The 2009 National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) conference in Nashville, Tenn. proved to be a significant event this year for Moody Radio as well as a few Moody students.

WMBI/Moody Radio Chicago was recognized as NRB Large Market Station of the Year. For a station to be considered for this award, it must be innovative, locally focused and positively impact the local population through community service and outreach.

“In 2008 Moody Radio Chicago challenged listeners and they responded dramatically to a call for local and global compassion,” said Bruce Everhart, manager, Moody Radio Marketing and Development.  “They sponsored more than 1000 children through Compassion International, signed on to support an additional 300 sponsors for World Vision and donated more than 6500 backpacks to the Chicago Public Schools.”

The recognition didn’t stop there. Moody Radio Chicago was also named Focus on the Family's large market station of the year. John Fuller, vice president for audio and new media at Focus on the Family, said that "partnering with WMBI for almost 30 years has been a real blessing for Focus on the Family.” Moody Radio airs the daily Focus on the Family broadcast as well as the popular weekly Adventures in Odyssey radio program.

Chris Fabry of Chris Fabry Live! was awarded the 2009 NRB Media Award for Radio Air Personality – Talk. When determining on-air personality award recipients, NRB states that the individual must be “compelling, relevant, informative, personable and entertaining while demonstrating an authentic Christian faith in one’s on-air announcing.

“The words most often used to describe Chris Fabry are real, humble, open, honest and caring.  His program is often described as compelling, fun, humorous, deep and comfortable,” said Collin Lambert, manager, Chicago Programming Team. “Chris is truly deserving of this award and we are honored to call him a part of the Moody Radio family.”

Not only did Moody Radio manage to impress the NRB community, but so did three students who submitted projects from their radio courses at Moody Bible Institute. Moody students Micah Bournes, David Todd Murray and Danielle Dalencour received Intercollegiate National Religious Broadcasters (iNRB) Production Awards in the Public Service Announcement (PSA) and Radio Drama categories.

“It’s been a great year and the team at Moody Radio is well deserving of these special awards from our peers in the NRB community,” said Everhart.