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MoodyHighlightsChristmas Concerts at MoodyCelebrate the joyous Christmas seasonwith Moody by attending two annualmusical events.Handel’s Messiah, Sunday,November 17, 3:30 p.m., TorreyGray Auditorium; sung by Moody’sOratorio Chorus. Tickets are availablefor 13 each beginning October 7.Visit www.moody.edu/concerts.Candlelight Carols, Friday, December6, 8 p.m., and Saturday, December 7,2 p.m. and 7 p.m., The Moody Church.Send Your Pastor to Pastors’ ConferenceWe invite you to celebrate thisChristmas music/drama event withother alumni on December 6, at6:30 p.m., during a pre-performancereception on Moody’s Chicago campus.Mingle with friends, then ride a freeshuttle bus to the concert. Alumni canreceive up to four discounted tickets at 10 each for the Friday night performanceonly. For more information or to requesttickets at the discounted price, callthe Alumni Association office at312-329-4412.Make plans to honor your pastor duringPastor Appreciation Month in Octoberby sponsoring him to attend next year’sre Focus Pastors’ Conference at MoodyBible Institute, May 19–22, 2014.Each year, more than 1,000 pastors fromaround the world meet on the Chicagocampus to enjoy fellowship with otherpastors, challenging Bible teachingfrom respected Christian leaders, andsoul-stirring worship. Real-time Spanishtranslation of sessions is included.Speakers for Pastors’ Conference 2014will include H. B. Charles, Bryan Loritts,Luis Mendez, Larry Moyer, Paul Nyquist,Don Sunukjian, Tullian Tchividjian, andmany others. Pastors can choose fromapproximately 100 workshops on arange of ministry topics and browse theexhibit hall for ministry-related vendorsand resources.Here’s what pastors have said about re Focus Pastors’ Conference:“ This was my first Pastors’ Conference, and it was a great time to interact withand listen to a lot of godly men. Someday I would like to replicate the conferencein India.” — Pastor Viju Thomas M.Div. ’10, Lamon Avenue Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois(future church planter in his native India)“ All the speakers are great, but the thing I like best are the relationships I buildhere. The camaraderie is a special thing.”—Pastor Dave Georgeff, Grace Community Baptist Church, Jerseyville, IllinoisSave the Date! Founder’s Week, February 3–7, 2014Make plans to join us for Founder’sWeek, February 3–7, 2014, and enjoyreconnecting with your formerclassmates. Alumni events on Moody’sChicago campus will include reuniondinners for the classes of 1964, 1974,1989, and 2004, and the AlumniBanquet. On Alumni Day, February4, the Faculty Citation Award will bepresented, and during the eveningsession at The Moody Church, theAlumnus of the Year will be named.you hear excellent Bible teaching fromLeith Anderson ’65, Gary Chapman ’58,Jim Cymbala, Crawford Loritts, ErwinLutzer, Priscilla Shirer, Colin Smith,Wess Stafford ’70, and Paul Nyquist.Worship will be led by the All ChicagoChoir directed by Charles Butler ’81,Chicago Tabernacle Choir, Aaron Shust,and Moody’s music ensembles, alongwith the sanctuary choir of The MoodyChurch, which is celebrating its 150thanniversary.Throughout Founder’s Week, you’ll bestrengthened in your Christian faith asFor more information, s“ I’m glad I came because not only did I get refocused but I got revived. It’sbeen great.” — Ron Nelson, director of evangelism and missions, Oakland Bible Fellowship,Dallas, Texas“ Pastors’ Conference gives us an opportunity to be among peers, to take the timeto share and reflect, and like the theme suggests, to refocus.”—Pastor Jesus Velasquez M.Div. ’09, Brickyard Bible Church, Chicago, Illinois“ Pastors’ Conference rejuvenates you. You listen to the different speakers andit gives you something extra to go home with.” — Pastor John Snell, St. John Baptist Church, Cleveland Heights, OhioHe has not missed Pastors’ Conference since he started attending in 1984.For more information or to register your pastor for next year’s conference,please visit dy.edu/alumnimag9

