As I write this, best estimates put the worldwide death toll for COVID-19 at a little over 930,000 people worldwide. At this point, one can only guess at the economic damage. Some of us have lost loved ones or property. This has been a devastating year for many of us. Dwight Moody also faced tremendous […]
Our Stories
It is not hard to believe that Dwight Moody inspired those who followed him to share the gospel and to build the body of Christ. The more I read about him, the more I come to understand why this man was particularly compelling. While Moody’s connection to Billy Graham is well known, Dwight Moody also […]
D.L. Moody in the memory of his contemporaries
In compiling the D.L. Moody Digital Archives, it has been inspiring to see that the same project has occurred to others before us, much closer to Moody in history, but similarly interested to understand his life and the great scope of his impact. Our project today builds on earlier efforts to gather records of Moody’s […]
DL Moody and Jesse Overholtzer: Great Child Evangelists for Christ
Pictured above: D.L. Moody (back row, left) with one of his first Chicago Sunday school classes, with Sunday school superintendent, J.V. Farwell (back row, right) The story of how God worked through humble men, a time of pandemic quarantine, and a small booklet of colors to reach generations of children with the Gospel. Moody goes […]
Where we’re headed: The future of the church in the United States, Part 4
My final aspirational prediction is informed by the house impeachment process and the reactions of various members of the evangelical community (e.g. the Christianity Today article entitled “Trump Should be Removed from Office”), as well as the upcoming election. As we express concerns or choose sides in political debates, Christians need to ensure that we […]
Where we’re headed: The future of the church in the United States, Part 3
In this third of four aspirational predictions, I’d like to suggest that the body of Christ will begin to understand that leaving the world better than we found it probably isn’t a goal that any of our plans are truly capable of achieving. If the world is not as it is supposed to be because of […]
Where we’re headed: The future of the church in the United States, Part 2
In my first post, I suggested that the church will move away from divisive to unifying dialogue. I also noted that these predictions are rooted in my experience leaving academia and working with pastors and churches in New England. In this second of four posts, I’ll offer another aspirational prediction: The body of Christ in the […]
Prayer, Obedience, and the Only Power that Really Matters
I recently taught a class with Right On Mission called Cultural Maturity. It proved to be a timely experience given our particular cultural moment as we continue to face challenges regarding COVID-19, wrestle with tensions over history, race, and public policy, and look on at the specific activities happening in cities like Portland. In the […]
The Evangelist, His Chauffeur, and the Side Stop That Changed Everything
On New Year’s Eve 1949, a fiery, young southern evangelist named Billy Graham was invited to the Boston area to speak at Park Street Church as the congregation brought in the New Year. The evening’s event would also serve as the kickoff for a weeklong crusade at the church. At the time, Graham was fresh […]
Where we’re headed: The future of the church in the United States, Part 1
Over the past few years as I’ve been working with Moody Center, based in Dwight L. Moody’s home state of Massachusetts, I’ve had the opportunity to interact with many Christians — including many pastors — in New England. If you are not aware, New England has a rather challenging culture when it comes to its […]