Moody Radio celebrates 100 years of on-air ministry

Past and present employees of the Moody Bible Institute flocked to Chicago on Tuesday for a commemorative chapel service celebrating 100 years of Christian radio broadcasting. Moody Radio Vice President Wes Ward, who spoke with WORLD after the service, said the service commemorated 100 years of God at work and ended with a time of commissioning Moody for another century of ministry. He added that Moody was celebrating the diamond anniversary with special broadcasts, a short film, and a book chronicling Moody Radio’s 100-year history.

Moody Radio needs to continue evolving in order to reach 21st-century audiences, Ward said. He explained how in 1926, some Christians opposed the use of radio for ministry and viewed it as satanic, since Ephesians 2:2 describes Satan as “the prince of the power of the air.” But Moody’s founders wanted to reach as many people as they could with the gospel, so they weren’t afraid of new technology, Ward said. He cited Moody’s early adoption of satellite technology in the early 1980s.

What’s next for the ministry? Moody is grateful for its long radio history but knows it needs to adapt and integrate new technologies or platforms, Ward said. Leaders launched Moody Global Media last year as a parent ministry to oversee Moody’s various media branches, including radio, podcasts, web, and social media offerings. The new division allows Moody to pivot and ensure people receive the gospel regardless of the technology they use, Ward said.

At Tuesday’s recommissioning service, Ward encouraged employees to view the 100th anniversary as a launching point rather than a milestone. He told them to celebrate what God has done but get back to work and keep advancing the mission, because time is short and people need Jesus.