Max Torres

Max Torres, was the founder and director of CrossRoad Youth Ministry of El Tabernaculo Assembly in Houston, Texas. Since 1982, his public school involvement has ranged from being a motivational speaker in classes and school assemblies, weekly programs targeting drug abuse and student/family intervention in crisis situations. From 1994 to 1997, he functioned as a Community Liaison with the Houston Police Department coordinating activities with various groups, including assignments with Houston's Spanish speaking population. He served as the 2004-2005 City Coordinator for the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative in Houston. He was a field representative for Somebody Cares America and served as the Director of Programs at Bayshore Christian Ministries in East Palo Alto, California. Max currently working for Communities in School at the Boys & Girls Club of America

Since June 1986 he served as Youth Pastor at El Tabernaculo Assembly of God, where Reverend J.C. Cantu has pastored since 1956. CrossRoad has trained many volunteers for service in various ministries with an emphasis on relational student ministry. As positive role models, these volunteers have had an impact on the lives of many students. Weekly outreach events attract scores of youth who might be otherwise distracted by gangs or drug activity. Both he and his wife Dahlia embrace the unceasing task of being 'an open ear, caring heart, and extended hand' to many of today's troubled youth which we choose to call “AT-PROMISE” instead of “AT-RISK.”

Max served seven years under two mayoral administrations on the Joint City/County Commission on Children as one of twenty commissioners advocating on behalf of the interests of children under the age of eighteen. In 1998, he was invited to serve on the Advisory Committee of the National Network of Youth Ministry. He was an adjunct professor with College of Biblical Studies in Houston, one of the nation's largest Urban Centered Bible Colleges, teaching Principles of Basic Youth Ministry. A pilot ministry with Student Venture (Campus Crusade) called City Venture was established to target and benefit urban youth and communities by providing positive activities as well as leadership development programs.

In 1995, he received the FBI Community Leader's Award for Drug Prevention. He is a graduate of the United Way's ‘Project Blueprint’ Board Development Program. In 1998, he received the James L. Marshall Community Service Award in conjunction with 1998 Recognition by the U.S. Congress for community involvement. He also is 2002 Alumni of the Houston Citizens Police Academy, Class 28. He chaired the Hispanic committee of Houston's Healthy Marriage Initiative.

Board involvement: Leadership Center of Houston [Texas Cooperative Extension Urban 4H leadership development for youth. Advisory Board member for “Somebody Cares Houston” & Adopt-a-Gang prayer effort; co-developer of the Youth Guidance Consultant curriculum for training volunteers to deal with at-risk youth; past President and Public Relations director for the Hispanic Ministers Against Crime sponsored by the Houston Police Department. Max has also served with the Houston Mayor's T-CAP Committee and Task Force, Texan's War on Drugs, Houston Council of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, the March of Dimes “Comenzando Bien” prenatal program, Houston Independent School District's Drug Free Schools & Communities Advisory Group, the Coalition of Ministers Against Crime, Houston Crackdown, and numerous Drug Prevention conferences, including the 1992 P.R.I.D.E. World Drug Conference. He has also participated in the 1996 NAACP National Conference and the University of Houston College of Social Studies 1996 & 1998 American Humanics Retreat. He was directly involved in Houston Independent School District’s Student Retention efforts. Media appearances dealing with the issues faced by today's youth have led to opportunities to cooperate with various educational and community groups both locally and internationally.

Dahlia Torres
9003 Glen Shadow
Houston, Texas 77088