CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: Dr. George Sweeting, 6th President, Moody Bible Institute (October 1, 1924 – September 10, 2024) [#GeorgeSweeting #DrGeorgeSweeting]
CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: Dr. George Sweeting, 6th President, Moody Bible Institute (October 1, 1924 – September 10, 2024) [#GeorgeSweeting #DrGeorgeSweeting]
FULL VIDEO:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=723909227961923
Source: Moody Alumni Association Facebook Account, @MoodyAlumniAssociation
https://www.strangfh.com/obituary/dr-george-sweeting
WATCH:
https://chainoflakescommunity.church/watch
https://www.youtube.com/@chainoflakescommunitybible1007/
SERVICES:
VISITATION:
Sunday, September 15, 2024 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM CT
Chain of Lakes Community Bible Church
43 W. Grass Lake Rd., Lake Villa, IL 60046
FUNERAL SERVICE:
Monday, September 16, 2024 11:00 AM CT
Chain of Lakes Community Bible Church
43 W. Grass Lake Rd., Lake Villa, IL 60046
Dr. George Sweeting
October 1, 1924 – September 10, 2024Obituary
George Sweeting, age 99, passed away peacefully in his home on September 10, 2024, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. Sweeting was a renowned evangelical pastor, evangelist, Bible teacher, educator, speaker, artist, radio host and author. But to his family he was a faithful husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. Living into his 100th year, the world lost a truly great man.
Sweeting was born in Haledon, New Jersey, on October 1, 1924, to his Scottish immigrant parents William James Sweeting and Mary Roger Irving Sweeting.
He grew up during the Great Depression and worked through the night delivering milk. The pay he earned went to the family to help them survive during those difficult years.
In 1940, at the age of 16, he committed his life to Jesus Christ and began to share his faith with his peers, leading forty of his senior classmates to do the same. In 1942 he enrolled at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, while also studying at Chicago’s renowned Art Institute. He then went on to get his B.A. from Gordon College in Massachusetts and attended seminary at the Northern Baptist Seminary.
Sweeting was ordained as a pastor in 1945 and began his ministry at the Hawthorne Gospel Church. He also began traveling as an artist-evangelist speaking to audiences in the East, Midwest and the South, and drawing illustrated sermons with his portable easel. He later pastored churches in New Jersey, including Grace Church in Passaic and the inner-city Madison Avenue Baptist Church in Patterson, New Jersey.
When he was only 16, he met his future wife Margaret Hildegard Schnell at a church youth event. After their seven-year courtship, they were married on June 14, 1947. They recently celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary. Together they raised four sons.
In 1966, the Moody Church in Chicago extended a call to him to become its senior pastor. Sweeting again engaged in a ministry of church revitalization. In 1970, he was called to become the sixth president of the Moody Bible Institute and ushered that school into ambitious years of growth—expanding its ministries through undergraduate enrollment, radio outreach, publishing and a pastors’ conference.
When the school was tempted to move to the suburbs, he recommitted the school to serve the inner city of Chicago. In 1987 he became Moody’s chancellor.
Through the years, Sweeting also engaged in a wider ministry preaching extensively in Germany after the war, the British Isles, Europe, Asia and all over America. He also authored more than 30 books.
After serving as chancellor, Sweeting returned to pastoral ministry. At age 80, he served as the director of senior adult ministries for 13 years at Chain of Lakes Bible Church. At age 93, he retired and began writing his final book, Full Circle, which was published by Moody Press in 2022. In his later years he again took up drawing until he died.
Through the years he enjoyed many activities with family and friends including baseball, gardening, planting trees, golf, art and writing. Along the way he met world leaders that included President Reagan, Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin of Israel, and he was a friend of Billy Graham.
Sweeting received honorary doctorates from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Tennessee Temple University, John Brown University and Azuza Pacific University.
But more than anything else, he was a loving husband, dedicated father and grandfather.
He not only taught his family about Christ, the Bible, and the gospel, he also taught them to love nature, great art, reading, travel, and education. He modeled generosity and talked about the importance of laughing and the futility of worry.
He told his grandchildren about the importance of their choices, discipline, goal setting, focus, enthusiasm, strong families, love, faithfulness, and finishing well. He made them laugh and kept them motivated.
Sweeting leaves a great legacy and an example of a life well lived. He is a giant who will be missed, though he will live on in the memories of those who knew him.
George Sweeting was preceded in death by his siblings, William J. Sweeting, Norman Sweeting, and his dear granddaughter, Aubrey Grace.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Margaret Hildegard; sons, George David (Anne), James Douglas (Gail), Donald William (Christina) and Robert Bruce (Denise); 11 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren; sisters Anne Halma, Mary Yarrington, and Martha Thompson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial/funeral service will be held at the Chain of Lakes Community Bible Church on Monday, September 16, 2024, at 11:00 AM (43 W. Grass Lake Rd., Lake Villa, IL 60046). Visitation will take place at the church on Sunday, September 15, 2024 from 4:00-7:00 PM.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, to give a gift in his memory to the George Sweeting World Evangelism Scholarship at the Moody Bible Institute, 820 N. LaSalle Blvd., Chicago, IL 60610. Gifts can also be made online at Moody- Donate Now designating the gift for the George Sweeting Scholarship in the “additional information section.”
Arrangements were entrusted to Strang Funeral Home, 1055 Main St., Antioch, IL 60002. Please call 847-395-4000 with any questions.
DR. GEORGE SWEETING, 6TH PRESIDENT, MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE (1924 –2024) | Christian Breaking News!