Moody Bible Institute facts for kids
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| 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 |
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| Type | Private Bible college |
| Established | 1886 |
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Religious affiliation
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Evangelical Christian Higher Life movement |
| President | Mark Jobe |
| Provost | Dwight Perry |
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Academic staff
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88 full-time |
| Students | 3,442 (2018) |
| Location |
41°53′50″N 87°37′59″W / 41.8973°N 87.6330°W |
| Campus | Urban, 18 acres (7.3 ha) |
| Colors | Blue and White |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCCAA |
| Mascot | Archers |
Moody Bible Institute (often called MBI) is a special kind of Christian college in Chicago, Illinois. It was started in 1886 by a famous speaker and businessman named Dwight Lyman Moody. MBI helps students learn about the Christian faith and prepare for jobs in churches or other Christian groups. Today, MBI has different programs. You can study at its main campus in Chicago. There's also a seminary (a school for religious studies) in Plymouth, Michigan. Moody Aviation also teaches people how to fly planes in Spokane, Washington.
Contents
Discovering MBI's Past
How MBI Began
In 1883, a woman named Emma Dryer started a weekly meeting. She wanted to help people learn more about their faith. These meetings inspired Dwight Lyman Moody to create a school. He wanted to train young people to share Christian messages.
On January 22, 1886, Moody spoke about his idea. He believed there was a need for "gap-men." These would be people trained to help others in cities. They would work between regular church members and ministers. This led to the founding of the Chicago Evangelization Society. Its goal was to train Christian workers. They would learn to share the message of Jesus Christ. After Moody passed away in 1899, the society was renamed Moody Bible Institute.
MBI in Modern Times
Since 2012, MBI has received money from the government. This means it must follow certain rules, like Title IX. This rule helps make sure everyone is treated fairly, no matter their gender. In 2016, MBI changed a rule. This allowed female students to join a program that was once only for men.
In 2017, MBI announced some big changes. They decided to close their campus in Spokane, Washington. They also reduced other programs. This was because fewer students were enrolling. Many teachers were worried about losing their jobs. They wrote a letter to the school leaders. They wondered why money was being spent on a new building when jobs were being cut. A few months later, the president and other leaders left their jobs. They said there were "widespread concerns" about the school's direction.
In 2019, Mark Jobe became the new president. He had a plan to improve Moody's campus. Part of the plan was to sell some land. The money from the sale would help pay for campus upgrades. It would also help with student scholarships. This plan was approved in 2021 and 2022.
Learning at Moody Bible Institute
MBI's main goal is to train students for full-time work in churches. It also prepares them for other Christian groups. Since 1989, MBI has been officially recognized by important education groups. This means its programs meet high standards.
College Programs
MBI offers different types of college degrees. You can earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in many subjects. These include theology, the Bible, and various ministry fields. There's also a Bachelor of Science degree in Biblical Studies. If you like planes, you can get a Bachelor of Science in Missionary Aviation Technology. For music lovers, there's a five-year Bachelor of Music degree in Sacred Music. MBI also offers shorter programs. These include a two-year Associates of Biblical Studies degree. You can also get one-year certificates in teaching English or Biblical Studies.
Graduate Studies
The Moody Theological Seminary offers advanced degrees. These include a Master of Divinity. You can also get a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies. There is even a Master of Counseling/Psychology. A one-year graduate certificate is also available.
In 2010, another school, Michigan Theological Seminary, joined with Moody. It became Moody Theological Seminary–Michigan. This campus is located in Plymouth, Michigan.
Moody's Media Outreach
Besides teaching, Moody also has two Christian media groups. These are Moody Radio and Moody Publishers.
Moody Publishers
In 1894, Moody Publishers was started. It was first called the Bible Institute Colportage Association (BICA). This group published books that were easy to read. They featured well-known authors. The books were always about Christian topics. They were also made to be affordable. In 1941, BICA changed its name to Moody Press.
Moody Radio
In 1926, Moody Bible Institute started its own radio station. It was the first Christian radio station in America that didn't have commercials. This station was called WMBI-AM. Over time, Moody's radio efforts grew. Now, the Moody Broadcasting Network owns and runs 36 stations. It also shares its programs with over 700 other places.
See also
- List of Moody Bible Institute people
