by Linda Piepenbrink

Speaking to 187 alumni who attended the Alumni Banquet at Founder’s Week 2022 on February 4, Moody President Dr. Mark Jobe offered a special shout-out to the alumnus who traveled the greatest distance to Chicago.

Graham Barker ’71 covered 14,000 miles with 25 hours of flying from Australia to attend his 50th class reunion, which was virtual last year. Graham served for 50 years with Youth for Christ while tentmaking as a clinical psychologist in Sydney.

The solid biblical foundation Graham received at Moody, he says, established the necessary roots for his additional training.

“Guys like Howard Whaley, Stan Gundry, the history and the theology that was integrated into the classes, it’s just stood me for years,” Graham said. “So I’m very, very grateful.”

Also thankful for Moody is Josiah Choms ’97, a former class president who came back from Nigeria for his 25th reunion. Recalling his triple major in Bible, theology, and international ministries, he said, “I was hungry like you would not believe.”

Today Josiah is an author and pastor of Evangelical Church of West Africa, founded by SIM in Nigeria.

During the banquet, Alumni Association Executive Director Nancy (Andersen ’80) Hastings and her husband, Doug ’79, Vice President of Moody Radio, received a Distinguished Service Award (for 25 and 40 years of service, respectively). Both are retiring in February. At the Thursday, February 3 session, new Executive Director Jeff Bope ’11 surprised Nancy with flowers and a video honoring her for her 25 years of service.