Rev. Luis Guillermo Torres, a beloved pastor, evangelist, and author, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, in Englewood, FL, at the age of 74. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Mobley-Groesbeck Funeral Service of Sand Springs.

Born on March 9, 1950, in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Luis was one of twelve children born to William Torres and Juana Rivera. Luis grew up in Bronx, New York City, and attended elementary school and high school. During his teenage years he was a troubled young man and faced many challenges due to his parents' divorce and family issues. He worked as a Medical Corpsman in Philadelphia but was later incarcerated because of gang involvement and drug addiction issues. At this point he had no hope. His sister, Alma, called Philadelphia Teen Challenge for help and his life took a transformative turn. Jay Cole, a Teen Challenge Minister, came to visit him and told him the story of Jesus. Luis entered the Philadelphia Teen Challenge program and on October 7, 1970, he accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. Luis' life was forever changed! For the first time, he felt unconditional love, hope, and joy and began a new journey with a new purpose. He wanted to spend his life mending broken people. His relationship with his family was restored and he led both parents to the Lord before their death.

Nine months after his conversion, Luis went to Ozark Bible School in Neosho, Missouri and became a minister to help bring healing to hurting people. In 1973, he met and married a beautiful Oklahoma girl, Gail Morris, who was the love of his life. They had two sons, Mark Wayne and Jeffrey Luis, who traveled with them to many nations of the world and to almost every state in the United States preaching the good news of Jesus and sharing his story of deliverance in crusades, churches and auditoriums.

From 1972 to 1987 Luis was a National and International Evangelist. He served as the Associate Director of the Philadelphia, PA, Teen Challenge Center and was an influential speaker for SADA (Students Against Drugs and Alcohol) in many high schools. The New Hope Music Ministry team traveled with him. Pastor Randy Lynn led the New Hope team in music. They recorded three musical projects together. In 1985, he wrote his autobiography, "Destined for Hell," which was printed in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

From 1987 to 1993 Luis became the Senior Pastor of First Assembly of God Church in Sapulpa, Oklahoma and produced a TV program in Tulsa called "Words of Hope." He was extremely civic oriented serving as Chaplain of the Creek County Sheriff's Department and was honored with a citation at the Oklahoma State Capital declaring "Luis Torres Day" in Sapulpa for all the work he did with troubled teenagers.

For thirteen years he worked closely with Mike Barber Prison Ministries going to the prisons of the world. He took great joy in sharing his deliverance story to the inmates; and also shared on many major Christian TV networks worldwide.

For five years, one of his greatest joys was to help start and direct a faith-based rehabilitation center for women called "The Oklahoma Victory Transformation Center" in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. It later evolved into an Adult Teen Challenge Center.

In 2008 until present Luis was the Senior Pastor at Sand Springs Assembly of God church in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. He wrote his book "Defeating Addictions and Life Controlling Problems" in 2022 and gave away several thousand of his books during high school assemblies and prison services. He was so happy to serve on the Creek County Community Sentencing Board which oversees drug court, probation and parole. He desired to be a Christian influence of help and strength. Working with the Christian Television Network in Tulsa, he produced a weekly TV program called "Transforming Grace," designed to bring hope to broken hurting people and all who listened.

He was a happy joyful man with an unending sense of humor that brought a smile to everyone he encountered. His favorite song was "I Want to Spend My Life Mending Broken People." As a result of the message of Christ, his favorite saying was, "Thank God for Jesus."

Luis is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 51 years, Gail Louise Morris Torres; his son, Marine Captain Jeffrey Luis Torres, and wife, Millene Nagaishi Torres of Fort Worth, TX; grandchildren, Sophie Torres and Kian Torres of Fort Worth, TX; and his siblings: Alma Vargas of Florida, Nancy Torres of New York City, Sylvia De Jesus of Philadelphia, and William Torres Jr., Ervin Torres, Noel Torres, William Torres, and Tony De Jesus living in various states. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Torres and Juana Rivera; his son, Mark Wayne Torres; and his sisters: Nelia Torres, Patty Rodriguez, and Marcy DeJesus.

A memorial service celebrating Luis' life will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at Praise Center Ministries in Sapulpa. Rev. Luis Guillermo Torres's legacy of love, faith, and hope will continue to inspire and uplift those whose lives he touched. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Leave your memories of Luis and view his tribute online at www.mogro.co.