Johnson, Torrey Maynard, 1909-

Evangelist, pastor, first president of Youth for Christ; born in the Chicago area, March 15, 1909; graduated from Wheaton College (B.S., 1930); married Evelyn Nilsen, 1930; in 1933 helped found the Midwest Bible Church in Chicago and served as its pastor until 1953; received a bachelor of divinity degree from Northern Baptist Seminary in 1936 and was a professor there until 1940; in the early 1940s participated in the creation of various Evangelical organizations, including Youth for Christ which elected him its first president, 1945, a post he held until his resignation in 1948; preached as an independent evangelist throughout the United States and also Europe, South America, Africa and East Asia; in 1967 became the senior pastor at Bibletown Community Church and president of the Bibletown Conference Center in Florida; retired from these posts in 1985; instrumental in starting two Christian retirement centers, including Windsor Manor Park in Carol Stream, Illinois.