I’ve always admired Dwight Moody as a tremendous example of Christ’s teaching to His disciples that “whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave” (Matthew 19:26-27). Here are two instructive instances of Moody living out that principle.
Moody (1837-1899) became the world’s preeminent evangelist of his day, carrying out extensive evangelistic campaigns on both sides of the Atlantic. He also founded three schools, including Moody Bible Institute (Chicago), as well as a popular summer Bible conference in his hometown of Northfield, Massachusetts.
One morning Moody arose somewhat earlier than normal to prepare an address for the summer students’ conference being held in Northfield. Going to the window to see what the weather was like, he spotted a young man carrying a heavy traveling bag. The student was obviously headed toward the depot, two miles away, to catch the early morning train.
Moody started to read his Bible but found himself unable to concentrate. He kept thinking about the young man trudging along with the heavy valise. He found himself wondering if the student had given the quarter it would have cost him to ride to the train station in the previous day’s offering—an offering collected at Moody’s request.
Finally, Moody could stand it no longer. He went to the barn and hurriedly hitched up his horse and buggy. Overtaking the young man, he transported him and his baggage the remainder of the way to the station. His mission of mercy completed, he returned home and had no further difficulty concentrating on his studies.
Moody, in fact, often provided students with transportation in his buggy to or from the depot. One rainy day a man arrived at the station with two women and looked around for someone to drive them to Northfield’s hotel. The visiting gentleman accosted a heavyset hack driver who replied that he was waiting to transport some seminary girls to their school.
“These girls are not the only people to be served,” the visitor huffed, then commanded, “Now you just take us right up to the hotel.”
The driver meekly complied, delivered them to their destination, then was quickly off before he could even be paid. Turning to a bellboy, the gentleman asked, “Who was that driver?”
“Mr. D. L.,” responded the boy.
“D. L. who?”
“D. L. Moody.”
The visitor gulped. He had come to Northfield to ask the renowned evangelist to admit a girl of his acquaintance to the already crowded school that Moody had there. The next day he apologized profusely to the evangelist. Moody was greatly bemused by the incident, and the girl was admitted.
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You’ll find these and over 200 other beneficial true incidents, illustrating a variety of Christian themes, in my book Timeless Stories: God’s Incredible Work in the Lives of Inspiring Christians (Christian Focus Publications). In addition to Moody, other individuals featured in the work include Corrie ten Boom, William and Catherine Booth, Amy Carmichael, Billy Graham, George Muller, Charles Spurgeon, Hudson Taylor, John Wesley, and George Whitefield.
Copyright 2025 by Vance E. Christie
