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1885 AD – The Chicago–London Revival Ignites Global Evangelism: Ordinary Believers Multiply the Mission
1885 AD – The Chicago–London Revival Ignites Global Evangelism: Ordinary Believers Multiply the Mission
Published 8/29/2025
1885 AD – The Chicago–London Revival Ignites Global Evangelism: Ordinary Believers Multiply the Mission
In 1885, Moody’s simple preaching and Sankey’s hymns shook Chicago and London. Can revival still spread through ordinary believers today?
In 1885, Dwight L. Moody’s evangelistic campaigns in Chicago and London drew thousands through simple sermons and Ira Sankey’s hymns. More than events, they sparked lasting revival, launching Bible institutes, missions, and lay training. Moody’s interdenominational approach showed how ordinary believers could multiply the gospel worldwide.
Dwight L. Moody’s 1885 revival meetings in Chicago and London were not just spectacles of mass attendance—they reshaped the future of evangelical outreach. Through plain preaching and heartfelt hymns, he reached across class and denominational lines. More importantly, his Northfield Conferences and Bible training empowered everyday Christians to share their faith with clarity and courage. The ripple effect touched missions, education, and global evangelism, influencing figures like Billy Sunday and Billy Graham. This episode challenges us to rethink revival: not as a headline event, but as countless individuals living out bold faith in ordinary places. If revival in 1885 spread through shoe salesmen, musicians, and lay workers, what might God do through you today?
Dwight L. Moody, Ira Sankey, 1885 revival, Chicago revival, London revival, Northfield Conferences, global evangelism, urban revival, mass meetings, YMCA, Protestant churches, evangelistic campaigns, lay evangelists, hymns and preaching, interdenominational revival, Moody Bible Institute, missions movement, 19th-century revivalism, Billy Graham influence, revivalist fervor
#ChurchHistory #Moody #Revival #Evangelism #GlobalMission
If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to share it with a friend who needs to be reminded that God uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes? And if you enjoy COACH, leaving a quick review on your podcast app helps others discover these stories. Be sure to follow for weekly episodes as we keep uncovering how God has worked through history to inspire faith today.
TIMESTAMPS / Chapter Markers
Cold Hook 00:00
Show Intro 01:15
Narrative Foundation 02:30
Narrative Development 04:14
Climax & Immediate Impact 05:59
Legacy & Modern Relevance 07:44
Reflection & Call to Action 09:09
In 1885, Dwight L. Moody’s revival campaigns swept across Chicago and London, igniting a movement that reshaped modern evangelical outreach. Moody was not a scholar or trained orator; he was a former shoe salesman who spoke in plain, direct words about sin, grace, and salvation. Crowds filled massive halls lit by gas lamps, eager to hear his gravelly voice and sing along with the powerful hymns led by Ira Sankey. Newspapers marveled at the scenes—lines stretching for blocks, choirs shaking theaters with songs of hope, and lives being transformed.
But Moody’s impact was never just about events. His Northfield Conferences in Massachusetts gathered pastors, missionaries, and laypeople for days of preaching, prayer, and training. Participants left renewed, equipped to carry the gospel back into their neighborhoods and far beyond. Out of this vision grew the Chicago Evangelization Society, later Moody Bible Institute, dedicated to multiplying evangelists and missionaries. His interdenominational approach cut across barriers, drawing Anglicans, Baptists, Methodists, and others into shared mission without erasing their convictions.
The revival also bore social fruit. YMCA records describe young people committing themselves to foreign missions and service among the urban poor. Evangelism, education, and reform became intertwined. Moody’s methods influenced Billy Sunday, Billy Graham, and countless others, shaping a recognizable pattern of modern mass evangelism—simple preaching, heartfelt music, and clear invitations. Sankey’s hymn collections spread worldwide, embedding the sound of revival into churches and homes.
Critics at the time dismissed Moody’s approach as emotionalism, worried that mass meetings produced shallow converts. Yet the lasting evidence lies in churches strengthened, missionaries sent, and institutions founded. Moody himself deflected credit, insisting, “It is not my sermons, but God’s Spirit working through His Word.” His humility underscored the conviction that revival is God’s work, not man’s show.
