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D.L. Moody - A Life: Innovator, Evangelist, World Changer
He burst on the fusty corridors of Victorian spirituality like a breath of fresh air, regaling one prime minister with his sense of humor and touching the lives of seven presidents. Who was this man? A visionary educator and fundraiser, D. L. Moody was also a renowned evangelist in the nineteenth century. Long before radio and television, he brought the transformative message of the gospel before 100 million people on both sides of the Atlantic. Thousands of underprivileged young people were educated in the schools he established, and before the Civil War, he went to a place no one else the slums of Chicago called, "Little Hell." The mission he started in an abandoned saloon drew children by the hundreds and prompted a visit from President-elect, Abraham Lincoln, in 1860. Drawing on the best, most recent scholarship, D. L. Moody—A Life chronicles the incredible journey of one of the great souls of history.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 15, 2014
24 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Belmonte
29 books16 followersKEVIN BELMONTE holds a B.A. in English from Gordon College, an M.A. in Church History from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a second Master's Degree in American and New England Studies from the University of Southern Maine. He has twice been a Finalist for the John Pollock Award for Christian Biography, and in 2003, his book, William Wilberforce: A Hero for Humanity, won that award. For five years, his biography of William Wilberforce has been taught as part of a course on leadership and character formation at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. On several occasions, he has served as a script consultant for the BBC, and also for the PBS documentary, The Better Hour. For six years, he was the lead script and historical consultant for the critically acclaimed film, Amazing Grace. Kevin resides in a seaside village in Maine with his wife, Kelly, and their seven-year-old son, Sam.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 16, 2021
If this is your first biography of D.L. Moody, it will likely be a moving, sometimes convicting, and certainly faith-building read. There are times when I wish I could give the additional half-star, and this is one of them. The author does a good job of walking the reader through this great evangelist’s life, highlighting his gifts, and the way Moody allowed God to put them to use.
There is no new material in this work, because I suspect there is none to be had. It is only unique in sense of the author’s selection of what aspects of Moody’s life to include, and how to relate them. It is one of the strengths of this work, as well as one of the weaknesses for me. The author frequently introduced a figure who played a significant role in Moody’s life, and then provided a synopsis of their relationship. Thus, the history is not linear, but frequently moves forward and back again in time. That is not a style I care for, and it caused me to get little bogged down in my reading towards the middle of the book. Otherwise it was an engaging and worthy read.
4.5 stars
There is no new material in this work, because I suspect there is none to be had. It is only unique in sense of the author’s selection of what aspects of Moody’s life to include, and how to relate them. It is one of the strengths of this work, as well as one of the weaknesses for me. The author frequently introduced a figure who played a significant role in Moody’s life, and then provided a synopsis of their relationship. Thus, the history is not linear, but frequently moves forward and back again in time. That is not a style I care for, and it caused me to get little bogged down in my reading towards the middle of the book. Otherwise it was an engaging and worthy read.
4.5 stars
January 9, 2020
A wonderfully written biography on an incredible man of God. Learning more about Moody’s life was encouraging, inspiring, and challenging.
August 11, 2019
A Look at the Man's Ministry
I was ashamed to say that I knew little of D.L. Moody, other than the fact that he had founded a seminary and publishing house in Chicago. So my hope was that this book would give me a better idea of who he was. In many ways, it did! I have learned a tremendous amount about his work. Who knew that he was so productive? Itinerate evangelism in the US and UK, educational institutions in Northfield and Chicago, Sunday school classes, collegiate conferences, and so much more! I will say, though, that this reads more like a professional biography than a personal one. Though I did get a glimpse at the man, I was mostly looking at his ministry - and that left me wondering much about Moody himself. Nevertheless, Belmonte has done a great job underlining the legacy of D.L. Moody, and I'm thankful for the chance to have read it.
I was ashamed to say that I knew little of D.L. Moody, other than the fact that he had founded a seminary and publishing house in Chicago. So my hope was that this book would give me a better idea of who he was. In many ways, it did! I have learned a tremendous amount about his work. Who knew that he was so productive? Itinerate evangelism in the US and UK, educational institutions in Northfield and Chicago, Sunday school classes, collegiate conferences, and so much more! I will say, though, that this reads more like a professional biography than a personal one. Though I did get a glimpse at the man, I was mostly looking at his ministry - and that left me wondering much about Moody himself. Nevertheless, Belmonte has done a great job underlining the legacy of D.L. Moody, and I'm thankful for the chance to have read it.
