By 1912, Monon Railroad was not satisfied with the current management and began looking for new park managers. E.Y. Woolley, Associate Pastor of the Moody Church of Chicago had the vision of a conference grounds & a summer camp for those who attended the Moody Church. Early in 1914, Woolley's vision became fulfilled when the Monon Railroad gave the church permission to become the new manager of Monon Park. In 1915, Paul Rader became pastor of the church and was very instrumental in the work at Cedar Lake. The Church accepted the wooded park as a gift and promised to take good care of the grounds and lake front. The excursion trains would continue with trains running with tickets sold to Christian groups in need of summer outings. The Church made many improvements, which resulted in an increase in picnic crowds. By 1919, Monon Park was officially sold to the Moody Church for the total sum of $1. The park was now the Moody Assembly Grounds at Cedar Lake.

To meet a need for overnight lodging, Mr. Glendenning gave his hotel to the Moody Church's Conference Grounds. The Reverend Charles Watt was known as an expert carpenter. Watt and his helpers literally cut the huge Glendenning Hotel into two pieces. They then moved the sections deeper into the park property, where they were reassembled to become once again a tourist abode. The building was dedicated in 1919. Other permanent buildings were constructed and named for loyal church members.

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