Michael Easley

This is most assuredly disappointing news. Michael Easely the recently inducted (2005) president of the Moody Bible Institute has resigned due to severe back pain which prevents him from fulfilling his duties at Moody.

After much thought, prayer, and consultation, I have asked the Board of Trustees of the Moody Bible Institute to relieve me of my duties as President so that I may devote more time and energy to seeking medical treatment for my back. Surgery has already once interrupted my tenure for several weeks, and unfortunately it has become clear that more treatment is required. I have come to the difficult conclusion that under the circumstances I cannot be as effective a President as the Institute deserves.

At our last full Trustee meeting on May 16, 2008 the board reluctantly agreed to accept my resignation, effective June 30, 2008.

The Moody board has asked Dr. Easley to remain on as President Emeritus through the end of 2009.

“On behalf of the Moody Board of Trustees, we are disappointed to lose Dr. Easley, and we owe him a huge debt of gratitude for his agreeing to stay with us in this new role while we seek his replacement,” said Jerry Jenkins, Chairman of the Board. “He is a man of unique gifts..."

Since I'm a Moody Alumni I feel this more personally than others perhaps. I remember mourning when Joe Stowell stepped down in order to serve elsewhere and I carefully read everything about Dr. Easley when he was in the running for president. He's an upright man of apparent fine character and the institute will be sorry to see him go.

Join me now in praying that the Board of Trustees will be guided by God in selecting the next right man for this important job. Moody Bible institute has a 125 year legacy of faithfulness to the scriptures to contend for.

Also this brings to my memory a portion of Dr. Easley's sermon at the Pastor's Conference this year.

It's not a direct quote but....

"The trend is never toward conservatism but away from it. The steady drift of time draws institutions away from faithfulness rather than into it..."

Lord,
Keep the Bible in Moody Bible Institute.
AMEN.

What a night. I ran into an old friend Adam (who posted earlier) and many of you already know Joey LaJoy from the newsgroups as well as from here, I ran into Joe at the Logos booth. I was begging for free samples, but alas no such luck. (C'mon Joe you're lettin' me down man!) :-)

One of the things that I appreciate so much about the Moody Pastor's Conference is that it is really centered on Bible Teaching. Lest anyone think that pastor's don't need it, they do.
The worship time was phenomenal - I already mentioned it but I always look forward to hearing the sound of over a thousand men singing in worship, it was just as great as I remember.

The final song just before the message was written by the Getty's and was titled "Speak O Lord"

"Speak, O Lord"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow'r that can never fail—