For today’s believers, Moody’s story raises pressing questions. Do we confuse large gatherings with genuine transformation? Are we equipping others to carry on the mission, or relying on a few leaders? The 1885 revival demonstrates that the gospel spreads most powerfully when ordinary Christians—teachers, workers, mothers, musicians—are trained and sent. Revival is not measured in crowds but in changed hearts that multiply the mission.
This episode of COACH revisits the spark that lit global evangelism in the late nineteenth century. It challenges us to embrace simplicity in our witness, courage in our speech, and humility in our service. If God could use a shoe salesman and a hymn writer to shake two of the world’s greatest cities, He can use us in our generation too.
Transcript
The streets of Chicago pulsed with noise. Streetcars clattered, factories roared, and thousands crowded into a massive hall lit by flickering gas lamps. They weren’t there for politics or theater. They came to hear a plainspoken man with a gravelly voice—Dwight L. Moody .
Across the Atlantic, the same scenes unfolded in London . Lines of people stretched for blocks. Newspapers reported choirs thundering hymns under the direction of Ira Sankey . Hearts softened, lives changed, churches stirred awake.
It was 1885, and a revival was sweeping both sides of the ocean. No fireworks, no theatrics—just clear preaching, heartfelt singing, and an invitation to follow Christ. Crowds of ordinary people responded.
But the real question wasn’t how many filled the seats. It was how many would leave those halls transformed—and carry the fire of evangelism into a weary world.
From the That’s Jesus Channel, welcome to COACH—where we trace Church Origins and Church History.
I’m Bob Baulch.
On Fridays, we stay between 1501 and the present.
Today we turn to the year 1885, when revival fires in Chicago and London would ripple outward across the globe.
Dwight L. Moody was not a trained scholar or polished orator. He was a shoe salesman turned evangelist who believed that ordinary people needed the gospel explained in ordinary words. In 1885 his campaigns shook two of the world’s greatest cities. With simple sermons and Ira Sankey’s powerful hymns, Moody drew thousands to hear the message of Christ.
But Moody didn’t stop at events. Through his Northfield Conferences and training of lay workers, he set in motion a movement that reached beyond auditoriums into neighborhoods, missions, and churches worldwide.
It was more than a season of meetings. It was the spark of modern evangelical outreach.
By the 1880s, Dwight L. Moody was already a household name in Protestant circles. Born in rural Massachusetts, he had little formal education. He worked as a shoe salesman before conversion changed his life. From there, he poured his energy into teaching Sunday school, working with the YMCA, and eventually preaching across America and Europe.
The Christian Advocate reported: Moody’s 1885 meetings in Chicago drew thousands with plain preaching and Sankey’s hymns [Advocate, 1885]. In Chicago, the city where Moody had built his ministry, revival meetings were drawing record crowds. Workers, businessmen, mothers, and children packed into halls. The preaching was direct—sin, grace, and the need for personal faith in Christ. At Moody’s side stood Ira Sankey, whose hymns carried the message to hearts in a way words alone could not.
That same year, across the Atlantic, Moody returned to London , where he had preached earlier with remarkable results. Converts weren’t simply counted; many joined churches, volunteered for missions, and began spreading the faith themselves.
Moody’s method was simple: preach plainly, sing powerfully, invite earnestly. In an age of complex theology and sharp denominational divides, his straightforward approach seemed like fresh air. And in 1885, it captured attention on both sides of the ocean.
The energy of 1885 was not just in the crowds but in what came after. Moody was convinced that revival had to extend beyond single events. QUOTE: “The gospel is free to all who will take it”. That conviction gave birth to the Northfield Conferences in his hometown of Northfield. There, pastors, missionaries, and ordinary lay workers gathered for days of preaching, prayer, and training. Local newspapers described the meetings as “schools of fire,” equipping believers to go back into their communities with renewed zeal.
In Chicago , Moody’s Institute—later Moody Bible Institute—was founded on the same principle: evangelism must be multiplied. Instead of relying on one preacher, he envisioned an army of men and women carrying the gospel to cities, towns, and villages.