I N T ER N A TI ON A L SNAPSH OT S FROMM OO D Y ’ S M US IC ENSEMBLESSinging God’s PraisesAround the WorldThe Moody Men’s Collegiate Choir,conducted by Dr. H. E. Singley ’71,traveled in New Zealand and Australiafrom May 21 to June 9, presentingabout two dozen concerts in churchesand schools. Along the way, theyrecorded five songs for a Christian TVnetwork reaching New Zealand andsang at Bear Cottage, a hospice facilityfor terminally ill children in Manley,New South Wales. “This was aparticularly moving time for all of us,as we got to interact with these childrenand see how beautiful but transitory lifereally is,” says Vince Schiller ’14, Men’sChoir president and composition major.Dr. Singley, who has conducted theMen’s Choir for 17 years, was “gratifiedand humbled by the response of people,”including that of Moody alumni Jim’62 and Grace (Unkefer ’60) Vine, whoheard the young men sing in Brisbane,Australia. Jim had sung in the Men’sChoir back when it was the MoodyMen’s Glee Club. In a note to Dr.Singley, Grace wrote, “Thank you fora wonderful evening with the Men’sChoir. We told a couple of the guys thatwhen they get older they will realizethat this choir experience has been oneof the high points of their lives.”The Women’s Concert Choir,conducted by Dr. Betty-Ann Lynerd,traveled in Italy from May 19 to June 5.They performed in schools, a nursinghome, community theaters, churches,and a piazza in Venice.In late May, threeof Moody’s four musicensembles traveled toforeign destinations tominister internationallythrough music andGod’s Word.The Women’s Concert Choir at the Vatican andthe Men’s Collegiate Choir in Sydney, Australia.10MoodyAlumniNewsThe choir ministered at several churchplants, including one run by alumnusFrank King ’71 in a gypsy compound.They also sang at Rome Baptist Church.They spent four nights in San Lorenzo,Italy, at Saints Bible Institute, run byalum Samuel Spatola ’89. Missionarieschallenged the students to consider the60 million Italians and 32,000 cities andtowns without an evangelical church.Christiana Galeai, a junior music majorwho turned 20 in Italy, got the message.“Earthly kingdoms come and pass away,but heavenly citizenship remains eternal,”she wrote on her blog. “I invite you tolive a life that will outlast the ruins; alife grounded in the gospel.”Women’s Choir accompanist RebekahAgin ’14 was touched by the peopleshe met on tour, including a castle tourguide who attended their concert inValvasone and showed interest in thegospel. “We began to see how importantour presence there was,” says Rebekah,a music major with a piano emphasis.The Moody Chorale in BrazilThe Moody Chorale, led by Dr. XiangtangHong, ministered to about 20,000 peoplein Brazil from May 19 to June 11, singingin churches, schools, and public venuesin São Paulo and other cities. Severalconcerts were streamed live. Choralepresident Steven Thomson ’13, who hasserved with the Chorale for four years,enjoyed singing in the diverse ethnicchurches of Brazil, including Chinese,Korean, German, and, of course,Brazilian. “At every church we visited,we were met by brothers and sisters inChrist eager to receive us,” he says.Lauren Allinger ’14, Chorale memberand fifth-year music voice major, adds,“Many people were moved to decisions,were taught truth, and were encouragedby our words.”www.moody.edu/alumnimag11

In response to a growingplea for Christian mediatraining around the world,Moody Radio collaboratedwith international mediaministries to hold theirsecond Global PartnersTraining conference.More than 200 Christian ministryand broadcast leaders from 13 Africancountries as well as the U.S. and Britainattended the event, held June 18–21at the Hephzibah Christian Centerin Peduase, Ghana, West Africa.Theovision International, a Christianmedia organization in Ghana, hostedthe conference, while Africa by Radiopromoted it to its radio network.Training was provided by a team ofMoody Radio professionals (BruceEverhart ’88, Collin Lambert, JenniferEpperson, Pierre Chestang ’79, JonGauger ’80, Brian Dahlen, StephenAsare ’08, and Chris Burdick ’12) aswell as Moody Bible Institute professorof Pastoral Studies Dr. Winfred Neely,Board member Dr. Thomas Fortson,and HCJB Global. Four Moody Radiostudent interns also traveled withthe team.Moody Expands MediaMinistry Training to AfricaMorning and afternoon sessionsfocused on radio production, biblicalprogramming, social media, writing,leadership, fundraising, and other topics.In the evenings, lively worship wasfollowed by Dr. Neely’s powerful teachingfrom the Old Testament book of Ruth.