December 28, 2019
Interesting book about Dwight Moody, but not as interesting or informative as I thought it was going to be. It almost felt like the author had written an account of Moody that would be pleasing to his living lineage: there was a good chunk of detail about meetings organised and held, and, about the setting up of the schools – but about him, personality-wise, the pen strokes were broader and in this book I didn’t get an essence of the deep faith he had, nor the personal struggles he went through.
December 11, 2024
{Thank you to @moodypublishers for my gifted copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.}
“Let us expect that God is going to use us. Let us have courage, and go forward, looking to God to do great things.” –D.L. Moody
“How many lives, and how many descendants’ lives, were forever altered for good because of Moody’s vision? That speaks volumes about the ways that faith can be a force for good in the world, not only for one generation but for succeeding generations.”
What a fascinating and inspiring read! After reading this biography of D.L. Moody, I realize how little I actually knew of his background, life, and even ministry.
I enjoyed learning more about D.L. Moody’s childhood and how he became the man he was. This biography is full of other people’s accounts of different events related to Moody and features both letters he wrote and letters written to him. I loved learning about where his ministry started and hearing about how it grew to be what it is today. It’s fun to make other historical connections too and to put into perspective the days that Moody lived through. Did you know that Abraham Lincoln visited Moody’s school in the early days of Moody’s ministry? How neat!
Prior to his fame, Moody began a ministry sharing the gospel to soldiers during the Civil War and discussed the importance of chaplains and the need for more laymen. As a mil spouse, I especially enjoyed learning about this part of his ministry.
It blew my mind making the connection between Moody and Revell. D.L. Moody married Emma Revell–Revell as in REVELL!! I also review books for Revell and so I loved learning about this connection. I had no idea!
There were some dry patches in this book and some areas where I wished we’d have learned more about Moody’s personal life in greater detail, but I overall really, really enjoyed this biography.
Definitely recommend!
“Let us expect that God is going to use us. Let us have courage, and go forward, looking to God to do great things.” –D.L. Moody
“How many lives, and how many descendants’ lives, were forever altered for good because of Moody’s vision? That speaks volumes about the ways that faith can be a force for good in the world, not only for one generation but for succeeding generations.”
What a fascinating and inspiring read! After reading this biography of D.L. Moody, I realize how little I actually knew of his background, life, and even ministry.
I enjoyed learning more about D.L. Moody’s childhood and how he became the man he was. This biography is full of other people’s accounts of different events related to Moody and features both letters he wrote and letters written to him. I loved learning about where his ministry started and hearing about how it grew to be what it is today. It’s fun to make other historical connections too and to put into perspective the days that Moody lived through. Did you know that Abraham Lincoln visited Moody’s school in the early days of Moody’s ministry? How neat!
Prior to his fame, Moody began a ministry sharing the gospel to soldiers during the Civil War and discussed the importance of chaplains and the need for more laymen. As a mil spouse, I especially enjoyed learning about this part of his ministry.
It blew my mind making the connection between Moody and Revell. D.L. Moody married Emma Revell–Revell as in REVELL!! I also review books for Revell and so I loved learning about this connection. I had no idea!
There were some dry patches in this book and some areas where I wished we’d have learned more about Moody’s personal life in greater detail, but I overall really, really enjoyed this biography.
Definitely recommend!
January 19, 2023
This is a solid study of D.L. Moody, a preacher during the late 1800's who was world reknown and accomplished some truly wonderful things. He was very active in the YMCA organization in the 1860's and helped establish the US Christian Commission in the Chicago area. He started multiple schools for men and women to prepare them to enter the ministry. Moody was a world-wide evangelist and famous for leading revivals and leading thousands of listeners to accept Jesus Christ. This book covers his life and especially highlights his influence on everyone he met. It is a relatively easy read overall.
My only concerns with the book is that is almost comes to his life from a prosperity gospel approach. For example, in describing the building of a new building at one of his schools, the book describes how Moody came up with the idea of the building one day, prayed for money and the next day a benefactor comes out of nowhere to finance the whole project. There is not much description of the hard work that went into making his dreams and visions a reality. A bit too mystical and not as realistic as these incidents most likely actually took place. The book doesn't dig deeper into Moody's daily work for meetings, revivals and such. It's kind of like he proposes to do a week long retreat at a spot and boom, everyone just shows up and he steps in to preach. I would have like to know more about how he did the things he did and how the accomplishments were accomplished.
It is due to this concern that it took so long for me to finish the book. I got bored two thirds of the way through and put it down to finish two or three other books. I then came back to it after a few months and finished the book.