Meanwhile in London , the revival crossed denominational lines. Anglicans, Baptists, Methodists, and others found themselves worshiping side by side. Moody’s simple preaching stripped away theological jargon. Sankey led songs like “The Ninety and Nine” that drove home the urgency of Christ’s call.
Reports in The Christian Advocate and YMCA records tell of young people dedicating themselves to foreign missions and social reform. Revival was not just saving souls—it was reshaping society. Urban poverty, education, and evangelism began to overlap in ways that marked a new chapter for Protestant churches.
By mid–1885, the revival movement had reached a crescendo. In Chicago , newspapers marveled that thousands were still flocking to Moody’s meetings, even after weeks of preaching. Testimonies poured in—factory workers, businessmen, and mothers alike speaking of lives changed. In London , theaters and music halls overflowed, converted into makeshift sanctuaries. QUOTE: “Moody’s meetings stir souls across denominations” [The Christian Advocate, 1885]. The sound of Sankey’s hymns carried into the streets as crowds sang along outside, unable to fit indoors.
But the impact went far beyond attendance. Moody’s emphasis on personal conversion and lay training multiplied the message. His Northfield Conferences were already producing new evangelists. Some went overseas as missionaries. Others returned home to plant churches or launch ministries in neglected neighborhoods.
Critics called it “emotional religion.” Supporters called it revival. The real measure was in the fruit: renewed churches, inspired missions, and a fresh sense of urgency for the gospel.
And yet, Moody himself often downplayed the spectacle. QUOTE: “It is not my sermons, but God’s Spirit working through His Word”. His humility only fueled the movement further.
1885 was more than a series of meetings. It was a turning point that showed how simple preaching, heartfelt music, and persistent faith could ignite a flame felt around the world.
The legacy of 1885 stretches well beyond Chicago and London . Moody’s style—simple sermons, clear invitations, and music that touched the heart—became the model for evangelistic campaigns around the world. Billy Sunday, Billy Graham, and countless others would walk the path he first cleared.
Moody’s Northfield Conferences inspired a new wave of lay workers, women as well as men, who saw themselves as active participants in spreading the gospel. His interdenominational approach showed that believers could join hands across denominational lines without surrendering essential convictions.
And the YMCA, which had partnered with Moody, carried those revival methods into cities across America and abroad, blending evangelism with social action. Missions societies and Bible institutes still trace their roots to those days.
The lesson is clear: revival spreads not just through famous names but through ordinary people trained and sent. That remains as true today as it was in 1885.
Moody’s story challenges us to ask hard questions about revival. Do we mistake crowded gatherings for changed lives? Do we celebrate events without asking if hearts are truly transformed?
Revival is not about numbers—it is about faithfulness. Moody preached plainly. Sankey sang earnestly. QUOTE: “Music softens hearts for the gospel”. But the real work was God stirring individuals to surrender to Christ. And those individuals then carried the message to others.
For us today, the question is simple: are we willing to open our mouths and share Christ with the same clarity? Are we training others to step forward when we cannot? Revival doesn’t begin in a stadium—it begins in the courage of one believer to pray, to speak, to serve.
The world does not need a copy of Moody. It needs Christians who will do in their generation what he did in his.
If this story of Dwight L. Moody’s revival challenged or encouraged you, would you consider sharing this episode with a friend? You never know who might need to hear it.
And while you’re at it, leaving a review on your podcast app really helps others discover COACH.
Be sure to follow for weekly episodes. References and even contrary opinions are always linked in the show notes.
We’ve also placed Amazon links to helpful resources—at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
You can also find COACH episodes on YouTube at the That’s Jesus Channel.
Next time, we’ll dive into another moment where God used unexpected people to shape church history.
Honestly, more people may have heard Sankey’s hymns than have heard this podcast—but I’m still singing along.
Thanks for listening to COACH – Church Origins and Church History. I’m Bob Baulch with the That’s Jesus Channel.
Have a great day—and be blessed.
References
Quotes
Q1: The Christian Advocate described Moody’s 1885 meetings in Chicago and London as drawing thousands with plain preaching and Sankey’s hymns [3] [Summarized].