“Our purpose was to focus on our mainthrust at Moody, and that’s Bible andmedia training,” says Bruce Everhart ’88,vice president of Donor g13

Peter Awane ’03 and Bruce Everhart ’88Jon Gauger ’80 teaches a session at the Global Partners Training conference.and Channel Strategy at Moody BibleInstitute. “I think we accomplished thatvery well during this conference, andit ended up being one of the largestmedia training conferences inTheovision International’s history.”“They are going back to their radiostations and ministries equipped toprepare, research, and think biblicallyabout radio,” says Stephen, who rejoicesthat they have “the same mission asMoody to reach the globe for Christ.”For Ghana native and Moody alumnusStephen Asare ’08, who helpedcoordinate the training, the conferencewas a dream come true. Back in 2007, asa junior at Moody, he had arranged forone of his communications professorsto conduct a small training conferencein Ghana organized by TheovisionInternational, which was founded byhis father, Rev. Theodore Asare. “Itwas so impactful that I wanted to doit again on a larger scale,” explainsStephen, who worked for Moody Radioafter graduation, then returned hometo establish three FM radio stationsand one Internet station in Ghana.One of the participants, KwameNkrumah, is a language consultant withWycliffe Bible Translators and the SeedCompany in Ghana. “Spiritually, I’veNow project coordinator for Moody’sDonor Development, Stephen wasexcited to see 215 enthusiasticparticipants receive certificates from theorganizers at the end of the conference.14MoodyAlumniNewsbeen blessed through the devotionalsand the discussions,” says Kwame, whoappreciated the leadership training thattaught him to view fundraising from abiblical perspective. “I used to think offundraising as going there to ask, buttoday, I have learned the principle offundraising being ministry.”Because of the partnership of MoodyRadio listeners who gave to Share 2013,Moody was able to invest 50,000 tofund the Global Training Conference,making the cost affordable so moreAfricans could attend.Moody Radio’s Jon Gauger ’80, whotaught radio production topics, was“blown away” by the participants’ visionfor reaching Africa for Christ. “Theyhave big hearts, big dreams, big visions,and a big capacity to do big work.They’re concerned about the worldthat doesn’t know Jesus, and that putsa smile on my face.”The first Global Partners Trainingconference was held in Sophia, Bulgaria,in November 2012. Moody is prayerfullyconsidering invitations for future GlobalPartners Training conferences in theBalkans, Africa, and other locations.Stephen Asare ’08 helped coordinate theconference in Ghana.To read more about the conferencein Ghana, including daily recaps, visitwww.moodyradio.org/globalpartners.The Power of Christian RadioOne of the attendees at the GlobalPartners Training conference wasMoody alumnus Peter Awane ’03,a Ghana native and Moody alumnuswho credits Christian radio withhelping him solidify his faith inChrist. Raised in a pagan village,he had heard the gospel frommissionaries as a teenager. After hetuned in to Christian programmingon his dad’s radio, the gospel madesense and awakened a desire tostart his own station. “I just thoughtI should have a radio station thatwill also let me talk about this Jesusto many people,” he explains.First, God burdened Peter to doBible translation work for 20 yearsin his native frafra language. Ashe desired more Bible training,the door opened to receive aBible education by correspondencethrough Moody Bible Institute. In2003 Peter was able to graduate inperson on Moody’s Chicago campus.