Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 3
Clayton’s turning point into long-term city ministry began with copying Dwight Moody—walking streets to recruit fourth graders when none showed up; what does that story reveal about God’s use of ordinary initiative rather than “originality,” and where do you resist that kind of simple, public, potentially awkward obedience?
Another way to ask: Clayton started long-term ministry by copying Dwight Moody—walking streets to invite kids when no one showed up. What does that say about God using simple effort instead of being “original,” and where do you avoid that kind of public, awkward obedience?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
The story suggests God often uses simple, borrowed obedience—ordinary initiative done in faith—more than impressive originality, and Clayton models stepping into awkward public action when ministry “fails” at first.
- Clayton tells how he played “the Moody stories” on radio and learned Moody’s approach: “If you let me find the boys, will you give me a room?”
- When his (then) girlfriend had “no scholars in fourth grade,” Clayton resisted quitting and said, “let’s do what Dwight Moody did.”
- They went “down the streets” asking kids, “Are you in fourth grade?” and by two weeks she had “12 fourth graders” and “the biggest class.”
- Clayton explicitly downplays originality: “I’m not very original… I hear from other people, and I say, well, I just did what Dwight Moody did.”
- That small act led to long-term calling: he agreed to come “for six months” and “been here for 35 years now.”