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unique feature of the school grew from Moody's belief that the world
needed energetic evangelists who could preach about God to the great
masses of people living in the cities. Moody created a special curriculum
that taught theology, personal character, and the practical skills for
reaching out to diverse people. He used a "learn-by-doing" approach that
sent students out to the streets of Chicago to begin their ministry.
Students worked with evangelic enthusiasm in all areas of the city, from
the slums to the wealthy business districts to teach people about God.
This last strategy was criticized by some. Some people thought that if
people were poor it was a punishment from God and therefore the poor
were not deserving of a church. Many more people were uncomfortable
with Mr. Moody's policy of allowing Negroes into the same church service
as whites, even though the "colored folk" were segregated into the upper
balcony of the church. Mr. Moody was unyielding in his desire to preach
to all races of people and would not preach in any city that did not permit
him to do this.

Although Moody was deeply involved in the operation of the school, he
was also committed to a busy schedule of worldwide travel. He selected a
well-educated theologian, Dr. R.A. (Rueben Archer) Torrey, to supervise the
growth and operation of the Bible Institute. Dr. Torrey was educated at
Yale, Yale Divinity School, and at two German universities. He was
ordained in the Congregational Church, and this apparently influenced Will
Poot to first ordain in the same denomination. Dr. Torrey was a gifted
writer and speaker. He presented student lectures and gave guest
sermons in the Moody Church. After Mr. Moody died, Dr. Torrey became
increasingly involved in continuing Moody's evangelic crusades. Dr. Torrey
resigned about 1905 to devote himself to evangelizing. Will Poot
remained in touch with Dr. Torrey over the years, and eventually, they both
moved to southern California.

It is likely that Will gave occasional sermons in the Gano Reformed Church
as part of his training. He also spent part of 1897 preaching, probably on
the streets of Chicago and at Moody's Gospel Mission on 33rd street in the
Stockyard District. Moody was committed to the YMCA (Young Men's
Christian Association) as a religious organization. He may have urged his
students to be active at the YMCA.

The Moody Bible Institute currently offers four-year programs of study. In
the 1890's the usual course of study required three years. However, Will
Poot followed an aggressive study and testing plan that allowed him to
graduate in only two years.

His first exams in the Spring of 1898 were a bit shaky. The burdens of his
accelerated coursework, the additional classes at the University of
Chicago, his employment, distractions of the big city, and personal
romance, may have put him behind where he needed to be in his studies.
Undeterred, he worked hard and was able to earn glowing final

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