Surprising influence

In 1981, I graduated from the Moody Bible Institute, a Christian college in Chicago. While at the school, I was privileged to be part of the Moody Chorale. I will never forget my first rehearsal. An upperclassman blew a note on a pitch pipe, and we were expected to find our opening note in a challenging classical song from that single pitch. I remember thinking, “How did I get into this group? I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do that.” Thankfully, over time, I learned to find my part from a single note, and the experience taught me that we can often do more than we imagine.

The institute was a great place to learn this lesson since it was founded by Dwight L. Moody, who had little formal education. He was nearly illiterate when he became a Christian and began a Sunday School ministry to poor children in Chicago. One early observer recalled watching the future evangelist attempting to read the story of the Prodigal Son early in his ministry, and that it was difficult for him to read many of the words.

Despite his lack of schooling, Moody was eager to share his faith with Chicago’s underprivileged children, and within a year, 650 students were attending his classes each week. His efforts were so successful that the newly elected president, Abraham Lincoln, spoke at his Sunday School on Nov. 25, 1860.

Moody illustrates a principle laid out by the Apostle Paul when he wrote: “Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27, NLT, bold is my emphasis)

Amazingly, despite Moody’s lack of education, his influence is still felt around the world 127 years after his death in 1899. According to an article in the Spring 2026 issue of Moody Alumni and Friends magazine, the evangelist oversaw the Student Volunteer Movement, which sent the first U.S. missionary to Korea. Today, about one-third of South Korea’s population identifies as Christian.

In 2025, the Moody Chorale performed in the Gyeongnam International Choir Festival. The large choral event featured 12 Korean choirs and four from other countries; the Chorale was the only U.S. choir invited.

No one who met Moody in 1860 could have guessed not only that he would become a powerful evangelist, but also that his impact would be felt in Korea 165 years later. His life’s surprising impact demonstrates how God will sometimes use the most unlikely person to accomplish things that can only be explained by acknowledging that they ultimately come from One who is far more powerful than any person.