My only concerns with the book is that is almost comes to his life from a prosperity gospel approach. For example, in describing the building of a new building at one of his schools, the book describes how Moody came up with the idea of the building one day, prayed for money and the next day a benefactor comes out of nowhere to finance the whole project. There is not much description of the hard work that went into making his dreams and visions a reality. A bit too mystical and not as realistic as these incidents most likely actually took place. The book doesn't dig deeper into Moody's daily work for meetings, revivals and such. It's kind of like he proposes to do a week long retreat at a spot and boom, everyone just shows up and he steps in to preach. I would have like to know more about how he did the things he did and how the accomplishments were accomplished.
It is due to this concern that it took so long for me to finish the book. I got bored two thirds of the way through and put it down to finish two or three other books. I then came back to it after a few months and finished the book.
March 31, 2025
D.L. Moody: A Life offers a compelling portrait of the extraordinary journey of one of church history’s most influential figures. Author Kevin Belmonte brings to life the remarkable story of Dwight L. Moody, a man whose legacy continues to shape the world of evangelical Christianity and beyond.
I was most moved to read about Moody’s early passions for Sunday School and youth ministry. D.L. Moody defied the limitations of his humble, uneducated beginnings to impact so many lives. Lacking formal education, he developed an unwavering commitment to spreading the message of the gospel, especially to young people and the underserved. This biography gives me a burning desire to make a difference in the lives of others.
Vision, Perseverance, and Faith
I was most interested to read how Moody’s life was profoundly shaped by the turbulent events of his time, including the American Civil War and the Great Chicago Fire. He created institutions like the Northfield Schools, which educated generations of young people, and the Moody Bible Institute, which trained countless ministers and missionaries to carry on his vision. I saw the picture of a man of remarkable versatility. Moody was more than just a preacher – he was an entrepreneur and an innovator.
Through his life’s work, Moody leaves a legacy that extends far beyond his time. D.L. Moody: A Life is a testament to the power of vision, perseverance, and faith.
I received a media copy of D. L. Moody: A Life and this is my honest review.
I was most moved to read about Moody’s early passions for Sunday School and youth ministry. D.L. Moody defied the limitations of his humble, uneducated beginnings to impact so many lives. Lacking formal education, he developed an unwavering commitment to spreading the message of the gospel, especially to young people and the underserved. This biography gives me a burning desire to make a difference in the lives of others.
Vision, Perseverance, and Faith
I was most interested to read how Moody’s life was profoundly shaped by the turbulent events of his time, including the American Civil War and the Great Chicago Fire. He created institutions like the Northfield Schools, which educated generations of young people, and the Moody Bible Institute, which trained countless ministers and missionaries to carry on his vision. I saw the picture of a man of remarkable versatility. Moody was more than just a preacher – he was an entrepreneur and an innovator.
Through his life’s work, Moody leaves a legacy that extends far beyond his time. D.L. Moody: A Life is a testament to the power of vision, perseverance, and faith.
I received a media copy of D. L. Moody: A Life and this is my honest review.
February 11, 2019
"Never was the Gospel better expressed, nor did the nineteenth century ever see a more faithful herald of its message, then D.L. Moody. Streams he set in motion are flowing still."
A remarkable life that impacted millions; D.L. Moody saw his share of tragedies and hardships however, these difficulties worked in Moody's life to point him to a greater purpose - that of knowing God and sharing His Gospel. The opportunities, the way he saw God move and work; would make anyone desirous to completely serve God.
D. L. Moody by Kevin Belmonte is a very inspiring book for believers; his book highlights the life and ministry of one of the greatest preachers America has ever seen. From childhood stories of Moody's pranks, his determination to make it in the world, his complete surrender to follow Christ, his struggles with the Chicago fire, to his final days: the details and stories enable to reader to take a better look inside this man who so mightily impacted the world. If I could think of a "con" I would have liked to hear more of his personal struggles, struggles in ministry, struggles against culture. However, all in all this book was a great encouragement of how God can transform a life and mightily use it.
A remarkable life that impacted millions; D.L. Moody saw his share of tragedies and hardships however, these difficulties worked in Moody's life to point him to a greater purpose - that of knowing God and sharing His Gospel. The opportunities, the way he saw God move and work; would make anyone desirous to completely serve God.
D. L. Moody by Kevin Belmonte is a very inspiring book for believers; his book highlights the life and ministry of one of the greatest preachers America has ever seen. From childhood stories of Moody's pranks, his determination to make it in the world, his complete surrender to follow Christ, his struggles with the Chicago fire, to his final days: the details and stories enable to reader to take a better look inside this man who so mightily impacted the world. If I could think of a "con" I would have liked to hear more of his personal struggles, struggles in ministry, struggles against culture. However, all in all this book was a great encouragement of how God can transform a life and mightily use it.
