From Hardship to Boston's Shoe Store
Dwight Lyman Moody was born on February 5, 1837, in Northfield, Massachusetts, into a life of hardship. With his father passing away when he was just four, his mother, Betsey Moody, struggled to provide for their large family. At the age of 17, Moody moved to Boston to work in his uncle's shoe store, his only condition being that he attend the Mt. Vernon Congregational Church.
Dwight Moody's Shoe Store Conversion
It was in Boston that Moody's life took a transformative turn. On April 21, 1855, Edward Kimball, his Sunday school teacher, visited him at the Holton Shoe Store. Kimball, filled with a nervous energy, simply spoke to Moody about God's love. Moody later recalled, "When I was in Boston… my teacher came around behind the counter… and put his hand on my shoulder, and talked to me about Christ and my soul. I had not felt I had a soul till then." This encounter led Moody to commit his life to Jesus right there in the shoe store.
Life Transformed by Faith
The change in Moody was profound. He described the world as brighter and more beautiful, feeling a newfound love for all creation. This newfound faith propelled him to Chicago in 1856, where he initially intended to pursue business but soon dedicated his life to sharing the message of Jesus. He founded a Mission Sunday School for underprivileged children and the Illinois Street Church, which later became Moody Church.
From Local Ministry to Global Evangelism
Moody's ministry expanded rapidly. During the Civil War, he ministered to Union troops, and after the devastating Chicago Fire of 1871, he shifted his focus entirely to evangelism. He realized the fire had left him with nothing but his Bible and reputation, prompting him to rely solely on God's guidance.
Moody's evangelistic campaigns, both in America and abroad, drew massive audiences, a testament to the power of his message and the Holy Spirit's work. He founded several institutions, including the Moody Bible Institute, solidifying his legacy as a leading figure in Christian education and evangelism. Moody's life was a testament to the transformative power of Jesus, who took a young man from a humble shoe store and turned him into a world-changing evangelist.
