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A Tribute to Max, by Doug Stringer
By Jeremy | November 22, 2008
My friend Doug Stringer emailed the following tribute to our mutual friend R. Max Torres late last night. Here’s to remembering a man who lived life to the Max.
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As some of you may have heard, Max Torres riding his motorcycle to church was in a fatal motorcycle accident this past Tuesday evening (Nov. 18). Overflow and standing room only crowds filled the sanctuary at El Tabernaculo Assembly of God, the gymnasium and chapel, while hundreds were turned away. Many testified of how he impacted their lives, from those he rescued, those he mentored and encouraged, to community leaders, pastors, local and congressional leaders. I can only imagine what the funeral service tomorrow will be like. Truly, his passion for God, his love for his family and friends, as well as his care for people, was reflected in the overwhelming response of so many from all backgrounds. Please keep his wife and family in your prayers
MAX TORRES
October 23, 1955 – November 19, 2008
I first met Max Torres when I was doing ministry on streets of Houston back in the ‘80s. He was new in town and began coming out on the streets with me. He had a deep, deep passion for the emerging generation and the less fortunate. Later we would work together on other projects, such as the gang intervention curriculum we helped put together for the public schools, partnering with the HPD Outreach Division.
Max went on some international trips with me to Fiji and various other nations to be a translator. Everyone was so impressed at his ability to multi-task! There he was, translating, taking notes, and snapping pictures all at the same time! He was a man who embraced cultural traditions and loved learning all about the places where he traveled. In Fiji, he even bought and wore a sulu—which is the traditional clothing of the men there, but we would call it a skirt! That was his way of showing them honor.
When Hurricane Katrina hit, Max had a contract job that just happened to be ending, so he jumped right in to help us. He spent weeks helping in Beaumont and surrounding areas, driving trucks of supplies from our warehouse to places that were devastated and otherwise would have been forgotten. He also helped us host work-teams from Japan, and he was always ready with a camera to take pictures or videos for us.
He is also the one who convinced me Starbucks coffee is actually good! We were at a church in Beaumont, with no electricity and sleeping on cots. All I wanted, though, was a good cup of coffee. Max immediately sprung into action to get a generator going so we could hook up a coffee pot. Then he pulled out a package of Starbucks coffee, which is not my favorite coffee—but that night, it was the best cup of coffee I ever had! This year, when Ike was headed our way, I made sure we had a generator reserved specifically so we could run our coffee machine!
It was obvious from the beginning that Max really loved people, especially his family. Once I gave him the set of golf clubs I had inherited from my stepfather, because I’m not a golfer. He said they were the best gift I could have given him because they gave him the opportunity to spend time with his sons.
Whenever he talked about Dahlia, his face would light up. He used to tell us how just a smile from her still made his heart melt! Max brought his guitar nearly everywhere he went, and I remember how he and Dahlia harmonized so beautifully as they led Christmas carols at one of our TPMI and Somebody Cares Christmas parties.
A couple of years ago, I attended a banquet celebrarting the 50th anniversary in ministry for Dahlia’s parents, and I had the honor of sitting with Max’s parents. He was so proud of his whole family, including his parents and his in-laws.
Max was also loyal. I remember when he drove overnight from California to be at the funeral when our friend Larry’s son died in a tragic mishap. He was always there when his friends and family needed him, no matter what the cost.
So many people have shared how they had just been thinking about Max in the days right before the accident. I received so many emails, literally from all over the world, and they all say the same thing: How Max was a man full of passion, who loved God and his family. They also remember how Max always made them laugh—he even said once that’s why Dahlia married him, because he made her laugh! But most of all they remember that he had a way of making everyone feel like they were special to him, and important to God.
There’s a restaurant near my offie where we often go for staff lunches, and the waiters and waitresses nicknamed Max, “Senor Comanche.” Just the other day, one of them said to me, “I haven’t seen Senor Comanche in a while. How is he doing?” When I told her and the owner the news of his homegoing, it was obvious by their emotional response that Max had made an impact and had an influence on their lives.
Emily, our receptionist, remembers how she would ask Max every day when he walked through the door how, “How are you today, Max?” His answer was always the same, “I’m glad to be alive!” She also remembers how he came to comfort her one day when she was missing her recently deceased husband. “It’s OK to cry,” he told her, reminding her that the sadness of her loss was part of the beauty of the bond of marriage.
Kathy Alex from our ministry wrote this email: “Max Torres was one of the most powerful men who partnered with and was ever hired by Somebody Cares. He was so powerful because he was so resourceful. One Friday night Pastor Doug was out of town and Max ministered to us. The title of his message was ‘We are Pilgrims’ and he talked about the Christian journey—he had me at the edge of my seat! What a great gift to the Body of Christ. He deserves a Lamentation and a Celebration!”
So today, we lament the loss of our brother and friend, our partner and co-laborer. Dahlia and their children lament the loss of their husband and their dad. And many, many young people of this church and in this city lament the loss of their mentor and their advocate.
Yet we celebrate the life of Max Tores, a life well lived. A life well lived is not about the number of years that we spend on this earth, but in knowing that we were able to love deeply, and that we were deeply loved. Max truly lived such a life—he did love deeply, and he was very deeply loved. He left an indelible imprint and even an eternal impact on many, many lives.
The McCuen clan of the Scots used the word Reviresco, describing, “We shall overcome all adversity…we shall rise again…” Truly Max, you have finished your race well, you have overcome…you have risen again.” Reviresco my friend!!
Topics: death, doug stringer, grief, legacy, life, loss, max torres | 1 Comment »
November 25th, 2008 at 5:41 am
Enter how he impacted your life…leave a message to his family and view how he made an impact:
http://www.legacy.com/HoustonChronicle/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=120440907