December 30, 2019
I read this book on Moody and a book on the Marshall Field Department Store concurrently, which is quite interesting because they both take place, for the most part, in Chicago and were both around the same era.
The author frequently quotes from Moody’s two sons’ biographies of their father, both William and Paul (The Life of Dwight L. Moody by His Son and The Shorter Life of D. L. Moody, respectively). I found both of these free on the Internet. They are also both in iBooks.
Footnotes start at 85%. The book contains two linked Indices at end, a Subject Index and a Persons Index.
I read this book on iPad for the pictures. Linked Index at end. Great book. I feel like I now know something of the man and his greatness after reading this book.
This book was reviewed in World magazine--P 31 Notable Books, WORLD mag, Aug 9 2014.
Moody’s visit to the Holy Land and his own words to describe it are wonderful.
The author frequently quotes from Moody’s two sons’ biographies of their father, both William and Paul (The Life of Dwight L. Moody by His Son and The Shorter Life of D. L. Moody, respectively). I found both of these free on the Internet. They are also both in iBooks.
Footnotes start at 85%. The book contains two linked Indices at end, a Subject Index and a Persons Index.
I read this book on iPad for the pictures. Linked Index at end. Great book. I feel like I now know something of the man and his greatness after reading this book.
This book was reviewed in World magazine--P 31 Notable Books, WORLD mag, Aug 9 2014.
Moody’s visit to the Holy Land and his own words to describe it are wonderful.
April 16, 2024
Certainly a man worth studying. D.L Moody’s love for God and people was quite profound. His life serves as an example of what true dedication to Jesus looks like. He was not he born into affluence nor given access to academic resources by birth. Rather, quite the opposite. He was a self educated man for the most part and was gifted with confidence and self assuredness. He exemplifies that all we must do is surrender what talents God gives you and I AM will take care of the rest. It is remarkable what D.L Moody was able to accomplish before technological advancement such as radio, television, sound amplification, etc. I loved learning about Moody but I wish I would have selected another biogropher. The author seemed a bit novice in his story telling, which slowed me down about half way through. I might have to pick up some additional works on Moody. I am left a bit unsatisfied. I feel like Moody’s life and works deserve a bit more attention to detail. Giving this one 4 stars.
September 21, 2017
Haddon Robinson wrote a great article years ago about the tension between theologians and evangelists throughout history (which is available here: www.douglasjacoby.com/wp-content/uplo...). The reality is that my bent is more toward the theological side and like many theologians there are legitimate reasons to have issues with D.L. Moody. But he was a godly and great man. There is much to appreciate about him and this author has produced a good biography of him.
(Note: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book. 3 = Very good; 4 = Outstanding {only about 5% of the books I read merit this}; 5 = All time favorites {one of these may come along every 400-500 books})
(Note: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book. 3 = Very good; 4 = Outstanding {only about 5% of the books I read merit this}; 5 = All time favorites {one of these may come along every 400-500 books})
March 29, 2018
I so enjoyed reading about the life of this man. Dwight Moody refreshed me through his simple words, his humble beginnings, and his broad vision for seeing heaven come to earth. His heart for spreading the good news of Jesus and his willingness to act and serve for it put my own journey of faith into perspective. He was always eager to learn from others and to pour out all that he himself was learning from the Father. The writer’s style was not my favorite when it comes to biographies. I didn’t feel like I was a part of Moody’s story. I felt too much like an outsider looking in, or a bird looking down. Despite my preference, the book was full of wonderful tales of this amazing man. Glad to have read and learned.
March 22, 2018
Belmonte writes an excellent biography, he captures well the life of D.L. Moody, but also the lasting significance of the man that impacted the world in just 62 years. There was not attempt to capture his theology or his theory on revival, but his accomplishments were more than enough to fill the pages. In light of Billy Grahams passing I read this book, Moody is a close comparison to Graham yet in the 19th century. Good read for those who enjoy studies in great men.
May 16, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. The narrator of the audiobook did an amazing job and the story of Mr Moody’s life is one of great faith and obedience to Christ. It is encouraging and inspiring - the two traits I look for most in books about great Christians. If you’re interested at all in the life of Mr Moody this book is definitely one you should pick up.
Favorite Quote: “Let us expect that God is going to use us. Let us have courage and go forward, looking for God to do great things.”
