Here is the article, written by feature writer Ruth Schenk of the Southeast Outlook, weekly newspaper of the Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. It was published September 3, 2009.
The response floored the founder.
When Dwight Moody started the Academy of Preachers last year with the idea of mentoring, training and encouraging young preachers, he was not prepared for long distance calls from Africa and Asia. He didn’t expect calls from a number of big-name colleges such as Emory, Mercer, Samford, Vanderbilt and Asbury, either. They all were inquiries about how an academy could begin in their own cities.
Moody also wasn’t thinking about a Facebook fan club that has drawn more than 600 entries.
From the beginning, Moody knew the Academy of Preachers was one of a kind. During the 11 years he was dean of the chapel at Georgetown College outside Lexington, he saw thousands of camps and mentoring programs for everything under the sun: farming, baton twirling, problem solving, art and technology.
But he found nothing to encourage the few who chose preaching.
“Though denominations and seminaries do great training in preaching, there’s a widespread need for more,” Moody said. “We have to identify, support, mentor and encourage young people who want to be preachers. People are sitting in the pews waiting to hear good preaching, and we need to care for those who chose this profession. ”
Moody, who has a PhD in Christian theology and is an ordained Baptist pastor, goes back to his own experience.
“I don’t remember anyone talking to me about being a preacher,” he said. “I’m sure I didn’t read much about it. Given this, I wonder that anybody had the grit to sit through one of my so-called sermons.”
Moody said few in career development say, “Preaching is important. This is something you should consider.”
The Academy is funded by a grant from the Lily Endowment, which has a long history of funding clergy training. Moody, who has the same name as one of the greatest preachers in American history, spent the last year meeting with college presidents and pastors. He organized a Preaching Camp that met at Country Lake Christian Retreat last summer with former Southeast Senior Minister Bob Russell as a key speaker. Russell told young preachers of his own fears about public speaking before going into preaching and about investing time in study before giving a sermon.
That camp meant a lot to Southeast member Alex Williams, who has a degree in ministry from Cincinnati Christian College and Seminary and is on the leadership team at the Academy. Young preachers had the chance to give sermons, to encourage and critique one another and learn from prominent preachers.
“The preaching camp really got me thinking about the small aspects of what’s going into preaching, such as hand gestures, eye contact,” Williams said. “It changed my approach.”
That training made a difference when he preached his first sermon in front of a congregation a few weeks ago.
I loved it,” Williams said.
Williams is looking forward to preaching in his own church soon.
James Bush is on the leadership team of the Academy of Preachers. He decided to become a preacher when battling leukemia. At one point, he became so ill during chemotherapy that he wondered if he’d survive the night. He began praying the 23rd Psalm, drawing strength from the words “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death … You are with me …”
His goal as a preacher is to reach other young adults who are not likely to attend church.
Once they enroll in the Academy, young preachers are eligible for scholarships, a certification program, international preaching mission trips and internships.
Moody said excitement continues to build.
“I’m amazed at the enthusiasm people have for this across the country,” he said. “It’s exploding in Washington, New York, Pennsylvania and Florida. It’s not every day that a 58-year-old preacher gets an opportunity to be part of something this transformational in the lives of young people. I’m meeting young people who are talented and passionate. They love Jesus, and they come from different traditions.”
The Festival of Preaching will be held Jan. 7-9, 2010, at St. Matthews Baptist Church in Louisville. Southeast Teaching Minister Kyle Idleman is the keynote speaker. The registration deadline is Oct. 8.
Each preacher at the festival will give a sermon from the birth of Jesus, the life of Jesus, the death of Jesus or the resurrection of Jesus.
Moody said the impact of those three days will be enormous.
“When all these young people get together from all different traditions and talk about Jesus, it will be a revival,” he said. “Many who come in to listen and support their friends will be called into the ministry of Gospel preaching.”
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