Evangelist R.A. Torrey
(1856-1928)
“If you are this moment troubled about any sin that you have ever committed, either in the past or in the present, just look at Jesus on the cross. It is an act of base ingratitude to God to brood over sins that He in His infinite love has canceled.”
Torrey grew up in a wealthy home, attended Yale University and Divinity
School, and studied abroad. During his early student days at Yale, young
Torrey became an agnostic and a heavy drinker. But even during the days of
his “wildlife,” he was strangely aware of a conviction that someday he was
to preach the Gospel. At the end of his senior year in college, he was
saved.
While at Yale Divinity School, he came under the influence of D.
L. Moody. Little did Moody know the mighty forces he was setting in motion
in stirring young R. A. Torrey to service!
After Moody died, Torrey took on the world-girdling revival
campaigns in Australia, New Zealand, England and America.
Like many other giants for God, Torrey shone best, furthest and
brightest as a personal soul winner. This one man led 100,000 to Christ in a
revival that circled the globe!
Dr. Torrey’s education was obtained in the best schools and
universities of higher learning. Fearless, quick, imaginative and scholarly,
he was a tough opponent to meet in debate. He was recognized as a great
scholar, yet his ministry was marked by simplicity.
It was because of his outstanding scholastic ability and
evangelistic fervor that Moody handpicked Torrey to become superintendent of
his infant Moody Bible Institute. In 1912, Torrey became dean of BIOLA,
where he served until 1924, pastoring the Church of the Open Door in Los
Angeles from 1915 to 1924.
Torrey’s books have probably reached more people indirectly and
helped more people to understand the Bible and to have power to win souls,
than the writings of any other man since the Apostle Paul, with the possible
exceptions of Spurgeon and Rice, Torrey was a great Bible teacher, but most
of all he was filled with the Holy Spirit.
He greatly influenced the life of Dr. John R. Rice.
SOURCE: Biographies of Great Men
