Dwight Lyman Moody (1837-1899) was a prominent American evangelist for whom R.A. Torrey worked. Moody also started the Moody Bible Institute, a model for Biola.

Background

Moody converted from Unitarianism to fundamentalist evangelicalism in Boston at the age of 17. He was a shoe salesman in Chicago beginning in 1856 but then gave up the business in 1860 to do missions work. He worked with the YMCA, founded the Moody Church, and did ministry in Chicago's slums.

In 1870 he met Ira D. Sankey, a hymn writer, in 1870 and the two helped popularize the “gospel hymn.” They made extended evangelical tours in Great Britain (1873–75, 1881–84).

Teachings

Moody avoided “higher criticism” of the Bible, the Social Gospel movement, the theory of evolution and denominationalism. He espoused “the old-fashioned gospel,” interpreted the Bible literally and fell in the premillennial camp.

Prominent businessmen helped finance his revivals. He also directed annual Bible conferences at Northfield, Mass., where he founded a seminary for girls in 1879. In 1889 he founded the Chicago Bible Institute (now the Moody Bible Institute)<ref>Encylopedia Britannica, http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9053595</ref>

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