Q2: QUOTE: “Music softens hearts for the gospel” [2] [Verbatim].
Q3: QUOTE: “Moody’s meetings stir souls across denominations” [3] [Verbatim].
Q4: Moody emphasized that lay workers could carry revival worldwide [1] [Summarized].
Q5: QUOTE: “It is not my sermons, but God’s Spirit working through His Word” [1] [Verbatim].
Z-Notes
Z1: Dwight L. Moody began as a shoe salesman before conversion led him into ministry [1, 4].
Z2: By the 1880s, he was internationally known as an evangelist [4, 10].
Z3: In 1885, major revival meetings were held in Chicago [3, 4].
Z4: That same year, Moody returned to London for another campaign [3, 4].
Z5: Ira Sankey led music in both cities, drawing crowds with hymns like “The Ninety and Nine” [2, 6].
Z6: The Christian Advocate and other newspapers reported heavily on the campaigns [3].
Z7: The YMCA partnered with Moody to expand evangelistic outreach [5, 7].
Z8: The Northfield Conferences trained laypeople for evangelism and missions [5, 10].
Z9: Moody founded the Chicago Evangelization Society (later Moody Bible Institute) [5].
Z10: His methods emphasized clarity and simplicity rather than theological jargon [1, 10].
Z11: The campaigns inspired urban missions and social reform efforts [7, 9].
Z12: Moody’s work influenced later evangelists like Billy Sunday and Billy Graham [7, 8].
Z13: Interdenominational cooperation was a hallmark of Moody’s approach [8, 9].
Z14: Sankey’s hymns were published in collections that sold widely [2, 6].
Z15: 1885 is seen as a high point in Moody’s transatlantic ministry [4, 10].
POP (Parallel Orthodox Perspective)
P1: The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20) emphasizes evangelism as every believer’s calling [12].
P2: Paul’s example in Acts 17 shows preaching in plain, accessible language [12].
P3: Charles Spurgeon, Moody’s contemporary, preached simply to reach ordinary people [11].
P4: The evangelical movement stressed Scripture’s authority and conversion’s urgency [12].
P5: Later revivalists modeled campaigns on Moody’s preaching and music [10].
SCOP (Skeptical or Contrary Opinion Point)
S1: Some critics in the 1880s dismissed Moody’s methods as overly emotional [4].
S2: Others questioned whether mass meetings produced lasting discipleship [7].
S3: Some church leaders worried interdenominational campaigns weakened doctrine [8, 9].
S4: Scholars debate whether Moody’s social reforms were secondary to evangelism [7].
S5: Historians note revival fire often cooled quickly after campaigns [8].
Numbered References
Equipment
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Credits
Audio 1
Background Music: “Background Music Soft Calm” by INPLUSMUSIC, Pixabay Content License
Composer: Poradovskyi Andrii (BMI IPI Number: 01055591064)
Source: Pixabay
YouTube: INPLUSMUSIC Channel
Instagram: @inplusmusic
Audio 2
Crescendo: “Epic Trailer Short 0022 Sec” by BurtySounds, Pixabay Content License
Source: Pixabay
Video 1
Audio Visualizer: “Digital Audio Spectrum Sound Wave Equalizer Effect Animation, Alpha Channel Transparent Background, 4K Resolution” by Vecteezy
License: Free License (Attribution Required)
Source: Vecteezy
Research Support
Assisted by ChatGPT (OpenAI) for consolidating ideas, streamlining research, phonetic insertion, and Grok (xAI) for fact-checking, quote verification, and reference validation.
AI Resources
Production Note
Audio and video elements are integrated in post-production without in-script cues.
Small Group Discussion Guide
Opening Thought
In 1885, Dwight L. Moody led evangelistic campaigns in Chicago and London that drew thousands. With plain preaching and Ira Sankey’s hymns, revival spread across continents. Moody’s Northfield Conferences trained laypeople, multiplying the message worldwide. His story reminds us that revival is not about fame but faithfulness.
Discussion Questions
Scripture for Reflection
Application
Closing Prayer Suggestion
Lord, help us to share Christ with clarity and courage. Make us bold to speak, humble to serve, and faithful to train others who will carry Your Word onward.