“I’d never ridden in a big bus, letalone a plane going to America,”he says. “It was like a dream.”Peter has put his training togood use. He manages a schoolin northern Ghana with 17 staffand 300 children, of which 150 areorphans. He also runs a Christianradio station, Word FM, with 18staff members.Peter was spiritually energizedby the Global Partners Trainingconference and hopes manyAfrican broadcasters who attendedwill not only make “Christ thecenter of all that they do,” but willalso pursue a Moody education.www.moody.edu/alumnimag15

But Habtamu persevered. He repeatedthe song again and again until thewomen began experimenting with theirtraditional harmonization and the songhit its stride. After almost 30 minutes,the last word of the chorus finallycompleted its echo off the tin roof abovetheir heads. “The air was electric as theGumuz believers applauded their newsong,” Travis says. “God’s Word in songwas reaching down to the depths ofGumuz hearts, not only in the Gumuzlanguage, but in their musical style,translated, composed, and performedby Gumuz believers.”The Williamsons, who moved toEthiopia in 2009, feel privileged to assistthe Gumuz team in translating God’sWord and making sure new Gumuzsongs accurately reflect Scripture.Word into SongA LU M N I H E L P E T H IOPIAN S T RANSLATEA ND S I N G S C R I PT U REIn a mud-walled church on Gesas mountain in Ethiopia, the Gumuzcongregation stood around a big African drum, but instead of singingand stepping to the steady drumbeat, they were frustrated and bickering.Wycliffe Bible translators Travis ’02 and Andrea (Rockey ’03) Williamsonwatched in dismay as Habtamu, one of their team of local Bible translators,attempted for the third time to teach the congregation a new song aboutcreation he’d helped write in the traditional Gumuz style. Music is aprominent part of the Gumuz identity, and Travis had hoped the new song,based on their draft of Genesis 1, would help the oral Gumuz culture learnGod’s Word. “After five or so painful minutes, I was ready to pull the plugand admit defeat,” Travis recalls.16MoodyAlumniNewsIronically, Travis never planned tobecome a Bible translator when hearrived at Moody Bible Institute in1998. He recalls telling God he’d bewilling to do anything in missionsexcept Bible translation, which heperceived as a boring desk job. Thatperception changed during Founder’sWeek 1999 when he heard MarilynLaszlo, a Wycliffe Bible translator, shareriveting stories of working hand-inhand with a team of speakers in theirmother tongue. Her description of atypical Bible translator—a Christianwho is academic yet creative and workswell with people—resonated with Travis,who went on to graduate with a B.A.in Applied Linguistics.Travis enjoyed studying linguisticsunder Moody professors Steve Clarkand Andrew Minch ’78, especially“cracking the code of another culture’sperception of the world,” he says. “It wasin the classrooms at Moody that God’scall on my life to serve Him in Bibletranslation became crystal clear.”Travis works with Habtamu, translatorand songwriter.Meanwhile, Andrea, whose father andgrandfather were pilots, had chosento pursue aviation at Moody. Despitebecoming a licensed airplane mechanicafter three years of training, she struggledto complete the rigorous program andfinally chose a new major, graduatingin 2003 with a B.A. in InternationalMinistries.“Moody’s faculty modeled their faithand helped me develop a consistentrelationship with Christ,” she says.After Travis and Andrea married in2005, they pursued more theologicaland linguistic training in Dallas, Texas.To help pay bills, Andrea stopped at anairport and asked whether they neededan airplane mechanic. She recognizedGod’s leading when the maintenancesupervisor who met her turned out tobe a former Moody classmate, NateKilloren ’03. “He hired me on the spot!”says Andrea, who renewed her confidencein doing airplane maintenance and intrusting God to open doors.Both Andrea and Travis, who now havetwo young children, refer to Moody’stuition-paid education as a “huge blessing”that got them to the field without debt.In partnership with the Bible Societyof Ethiopia and the Gumuz team, theyhope to complete a translation of theGospel of Luke by the end of 2013 andthe whole New Testament by 2020.www.moody.edu/alumnimag17

