- Moody Bible Institute
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Moody Bible Institute 
Motto Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 Established 1886 Type Private Endowment $39.0 million[1] President Paul Nyquist Provost Junias Venugopal Academic staff 83 Full-time[2] Students 4,000[2] Location Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Campus Urban Colors Blue and White
Athletics NCCAA Division II & Division III Mascot Archers Website www.moodyministries.net Moody Bible Institute (MBI) is a Christian institution of higher education and related ministries that was founded by evangelist and businessman Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Since its founding, MBI's main campus has been located in the Near North Side of Chicago. MBI's primary ministries are education, broadcasting and publishing.
Contents
History
The historic Moody Bible Institute arch, viewed from within the central plaza.
In early 1886, D.L. Moody established the Chicago Evangelization Society, for the "education and training of Christian workers, including teachers, ministers, missionaries and musicians who may completely and effectively proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ."
In 1870, Dwight Moody was introduced to Emma Dryer. Emma was a principal and teacher at Illinois State Normal University. Dryer was also deeply devoted to teaching the youth of Chicago about Christian doctrine and Scripture. In 1871, after the Great Chicago Fire devastated much of the Chicago area, Moody began to simultaneously minister to the needs of those damaged financially and physically by the fire. Moody invited all the youth to his Church, and Dryer was invited to teach Bible Study classes to these masses of people. This fueled Moody's interest in education, which would later lead to the creation of the Institute.
In 1883, Dryer, with the permission of Moody, organized and headed what was known as the "May Institute." These were weekly meetings in which church members would meet and pray. Most importantly however, would be the open discussions facilitated among the church members. Many of the church members began to request that Moody open up a new school. This school would serve as a training school for the youth of the Church, a place where future evangelists could learn the skills necessary to carry on in the Revivalist tradition. On January 22, 1886, Moody addressed church members with the following, "I tell you what, and what I have on my heart I believe we have got to have gap-men, men to stand between the laity and the ministers; men who are trained to do city mission work. Take men that have the gifts and train them for the work of reaching the people." This formal meeting, held at Farwell Hall, resulted in the group founding the Chicago Evangelization Society, which was later renamed the Moody Bible Institute after Moody's death.
Shortly after MBI was established, in 1894, Moody Publishers was founded under the name Bible Institute Colportage Association (BICA). This publishing house made Moody’s vision real by publishing books to reach a larger audience of Christians and non-Christians.
Before 1900, Moody played a significant role in fund raising to support MBI. After he died, however, the Institute began to struggle financially. At the time, James M. Gray, president of the school, invited Henry Parsons Crowell to restructure the Institute to become more financially self-sustainable. Under Henry Parsons Crowell, the school was founded on business principles of productivity and performance. The MBI Executive Committee met on Tuesdays, nearly every week for the next 40 years. An administration building took years to complete, but when the building was dedicated, there was no mortgage, and only $50,000 left to pay.[3]
In 1926, the Institute expanded its reach beyond education and publishing by sponsoring the first non-commercial Christian radio station in America, WMBI. Over time, MBI’s radio outreach grew to the Moody Broadcasting Network (MBN) which now owns and operates 35 commercial-free stations and provides programming via satellite to more than 700 outlets.
Educational programs
Faculty members of Moody Bible Institute just prior to the Fall 2006 Opening Convocation.MBI's goal is to train students specifically for full-time ministry in churches and parachurch organizations. Ministry intent is a necessary prerequisite for admission. [4] MBI is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the Association for Biblical Higher Education, and the National Association of Schools of Music.
Undergraduate
The undergraduate division is divided into eleven departments. The primary degree offered by the undergraduate school is the Bachelor of Arts. The BA is available in more than two dozen fields, including Theology, Bible, and Missions of various emphasis.[5]
In addition to the BA, MBI also offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Biblical Studies, a two-year Associates of Biblical Studies degree (ABS), and a five-year Bachelor of Music degree (BMus) in Sacred Music. Furthermore, non-degree TESOL and Biblical Studies certificates are also available, which require one year to complete.
For those looking to attain a Bible degree online, three of MBI's undergraduate programs are available through distance learning formats such as online, independent study, or regional classroom courses: the Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies (BSBS), the Associate of Biblical Studies (ABS) and the Certificate of Biblical Studies (CBS).