View all episodes
By That’s Jesus Channel / Bob Baulch1885 AD – The Chicago–London Revival Ignites Global Evangelism: Ordinary Believers Multiply the Mission
Published 8/29/2025
1885 AD – The Chicago–London Revival Ignites Global Evangelism: Ordinary Believers Multiply the Mission
In 1885, Moody’s simple preaching and Sankey’s hymns shook Chicago and London. Can revival still spread through ordinary believers today?
In 1885, Dwight L. Moody’s evangelistic campaigns in Chicago and London drew thousands through simple sermons and Ira Sankey’s hymns. More than events, they sparked lasting revival, launching Bible institutes, missions, and lay training. Moody’s interdenominational approach showed how ordinary believers could multiply the gospel worldwide.
Dwight L. Moody’s 1885 revival meetings in Chicago and London were not just spectacles of mass attendance—they reshaped the future of evangelical outreach. Through plain preaching and heartfelt hymns, he reached across class and denominational lines. More importantly, his Northfield Conferences and Bible training empowered everyday Christians to share their faith with clarity and courage. The ripple effect touched missions, education, and global evangelism, influencing figures like Billy Sunday and Billy Graham. This episode challenges us to rethink revival: not as a headline event, but as countless individuals living out bold faith in ordinary places. If revival in 1885 spread through shoe salesmen, musicians, and lay workers, what might God do through you today?
Dwight L. Moody, Ira Sankey, 1885 revival, Chicago revival, London revival, Northfield Conferences, global evangelism, urban revival, mass meetings, YMCA, Protestant churches, evangelistic campaigns, lay evangelists, hymns and preaching, interdenominational revival, Moody Bible Institute, missions movement, 19th-century revivalism, Billy Graham influence, revivalist fervor
#ChurchHistory #Moody #Revival #Evangelism #GlobalMission
If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to share it with a friend who needs to be reminded that God uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes? And if you enjoy COACH, leaving a quick review on your podcast app helps others discover these stories. Be sure to follow for weekly episodes as we keep uncovering how God has worked through history to inspire faith today.
TIMESTAMPS / Chapter Markers
Cold Hook 00:00
Show Intro 01:15
Narrative Foundation 02:30
Narrative Development 04:14
Climax & Immediate Impact 05:59
Legacy & Modern Relevance 07:44
Reflection & Call to Action 09:09
In 1885, Dwight L. Moody’s revival campaigns swept across Chicago and London, igniting a movement that reshaped modern evangelical outreach. Moody was not a scholar or trained orator; he was a former shoe salesman who spoke in plain, direct words about sin, grace, and salvation. Crowds filled massive halls lit by gas lamps, eager to hear his gravelly voice and sing along with the powerful hymns led by Ira Sankey. Newspapers marveled at the scenes—lines stretching for blocks, choirs shaking theaters with songs of hope, and lives being transformed.
But Moody’s impact was never just about events. His Northfield Conferences in Massachusetts gathered pastors, missionaries, and laypeople for days of preaching, prayer, and training. Participants left renewed, equipped to carry the gospel back into their neighborhoods and far beyond. Out of this vision grew the Chicago Evangelization Society, later Moody Bible Institute, dedicated to multiplying evangelists and missionaries. His interdenominational approach cut across barriers, drawing Anglicans, Baptists, Methodists, and others into shared mission without erasing their convictions.
The revival also bore social fruit. YMCA records describe young people committing themselves to foreign missions and service among the urban poor. Evangelism, education, and reform became intertwined. Moody’s methods influenced Billy Sunday, Billy Graham, and countless others, shaping a recognizable pattern of modern mass evangelism—simple preaching, heartfelt music, and clear invitations. Sankey’s hymn collections spread worldwide, embedding the sound of revival into churches and homes.
Critics at the time dismissed Moody’s approach as emotionalism, worried that mass meetings produced shallow converts. Yet the lasting evidence lies in churches strengthened, missionaries sent, and institutions founded. Moody himself deflected credit, insisting, “It is not my sermons, but God’s Spirit working through His Word.” His humility underscored the conviction that revival is God’s work, not man’s show.