Wesley ’69 and Pattyy”t “Pe ggar gare6 and MonJack ’4) Ma x s3’4man(CrossJoshua ’92–’93 and JoiaNoel (Smith ’91–’93) Lucht(Pr ice ’67) SmithJimmie and Willine(McKinney ’45) MaxsonRandall and Ruth (Price ’73)SmithEthanL ucht ,class of 2017100-Year-Old Prayer Leads to Moody LegacyIt was October 19,1917, and Sgt. ElvinMaxson lay in thetrenches praying. Asthe Germans shelledthe area, Elvin offeredGod everything hecould think of—evenElvin Maxsonhis future children—if God would spare his life. “I wasn’teven married, not even engaged orhad anyone in mind, but I promised,”he recalled in 1985. The Lord deliveredElvin from World War I and gave himfour children who served in full-timeministry, including Jack Maxson ’46,a Moody alumnus and missionary. Twograndchildren also attended Moodyand served in full-time ministry.The latest is fourth-generation Moodystudent Ethan Lucht, Elvin “Papa”Maxson’s great-great-grandson, who18MoodyAlumniNewsgave up a 105 percent scholarship toMissouri state schools so he couldattend Moody this fall. Ethan feels calledto serve God overseas after he graduatesin 2017. “We believe this is evidence ofthe continued fulfillment of Papa’s vow,100 years before, and we praise God forHis continued faithfulness in claimingour children as His own,” says Joia Noel(Smith ’91–’93) Lucht, Ethan’s mother,whose family tree is marked by fourgenerations of Moody students andalumni. Ethan’s father’s side also includesseveral generations trained at Moody.Maternal Side1st Generation: Jack Maxson ’46served in World War II, then met hiswife, Margaret “Peggy” (Crossman ’43),at Moody. They served as missionariesto Muslims in Aden, Arabian Peninsula,(now in Yemen), until Peggy contractedpolio while pregnant. She was kept alivein an iron lung until she could travel toEngland, where she gave birth to ahealthy baby boy. Despite being told shewould never walk again, she enduredpainful physical therapy and learned towalk with braces. Jack and Peggyreturned to the mission field, serving formany more years.Smiths had to return to the statesfor treatment but continued to servethe Lord. Patty is now a therapist forchildren with learning disabilities.Ethan’s great aunt, Ruth (Price’ 73)Smith, a music major, was knownaround campus as an inveterateprankster. She married Randall SmithJack Maxson’s brother Jimmie served(unrelated to Wesley), and went on toin the Navy during WWII, then married teach and direct church music. She nowa Moody alum, Willine McKinney ’45.serves at Dallas Theological Seminary.They served together in pastoral ministry3rd Generation: Ethan’s parents,for 50 years.Joshua Lucht ’92–’93 and Joia Noel2nd Generation: William “Wesley”(Smith ’91–’93) Lucht met at Moody.Smith ’69 and Mary “Patty” (Price ’67)Both have worked in media, Joshua asSmith are Moody graduates and Ethan’s a news producer and Joia as a concertgrandparents. They served in Mexicoproducer. They used their platforms andand Costa Rica as missionaries withconnections to share the gospel.CAM International (now Camino4th Generation: Ethan Lucht, classGlobal), but became seriously ill fromof 2017.drinking contaminated water. Thewww.moody.edu/alumnimag19

MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE ISRAEL TOURJUNE 11–22, 2014Iv

at Moody Theological Seminary-Michigan on November 15. MTS-Michigan provides workshops periodically to resource and support local pastors. A pastors' workshop last May drew more than 100 local pastors to the seminary in Plymouth to receive leadership training from Dr. Gene Getz '52, former Board of Trustees member and former professor