Favorite Quote: “Let us expect that God is going to use us. Let us have courage and go forward, looking for God to do great things.”
May 19, 2025
I read this book out of a greater interest to know more about DL Moody's life since I have greatly benefited from the fruit of his ministry as a graduate of Moody Bible Institute. Belmonte did a great job telling the story of Moody's life and ministry. It was encouraging and challenging to read. This book was very thorough and felt at times dry and academic in nature. Nonetheless, it left me amazed and very thankful for such an incredible man of God!
June 12, 2014
Can a biography be focused too much on its subject? This may sound odd, but I think it can. As Christians, we know that our faith comes from God, and we know that He has ordained whatever good works we do in our service for Him. We are also not after the praise of men, nor do we consider it a great compliment to be praised by them. We try to do our good works as unnoticed by people as possible, seeking the praise of God alone.
Knowing all of this, it seems quite strange for this biography of D. L. Moody to begin with telling how Moody was praised by three U. S. Presidents, and that he, "gained an immortality only presidents can bestow: their genuine respect". You'd think that as a Christian Moody would resent the praise of the 'great' people of the world.
Kevin Belmonte made too much of the man. One statement in particular makes it seem as though God was dependent on him. "Consider as well how history would have been different had Moody not resolved to step away from his business career. The Northfield schools , Moody Bible Institute, millions of conversions throughout Britain, Canada, and America - none of these things would ever have happened. Of course, Moody knew nothing of these things. They lay in the future. But we may, with hindsight, see all that hinged on his decision…." The Father is the One who gives people to the Son(John 10:29), and all of the people given to the Son will come to Him(John 6:37). God will not lose any of His people, all of them would have been converted with or without Moody.
I also didn't like the flow of the book very much, it moved backwards and forwards in time too much. It didn't seem like a smooth flow, rather it seemed choppy, but that's just my opinion.
Finally, I was really discouraged by what I learned of Moody himself. The things that stick in my head about him are not of the type that produce admiration. For one thing, I learned that Moody didn't want to discuss disputed passages of scripture. I don't consider that a thing to emulate. He also made the statement, "Men will listen to a story when they won't listen to Scripture" and evidentially put that statement into practice. Stories are not the power of God unto salvation, the Gospel is, and if God's Word is sharper than a two-edged sword, I'm pretty sure its more powerful than storytelling(Heb. 4:12). As Christians who read God's Word, we already know that the Gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing, and we are not told to change the message to make it less foolish to them, or less convicting. Moody was apparently ecumenical as well, and he seemed to believe that Catholicism is a saving religion. Apparently he stated that, "Catholics have the same Savior as the Protestants - One Shepherd, one Christ". But a true Catholic does not believe that Christ is the only savior, they also have saviors/mediators in Mary, the Apostles and other saints. But the Scriptures say, "For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus, " (1 Tim 2:5) Moody ought to have been loving towards Catholics in correcting them, not encouraging them in a false gospel that will not save.
Overall the biography was rather discouraging. Yes, he did a lot of works to help people out practically and materially, but it was his reluctance to delve any deeper into God's Word that is discouraging. I still think that Moody was probably Christian, based on his banking the salvation of his soul on Christ alone, but he didn't seem to grow spiritually as much as he could have, and seemed too unconcerned about false gospels by his not wanting to define salvation much beyond it's being a profession of faith in Christ. I think he was leaving the door open for false professions by not being more specific about what the Bible says of the Gospel. He wasn't fond of creeds, "God does not ask you to believe a creed, but a person, and that person is Jesus Christ.", but we need a creed, or at least a basic set of truths from the Bible beyond mere belief in someone called "Jesus Christ", as it is possible to preach about a false Christ. The Apostle Paul rebukes the Corinthians for listening to a false presentation of Jesus Christ: "For if someone comes along and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or should you receive a different spirit from the one you received or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you are all too willing to listen. "(2Co 11:4 ISV) And He also warns the Galatians, "To be sure, there are certain people who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel about the Messiah. "(Gal 1:7 ISV) And he goes on to state, "But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that person be condemned!
(verse 8) Sounds rather serious, doesn't it? It is possible to preach about Christ and yet be preaching a false Gospel. The Epistles are full of warnings about false teachers masquerading as messengers of the true Gospel, and we are to watch out for them. How will we do that if we do not study in detail what the Bible has to say about the Gospel?
Thanks to Moody Publishers for sending me a free review copy of this book(My review did not have to be favorable).