For today’s believers, Moody’s story raises pressing questions. Do we confuse large gatherings with genuine transformation? Are we equipping others to carry on the mission, or relying on a few leaders? The 1885 revival demonstrates that the gospel spreads most powerfully when ordinary Christians—teachers, workers, mothers, musicians—are trained and sent. Revival is not measured in crowds but in changed hearts that multiply the mission.
This episode of COACH revisits the spark that lit global evangelism in the late nineteenth century. It challenges us to embrace simplicity in our witness, courage in our speech, and humility in our service. If God could use a shoe salesman and a hymn writer to shake two of the world’s greatest cities, He can use us in our generation too.
Transcript
The streets of Chicago pulsed with noise. Streetcars clattered, factories roared, and thousands crowded into a massive hall lit by flickering gas lamps. They weren’t there for politics or theater. They came to hear a plainspoken man with a gravelly voice—Dwight L. Moody .
Across the Atlantic, the same scenes unfolded in London . Lines of people stretched for blocks. Newspapers reported choirs thundering hymns under the direction of Ira Sankey . Hearts softened, lives changed, churches stirred awake.
It was 1885, and a revival was sweeping both sides of the ocean. No fireworks, no theatrics—just clear preaching, heartfelt singing, and an invitation to follow Christ. Crowds of ordinary people responded.
But the real question wasn’t how many filled the seats. It was how many would leave those halls transformed—and carry the fire of evangelism into a weary world.
From the That’s Jesus Channel, welcome to COACH—where we trace Church Origins and Church History.
I’m Bob Baulch.
On Fridays, we stay between 1501 and the present.
Today we turn to the year 1885, when revival fires in Chicago and London would ripple outward across the globe.
Dwight L. Moody was not a trained scholar or polished orator. He was a shoe salesman turned evangelist who believed that ordinary people needed the gospel explained in ordinary words. In 1885 his campaigns shook two of the world’s greatest cities. With simple sermons and Ira Sankey’s powerful hymns, Moody drew thousands to hear the message of Christ.
But Moody didn’t stop at events. Through his Northfield Conferences and training of lay workers, he set in motion a movement that reached beyond auditoriums into neighborhoods, missions, and churches worldwide.
It was more than a season of meetings. It was the spark of modern evangelical outreach.
By the 1880s, Dwight L. Moody was already a household name in Protestant circles. Born in rural Massachusetts, he had little formal education. He worked as a shoe salesman before conversion changed his life. From there, he poured his energy into teaching Sunday school, working with the YMCA, and eventually preaching across America and Europe.
The Christian Advocate reported: Moody’s 1885 meetings in Chicago drew thousands with plain preaching and Sankey’s hymns [Advocate, 1885]. In Chicago, the city where Moody had built his ministry, revival meetings were drawing record crowds. Workers, businessmen, mothers, and children packed into halls. The preaching was direct—sin, grace, and the need for personal faith in Christ. At Moody’s side stood Ira Sankey, whose hymns carried the message to hearts in a way words alone could not.
That same year, across the Atlantic, Moody returned to London , where he had preached earlier with remarkable results. Converts weren’t simply counted; many joined churches, volunteered for missions, and began spreading the faith themselves.
Moody’s method was simple: preach plainly, sing powerfully, invite earnestly. In an age of complex theology and sharp denominational divides, his straightforward approach seemed like fresh air. And in 1885, it captured attention on both sides of the ocean.
The energy of 1885 was not just in the crowds but in what came after. Moody was convinced that revival had to extend beyond single events. QUOTE: “The gospel is free to all who will take it”. That conviction gave birth to the Northfield Conferences in his hometown of Northfield. There, pastors, missionaries, and ordinary lay workers gathered for days of preaching, prayer, and training. Local newspapers described the meetings as “schools of fire,” equipping believers to go back into their communities with renewed zeal.
In Chicago , Moody’s Institute—later Moody Bible Institute—was founded on the same principle: evangelism must be multiplied. Instead of relying on one preacher, he envisioned an army of men and women carrying the gospel to cities, towns, and villages.