Graduate
The graduate division of Moody Bible Institute offers degrees at the seminary level. The graduate programs do not require that the student have an undergraduate background in Bible. The school offers the following degrees: Master of Arts in several fields, Master of Ministry, and Master of Divinity with several fields of emphasis, and a Master of Counseling/Psychology.[6] The school also offers a graduate certificate that is a one-year program of study at the graduate level.
Moody Theological Seminary-MichiganAll graduate degrees are available through traditional courses on the Chicago campus, or through distance education models by combining online and modular courses.
In addition to the Chicago graduate programs, what is now Moody Theological Seminary–Michigan was founded as Michigan Theological Seminary by the Michigan Theological Society in 1994 in Ann Arbor, Michigan and later moved to Plymouth in 1996. In November 2009, Moody Bible Institute and Michigan Theological Seminary jointly announced that plans for Michigan Theological Seminary to merge with Moody Bible Institute's Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School had been approved by the relevant accrediting body.[7] In January 2010, Michigan Theological Seminary became Moody Theological Seminary–Michigan.
Continuing Education
In addition to the undergraduate and graduate programs that offer courses for academic credit, Moody Bible Institute also offers non-credit continuing education courses for personal enrichment and professional development.
Student life
All students are expected to adhere to a Student Life Guide (SLG) that provides guidelines for living while on and off campus. Students must abstain from tobacco and drinking alcohol while enrolled at the Institute. Students are free to take dance lessons and dance at celebration ceremonies, but there are no school sanctioned dance activities. In addition, Freshmen are under curfew requirements (11 p.m. on week-days, and 1 a.m. on week-ends).[8] [9]
Athletics
Moody fields intercollegiate athletic teams in men's basketball, volleyball and soccer, and for women's basketball and volleyball.[citation needed]
Ancillary ministries
Broadcasting
Main article: Moody RadioMoody Radio is one of the largest Christian radio networks in the country.
Moody Radio got its start seemingly by accident. A violent storm in October 1925 prevented the talent for WGES’ scheduled broadcast from performing on the radio. This opened the door for two cornet-playing MBI students, who happened to be on-site and could fill the time slot.
With the support of businessman Henry Parsons Crowell, less than a year later WMBI was launched with the state of the art, with a high-powered transmitter, tower, studios and staff.[10] Now the oldest Christian radio station in the country. Despite changing technology, audiences and formats, the station has maintained a presence on the air for eight decades.
This station was the beginning of what would come to be known as Moody Radio. By the end of the 1960s, the network’s potential audience had increased to 30 million listeners.
Publishing
Main article: Moody PublishersFounded in 1894 by D.L. Moody under the name Bible Institute Colportage Association (BICA). Moody founded BICA to facilitate the school's mission of affordable Bible education. In 1941, BICA became Moody Press.
See also
List of Moody Bible Institute people
References
- ^ As of June 30, 2009. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2009 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2008 to FY 2009" (PDF). 2009 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments. National Association of College and University Business Officers. http://www.nacubo.org/Documents/research/2009_NCSE_Public_Tables_Endowment_Market_Values.pdf. Retrieved February 18, 2010.
- ^ a b Facts on Moody Education
- ^ Musser, Joe (1997). The Cereal Tycoon. Moody Press. ISBN 0802416160, p.130-132
- ^ http://www.moody.edu/edu_mainpage.aspx?id=1808
- ^ Moody Bible Institute Undergraduate School 2006-2008 Catalog, page 67
- ^ Moody Graduate School Catalog 2005–2007
- ^ "Merger Receives HLC Approval". Moody Bible Institute. http://www.moodyministries.net/crp_NewsDetail.aspx?id=44770. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- ^ http://www.moody.edu/edu_MainPage.aspx?id=1952
- ^ http://www.moody.edu/uploadedFiles/Education/Library/student_life_guide.pdf
- ^ Musser, Joe (1997). The Cereal Tycoon. Moody Press. ISBN 0802416160, p.132
External links
Coordinates: 41°53′50″N 87°37′59″W / 41.897345°N 87.632996°W
Categories:- Evangelical seminaries and theological colleges
- Association for Biblical Higher Education
- Nondenominational Christian schools in the United States
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- Universities and colleges in Chicago, Illinois
- Bible colleges
- Moody Bible Institute
- Educational institutions established in 1886
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