Knowing all of this, it seems quite strange for this biography of D. L. Moody to begin with telling how Moody was praised by three U. S. Presidents, and that he, "gained an immortality only presidents can bestow: their genuine respect". You'd think that as a Christian Moody would resent the praise of the 'great' people of the world.
Kevin Belmonte made too much of the man. One statement in particular makes it seem as though God was dependent on him. "Consider as well how history would have been different had Moody not resolved to step away from his business career. The Northfield schools , Moody Bible Institute, millions of conversions throughout Britain, Canada, and America - none of these things would ever have happened. Of course, Moody knew nothing of these things. They lay in the future. But we may, with hindsight, see all that hinged on his decision…." The Father is the One who gives people to the Son(John 10:29), and all of the people given to the Son will come to Him(John 6:37). God will not lose any of His people, all of them would have been converted with or without Moody.
I also didn't like the flow of the book very much, it moved backwards and forwards in time too much. It didn't seem like a smooth flow, rather it seemed choppy, but that's just my opinion.
Finally, I was really discouraged by what I learned of Moody himself. The things that stick in my head about him are not of the type that produce admiration. For one thing, I learned that Moody didn't want to discuss disputed passages of scripture. I don't consider that a thing to emulate. He also made the statement, "Men will listen to a story when they won't listen to Scripture" and evidentially put that statement into practice. Stories are not the power of God unto salvation, the Gospel is, and if God's Word is sharper than a two-edged sword, I'm pretty sure its more powerful than storytelling(Heb. 4:12). As Christians who read God's Word, we already know that the Gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing, and we are not told to change the message to make it less foolish to them, or less convicting. Moody was apparently ecumenical as well, and he seemed to believe that Catholicism is a saving religion. Apparently he stated that, "Catholics have the same Savior as the Protestants - One Shepherd, one Christ". But a true Catholic does not believe that Christ is the only savior, they also have saviors/mediators in Mary, the Apostles and other saints. But the Scriptures say, "For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus, " (1 Tim 2:5) Moody ought to have been loving towards Catholics in correcting them, not encouraging them in a false gospel that will not save.
Overall the biography was rather discouraging. Yes, he did a lot of works to help people out practically and materially, but it was his reluctance to delve any deeper into God's Word that is discouraging. I still think that Moody was probably Christian, based on his banking the salvation of his soul on Christ alone, but he didn't seem to grow spiritually as much as he could have, and seemed too unconcerned about false gospels by his not wanting to define salvation much beyond it's being a profession of faith in Christ. I think he was leaving the door open for false professions by not being more specific about what the Bible says of the Gospel. He wasn't fond of creeds, "God does not ask you to believe a creed, but a person, and that person is Jesus Christ.", but we need a creed, or at least a basic set of truths from the Bible beyond mere belief in someone called "Jesus Christ", as it is possible to preach about a false Christ. The Apostle Paul rebukes the Corinthians for listening to a false presentation of Jesus Christ: "For if someone comes along and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or should you receive a different spirit from the one you received or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you are all too willing to listen. "(2Co 11:4 ISV) And He also warns the Galatians, "To be sure, there are certain people who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel about the Messiah. "(Gal 1:7 ISV) And he goes on to state, "But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that person be condemned!
(verse 8) Sounds rather serious, doesn't it? It is possible to preach about Christ and yet be preaching a false Gospel. The Epistles are full of warnings about false teachers masquerading as messengers of the true Gospel, and we are to watch out for them. How will we do that if we do not study in detail what the Bible has to say about the Gospel?
Thanks to Moody Publishers for sending me a free review copy of this book(My review did not have to be favorable).
March 28, 2018
Enjoyed the book, but there are some details of Moody’s campaign in New York which I read in another book that I didn’t read here although this is a remarkably voluminous book. Overall it was worthwhile reading. God bless
June 2, 2025
The book felt like a big list of accomplishments without much insight to the person and character of D.L. Moody. There was a lot of quoting from other books. The flow was disjointed and I struggled to finish reading the book.
June 23, 2017
Great biography on the life of D.L. Moody.
July 31, 2017
Another great bio of a good man and a great man
March 6, 2018
Great book on the life of DL Moody. I learned a great deal about him and his ministry.
April 21, 2019
A solid biography (easy to read, rather than one of those masterpieces that are twice the size...such as Marsden on Edwards or Obermann on Luther), and a fascinating man!
May 11, 2020
Awesome book didn’t like how ecumenical moody was but learned a ton and loved his story.
October 22, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Moody was truely an example how God uses the weak to accomplish great things.
November 9, 2023
I highly recommend this biography. It shows what God can do with a life fully His.