Meanwhile in London , the revival crossed denominational lines. Anglicans, Baptists, Methodists, and others found themselves worshiping side by side. Moody’s simple preaching stripped away theological jargon. Sankey led songs like “The Ninety and Nine” that drove home the urgency of Christ’s call.
Reports in The Christian Advocate and YMCA records tell of young people dedicating themselves to foreign missions and social reform. Revival was not just saving souls—it was reshaping society. Urban poverty, education, and evangelism began to overlap in ways that marked a new chapter for Protestant churches.
By mid–1885, the revival movement had reached a crescendo. In Chicago , newspapers marveled that thousands were still flocking to Moody’s meetings, even after weeks of preaching. Testimonies poured in—factory workers, businessmen, and mothers alike speaking of lives changed. In London , theaters and music halls overflowed, converted into makeshift sanctuaries. QUOTE: “Moody’s meetings stir souls across denominations” [The Christian Advocate, 1885]. The sound of Sankey’s hymns carried into the streets as crowds sang along outside, unable to fit indoors.
But the impact went far beyond attendance. Moody’s emphasis on personal conversion and lay training multiplied the message. His Northfield Conferences were already producing new evangelists. Some went overseas as missionaries. Others returned home to plant churches or launch ministries in neglected neighborhoods.
Critics called it “emotional religion.” Supporters called it revival. The real measure was in the fruit: renewed churches, inspired missions, and a fresh sense of urgency for the gospel.
And yet, Moody himself often downplayed the spectacle. QUOTE: “It is not my sermons, but God’s Spirit working through His Word”. His humility only fueled the movement further.
1885 was more than a series of meetings. It was a turning point that showed how simple preaching, heartfelt music, and persistent faith could ignite a flame felt around the world.
The legacy of 1885 stretches well beyond Chicago and London . Moody’s style—simple sermons, clear invitations, and music that touched the heart—became the model for evangelistic campaigns around the world. Billy Sunday, Billy Graham, and countless others would walk the path he first cleared.
Moody’s Northfield Conferences inspired a new wave of lay workers, women as well as men, who saw themselves as active participants in spreading the gospel. His interdenominational approach showed that believers could join hands across denominational lines without surrendering essential convictions.
And the YMCA, which had partnered with Moody, carried those revival methods into cities across America and abroad, blending evangelism with social action. Missions societies and Bible institutes still trace their roots to those days.
The lesson is clear: revival spreads not just through famous names but through ordinary people trained and sent. That remains as true today as it was in 1885.
Moody’s story challenges us to ask hard questions about revival. Do we mistake crowded gatherings for changed lives? Do we celebrate events without asking if hearts are truly transformed?
Revival is not about numbers—it is about faithfulness. Moody preached plainly. Sankey sang earnestly. QUOTE: “Music softens hearts for the gospel”. But the real work was God stirring individuals to surrender to Christ. And those individuals then carried the message to others.
For us today, the question is simple: are we willing to open our mouths and share Christ with the same clarity? Are we training others to step forward when we cannot? Revival doesn’t begin in a stadium—it begins in the courage of one believer to pray, to speak, to serve.
The world does not need a copy of Moody. It needs Christians who will do in their generation what he did in his.
If this story of Dwight L. Moody’s revival challenged or encouraged you, would you consider sharing this episode with a friend? You never know who might need to hear it.
And while you’re at it, leaving a review on your podcast app really helps others discover COACH.
Be sure to follow for weekly episodes. References and even contrary opinions are always linked in the show notes.
We’ve also placed Amazon links to helpful resources—at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
You can also find COACH episodes on YouTube at the That’s Jesus Channel.
Next time, we’ll dive into another moment where God used unexpected people to shape church history.
Honestly, more people may have heard Sankey’s hymns than have heard this podcast—but I’m still singing along.
Thanks for listening to COACH – Church Origins and Church History. I’m Bob Baulch with the That’s Jesus Channel.
Have a great day—and be blessed.
References
Quotes
Q1: The Christian Advocate described Moody’s 1885 meetings in Chicago and London as drawing thousands with plain preaching and Sankey’s hymns [3] [Summarized].
Q2: QUOTE: “Music softens hearts for the gospel” [2] [Verbatim].
