to proclaim the Word, be a trusted voice and friend, unpack today’s issues from a Biblical perspective, help people take the next step in their walks with Christ, and create dynamic partnerships and relationships with creativity and innovation. That is what we are called to do at Moody Radio. That is why the future looks so bright.  

Finally, I want to encourage you to be an ambassador for Moody Radio. You have the ability to share a life changing resource with people in any walk of life, anywhere in the world.  Direct them to www.moodyradio.org, it’s where you turn…for life!

The Conversation That Sparked an Idea

In our 125th year, Moody Bible Institute will pilot a summer studies program specifically for Christians enrolled in non-evangelical colleges and universities. Read below to learn about the story and vision behind this new initiative.

By Gregg Quiggle, professor of Theology at Moody Bible Institute, Chicago
About 20 years ago, I had the distinct privilege of dining with a member of the United States Congress. I was particularly excited because the congressional representative was Paul Henry, a gifted Christian thinker and the son of one of my heroes, Dr. Carl Henry. Dr. Henry was one of a group of men that included Billy Graham who called for an intellectually robust form of evangelical Christianity. His book, The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism, spurred a generation of young Christians to reengage the culture and think deeply about their faith. That movement shaped my life and education, and it helped stimulate my pursuit of higher education. Unfortunately, Mr. Henry went home to be with Jesus because of a brain tumor in 1993. Dr. Henry joined his son in 2003.

Sometime around 1990, Mr. Henry came to Moody Bible Institute to speak and graciously agreed to have dinner with me. During the course of our dinner, Mr. Henry asked if Moody offered courses during the summer. When I indicated we did, he immediately asked if we offered apologetics. Again, I answered, “yes,” and Mr. Henry exclaimed, “Why don’t you tell anybody?” What we didn’t do at the time was open these classes to non-Moody students. He went on to tell me that he had a daughter attending the University of Michigan, and he had been trying to find an apologetics course for her to take during the summer.

That conversation has stuck with me ever since. I also learned that only about 13 percent of the evangelical students who attend college will attend either a Christian college or Bible college. I have often wondered how many Christian students would really benefit from taking a summer course or two at Moody.

I’m excited to say that this summer Moody will pilot a new program designed precisely for these students--Moody Summer Studies. We have specially designed this program for Christian students in non-evangelical colleges and universities. As a Christian educator, I am really looking forward to this program as the courses will be fun to teach, and I believe they will be a real benefit to these students.

The program will eventually consist of four unique philosophy and apologetics courses that reflect the strengths of Moody but are designed especially for these students. We have also designed the courses with the intention that they will transfer back into the students’ home universities or colleges.

I wish I could thank Congressman Henry for that conversation and his Dad for his thoughtful book. When begin this new program, I will remember them both and the role they played in making it happen.

Perhaps you are such a student or a parent or friend of such a student. Please visit the Moody Summer Studies webpage to learn more about the program. I hope to see there!