Dwight Lyman ( D.L. ) Moody ( February 5 , 1837 â `` December 22 , 1899 ) was an American evangelist and publisher . He started the Moody Church , Northfield School and Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts ( now the Northfield Mount Hermon School ) , the Moody Bible Institute and Moody Publishers . Dwight Lyman Moody ( February 5 , 1837 - December 22 , 1899 ) , also known as D.L. Moody , was an American evangelist and publisher who founded the Moody Church , Northfield School and Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts ( now Northfield Mount Hermon School ) , the Moody Bible Institute and Moody Publishers .