The Torrey Memorial Bible Conference is a steadfast tradition at Biola University. What was sometimes known as “Torrey Week,” the conference was designed to be a week dedicated to biblical exposition and has endured through all of Biola’s iterations, proving to be one of Biola’s longest-lasting commitments.

The conference held its first session in 1936 at Biola’s original location in Downtown Los Angeles, when the school was known as the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. When it first began, it was a conference focused on spoken, written and missional evangelism. It remained a constant throughout pivotal moments in Biola’s history such as the global conflict of World War II, when Biola moved to La Mirada in 1959 and when it earned university status in 1982. Celebrating its 90th annual conference this October, the Torrey Memorial Bible Conference and its long-lasting legacy are just 90 years young, with its influence continually unfolding every year.

Every year, the conference is themed around a Bible passage. One of the very early themes of the conference was “Jesus is Coming!” based on Revelation 22:20, where God says that he is “coming soon.” The theme for the 25th annual Torrey Conference in 1971 was based on 1 Corinthians 3:12, the passage where building a strong foundation is illustrated. Ten years ago, in 2015, the 80th annual conference theme, “Altær: Living Sacrifices. Transformed by Worship,” was influenced by Romans 12:1-2, where believers in God are called to be “living sacrifices.” 

students during Torrey conference 1971
Students lounging on the lawn during the 1971 Torrey Conference

This year, the conference theme is “Childlike,” inspired by Luke 18:15-17, where Jesus tells his disciples that those who have faith like that of little children will enter the Kingdom of God.

According to the conference website, the theme is an encouragement to students to “sync to God's tempo this Torrey Conference and discover what children intuitively know: that non-anxious presence matters more than productivity, that vulnerability creates meaningful connection rather than disadvantage and that joy-filled faith flourishes not in frantic activity but in the sacred, intentional spaces where we realize we are fully seen, known and loved by our Father.”

Looking back, the conference was introduced to Biola by Dr. Paul W. Rood, president of Biola beginning in 1935, the year before Biola hosted the inaugural Torrey Conference. The conference was created to honor , one of Biola’s founders and first dean from 1912-1924. It was initially held for a week in late January to commemorate his birthday. During his lifetime, Torrey was an esteemed educator, preacher and author of over 40 books who had a heart for those who did not know Jesus Christ.

image shows R.A. Torrey

According to one of his close colleagues in the faith, Dr. W.B. Riley, “in the judgment of the orthodox Christians and preachers, R.A. Torrey stood near, if not at, the top!” The Torrey Conference was meant to encourage Biola students in deeper study of the Bible, as reflected in the 1973 conference theme, “The Word of God for Every Generation!”

In his welcome during the opening session of the 90th Torrey Conference on October 8, 2025, President of Biola, Barry H. Corey, reflected on Torrey’s lasting legacy and why the conference has endured for so long.

“During R.A. Torrey’s junior year at Yale, Jesus captured his heart, and he committed his life to trusting Christ’s plan for him and to teaching others the gospel,” said Corey. “I think you will all agree that Biola is, still, not just another college or seminary, but a unique place made vibrant by the heart and the mind of Christ abiding in each of you and the Spirit of God working in and through our community. That is why we host the Torrey Memorial Bible Conference each year, helping you, college students, as R.A. Torrey did, to grow as disciples of Christ, loving God with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength.”

In 1969, Torrey Conference was described as a conference created to “saturate Southern California with outstanding Bible teaching with a primary emphasis in exchange of thought between the speakers and individual students.” With each conference offering a variety of breakout sessions focused on popular topics among Christians and society and the development of sTorrey Slam, a session where speakers share personal testimonies based on the theme, this goal is still being lived out at Torrey Conferences today. While the Torrey Memorial Bible Conference might be gaining in years, its legacy is fresh at heart, still providing Biola students with solid teaching in Scripture, worship and biblical exposition even 90 years later.

In the words of Torrey himself, “Shall we have a revival of great power extended over many lands? I believe we shall. God grant that this Book may hasten.”

Biola University hosts two annual conferences and values educating its students through guest speakers, experiential sites and purposefully tailored seminars on topics of today. Classes are paused during the conferences so students can fully immerse in the sessions. Apply to Biola today to experience the number one Christian college in California.

Written by Sarah Dougher, media relations specialist. For more information, email media.relations@biola.edu.