Q3: QUOTE: “Moody’s meetings stir souls across denominations” [3] [Verbatim].
Q4: Moody emphasized that lay workers could carry revival worldwide [1] [Summarized].
Q5: QUOTE: “It is not my sermons, but God’s Spirit working through His Word” [1] [Verbatim].
Z-Notes
Z1: Dwight L. Moody began as a shoe salesman before conversion led him into ministry [1, 4].
Z2: By the 1880s, he was internationally known as an evangelist [4, 10].
Z3: In 1885, major revival meetings were held in Chicago [3, 4].
Z4: That same year, Moody returned to London for another campaign [3, 4].
Z5: Ira Sankey led music in both cities, drawing crowds with hymns like “The Ninety and Nine” [2, 6].
Z6: The Christian Advocate and other newspapers reported heavily on the campaigns [3].
Z7: The YMCA partnered with Moody to expand evangelistic outreach [5, 7].
Z8: The Northfield Conferences trained laypeople for evangelism and missions [5, 10].
Z9: Moody founded the Chicago Evangelization Society (later Moody Bible Institute) [5].
Z10: His methods emphasized clarity and simplicity rather than theological jargon [1, 10].
Z11: The campaigns inspired urban missions and social reform efforts [7, 9].
Z12: Moody’s work influenced later evangelists like Billy Sunday and Billy Graham [7, 8].
Z13: Interdenominational cooperation was a hallmark of Moody’s approach [8, 9].
Z14: Sankey’s hymns were published in collections that sold widely [2, 6].
Z15: 1885 is seen as a high point in Moody’s transatlantic ministry [4, 10].
POP (Parallel Orthodox Perspective)
P1: The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20) emphasizes evangelism as every believer’s calling [12].
P2: Paul’s example in Acts 17 shows preaching in plain, accessible language [12].
P3: Charles Spurgeon, Moody’s contemporary, preached simply to reach ordinary people [11].
P4: The evangelical movement stressed Scripture’s authority and conversion’s urgency [12].
P5: Later revivalists modeled campaigns on Moody’s preaching and music [10].
SCOP (Skeptical or Contrary Opinion Point)
S1: Some critics in the 1880s dismissed Moody’s methods as overly emotional [4].
S2: Others questioned whether mass meetings produced lasting discipleship [7].
S3: Some church leaders worried interdenominational campaigns weakened doctrine [8, 9].
S4: Scholars debate whether Moody’s social reforms were secondary to evangelism [7].
S5: Historians note revival fire often cooled quickly after campaigns [8].
Numbered References
Equipment
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Credits
Audio 1
Background Music: “Background Music Soft Calm” by INPLUSMUSIC, Pixabay Content License
Composer: Poradovskyi Andrii (BMI IPI Number: 01055591064)
Source: Pixabay
YouTube: INPLUSMUSIC Channel
Instagram: @inplusmusic
Audio 2
Crescendo: “Epic Trailer Short 0022 Sec” by BurtySounds, Pixabay Content License
Source: Pixabay
Video 1
Audio Visualizer: “Digital Audio Spectrum Sound Wave Equalizer Effect Animation, Alpha Channel Transparent Background, 4K Resolution” by Vecteezy
License: Free License (Attribution Required)
Source: Vecteezy
Research Support
Assisted by ChatGPT (OpenAI) for consolidating ideas, streamlining research, phonetic insertion, and Grok (xAI) for fact-checking, quote verification, and reference validation.
AI Resources
Production Note
Audio and video elements are integrated in post-production without in-script cues.
Small Group Discussion Guide
Opening Thought
In 1885, Dwight L. Moody led evangelistic campaigns in Chicago and London that drew thousands. With plain preaching and Ira Sankey’s hymns, revival spread across continents. Moody’s Northfield Conferences trained laypeople, multiplying the message worldwide. His story reminds us that revival is not about fame but faithfulness.
Discussion Questions
Scripture for Reflection
Application
Closing Prayer Suggestion
Lord, help us to share Christ with clarity and courage. Make us bold to speak, humble to serve, and faithful to train others who will carry Your Word onward.