November 10, 2023
Outstanding!
October 3, 2014
Kevin Belmonte, D. L. Moody—A Life: Innovator, Evangelist, Worldchanger (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2014). Hardcover / Kindle
The life of D. L. Moody is a quintessentially American and evangelical one.
Born in 1837 in Northfield, Massachusetts, Moody worked hard, moved west to Chicago, Illinois, and rose from poverty to prosperity in his early 20s. That’s the American part of his story. Had he stuck with business, he would today be remembered as a millionaire alongside Marshall Field, with whom he in fact lived at a boardinghouse on Michigan Ave.
But God had other plans for his life. Moody had converted to Christianity in Boston through the personal ministry of a Sunday school teacher named Edward Kimball. In Chicago, his landlord, Mrs. Peterson—known to boarders as Mother Peterson—encouraged him to get involved in Sunday school work. In the nineteenth century, Sunday school was part spiritual instruction and part social work. Moody didn’t feel qualified to teach, but he would round up young boys and bring them to the Wells Street Mission.
In due time, he and J. B. Stillson went to a slum known as Little Hell and started a Sunday school in an abandoned freight car on North State Street. The ministry grew, lives were changed, and Moody, though a layman, increasingly threw himself into the work of ministry. Moody declined armed service in the Civil War, due to his “Quaker” or pacifist beliefs, but he became a de facto chaplain to Union soldiers in Illinois and elsewhere, caring for the spiritual and physical needs.
By the end of the war, Moody, now married, realized that God wanted him to pursue gospel ministry full time. Giving up the 19th-century equivalent of a six-figure salary, Moody drew upon his abundant reserves of salesmanship and entrepreneurialism to evangelize Chicago for Christ. This led, in due time, to the formation of what is now Moody Bible Church, Moody Bible institute, and scores of other evangelistic and humanitarian missions. After the 1871 Chicago Fire, Moody moved his base of operations to his hometown of Northfield and there, without ever losing interest in Chicago or its ministries, started the Northfield Seminary and Mount Hermon School to provide, respectively, young women and young men without means the opportunity to have a decent education.
During this period, his effectiveness as an evangelist brought him grown renown, and he traveled throughout the United States and the United Kingdom, preaching Christ. His evangelistic work was innovative, interdenominational, and made effective use of music through his close cooperation with Ira Sankey. Their hymnals sold over a million copies in their lifetimes, the entire proceeds from which went to fund evangelistic and charitable enterprises.
Moody’s theology was of the “mere Christianity” variety. He worked across denominational lines and was respected, among evangelicals, by both Methodists (Arminians) and Presbyterians (Calvinists). Unlike some evangelicals of that day, he even had kind things to say about Catholics, many of whom held him in high regard. His sermons were simple, common-sense affairs, focused on the love of God and practical Christianity and illustrated with vignettes drawn from everyday life. He preached to society’s high and low alike, calling for conversion and reminding all to help the poor.
That’s the evangelical part of Moody’s story.
Kevin Belmonte’s new biography of D. L. Moody is a fast-moving character study of America’s most famous late-19th-century evangelist. In a bibliography, Belmonte points to several academic treatments of Moody’s life. His own work, however, is popular in character and inspiring to read. What a wonder Moody was, in his own day, and what an inspiration to our own.
Another publisher—InterVarsity Press—has a multivolume series entitled A History of Evangelicalism. Successive volumes focus on representative figures of evangelicalism across the agesVolume 3 focuses on Charles Spurgeon in the United Kingdom and Moody here in the States. At the start of the 21st century, and after reading Belmonte’s book, I wonder who will be American evangelicalism’s Moody today—the embodiment of its evangelistic zeal, entrepreneurial innovation, and social-reform tendencies?
P.S. If you found my review helpful, please vote “Yes” on my Amazon.com review page.
The life of D. L. Moody is a quintessentially American and evangelical one.
Born in 1837 in Northfield, Massachusetts, Moody worked hard, moved west to Chicago, Illinois, and rose from poverty to prosperity in his early 20s. That’s the American part of his story. Had he stuck with business, he would today be remembered as a millionaire alongside Marshall Field, with whom he in fact lived at a boardinghouse on Michigan Ave.
But God had other plans for his life. Moody had converted to Christianity in Boston through the personal ministry of a Sunday school teacher named Edward Kimball. In Chicago, his landlord, Mrs. Peterson—known to boarders as Mother Peterson—encouraged him to get involved in Sunday school work. In the nineteenth century, Sunday school was part spiritual instruction and part social work. Moody didn’t feel qualified to teach, but he would round up young boys and bring them to the Wells Street Mission.
In due time, he and J. B. Stillson went to a slum known as Little Hell and started a Sunday school in an abandoned freight car on North State Street. The ministry grew, lives were changed, and Moody, though a layman, increasingly threw himself into the work of ministry. Moody declined armed service in the Civil War, due to his “Quaker” or pacifist beliefs, but he became a de facto chaplain to Union soldiers in Illinois and elsewhere, caring for the spiritual and physical needs.
By the end of the war, Moody, now married, realized that God wanted him to pursue gospel ministry full time. Giving up the 19th-century equivalent of a six-figure salary, Moody drew upon his abundant reserves of salesmanship and entrepreneurialism to evangelize Chicago for Christ. This led, in due time, to the formation of what is now Moody Bible Church, Moody Bible institute, and scores of other evangelistic and humanitarian missions. After the 1871 Chicago Fire, Moody moved his base of operations to his hometown of Northfield and there, without ever losing interest in Chicago or its ministries, started the Northfield Seminary and Mount Hermon School to provide, respectively, young women and young men without means the opportunity to have a decent education.
During this period, his effectiveness as an evangelist brought him grown renown, and he traveled throughout the United States and the United Kingdom, preaching Christ. His evangelistic work was innovative, interdenominational, and made effective use of music through his close cooperation with Ira Sankey. Their hymnals sold over a million copies in their lifetimes, the entire proceeds from which went to fund evangelistic and charitable enterprises.
Moody’s theology was of the “mere Christianity” variety. He worked across denominational lines and was respected, among evangelicals, by both Methodists (Arminians) and Presbyterians (Calvinists). Unlike some evangelicals of that day, he even had kind things to say about Catholics, many of whom held him in high regard. His sermons were simple, common-sense affairs, focused on the love of God and practical Christianity and illustrated with vignettes drawn from everyday life. He preached to society’s high and low alike, calling for conversion and reminding all to help the poor.
That’s the evangelical part of Moody’s story.
Kevin Belmonte’s new biography of D. L. Moody is a fast-moving character study of America’s most famous late-19th-century evangelist. In a bibliography, Belmonte points to several academic treatments of Moody’s life. His own work, however, is popular in character and inspiring to read. What a wonder Moody was, in his own day, and what an inspiration to our own.
Another publisher—InterVarsity Press—has a multivolume series entitled A History of Evangelicalism. Successive volumes focus on representative figures of evangelicalism across the agesVolume 3 focuses on Charles Spurgeon in the United Kingdom and Moody here in the States. At the start of the 21st century, and after reading Belmonte’s book, I wonder who will be American evangelicalism’s Moody today—the embodiment of its evangelistic zeal, entrepreneurial innovation, and social-reform tendencies?
P.S. If you found my review helpful, please vote “Yes” on my Amazon.com review page.
May 12, 2016
I had always heard of DL Moody and recently went to the Moody Bible Institute. I however knew little about the world famous evangelist.
The author has clearly done a great deal of historical research on the life of DL Moody. The book is very detailed and gives a fantastic overview of the Northfield man. At times, for a non-historian, I felt that it was even a little too detailed, but it gave me confidence that I was getting an accurate view of who DL Moody really was.
DL Moody was quite a man. His love for God and the simplicity of preaching 'mere Christianity' are two aspects of his life that certainly stuck with me.
Do read this book, it is worth your time.
The author has clearly done a great deal of historical research on the life of DL Moody. The book is very detailed and gives a fantastic overview of the Northfield man. At times, for a non-historian, I felt that it was even a little too detailed, but it gave me confidence that I was getting an accurate view of who DL Moody really was.
DL Moody was quite a man. His love for God and the simplicity of preaching 'mere Christianity' are two aspects of his life that certainly stuck with me.
Do read this book, it is worth your time.
August 11, 2014
I have always been fascinated by the life of D. L. Moody. This was an outstanding look into the life of an innovator, evangelist and world-changer.
It gives a balanced look into the life of a man the crisscrossed the continents to share the gospel.
His life continues to touch lives. Filled with great D.L. Moody quotes.
It gives a balanced look into the life of a man the crisscrossed the continents to share the gospel.
His life continues to touch lives. Filled with great D.L. Moody quotes.
November 25, 2014
A fascinating man - and provided a different perspective on the last half of 19th century America and the influences on that society. He put me in mind of the "Billy Graham" of the 19th century with his ecumenical approach to focusing on a simple message without being tied to denominational creeds or politics.
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