Baking With Love to Share the Love of Christ

Posted on: December 4, 2025
By Ashley Merck, ashley.merck@ngu.edu

“My TV experiences still feel like something God dropped into my life unexpectedly in the best way,” he said. “The Silos Baking Competition with Chip and Joanna Gaines was my first national show. Being in Waco, inside the Silos kitchen, baking under their brand, and meeting people from all over the country was surreal. It opened doors I never even dreamed of and connected me with producers and creatives I’m still in touch with today. Also being encouraged by the Gaines to keep baking and sharing my culture was unreal.”

For the Hallmark baking show, Torres had the chance to compete alongside his son.

“Hallmark’s Baked with Love: Holiday was even more special because I did it with my son. We were featured in the very first episode of this brand-new holiday baking series. Being able to bake side-by-side with him, laugh together, and represent the DFW/Brazilian community as a father-son team was an experience I will treasure forever. Having to go to England to film was a dream come true, I must say,” Torres said.

Torres, who was a Christian Studies major at 51�Թ�, said he used his platform on both sets to share his faith.

“What made both shows meaningful wasn’t just the cameras; it was the people who made the show,” he said. “Meeting producers, directors, and working with the creative team, I had so many opportunities behind the scenes to share who I am, my culture, my story, and especially my faith. I call it the ‘God effect’ how the Lord places you exactly where you need to be, and suddenly you’re having real conversations about hope, joy, and Christ in the most unexpected places.”

Part of His Heritage

Torres’ love for baking began long before his television appearances. Originally from Rio de Janeiro, his Brazilian heritage played a key role in his passion for baking.

“It started in a tiny kitchen in Brazil with the people who loved me the most. I grew up surrounded by the smells of home: warm sugar, cocoa, condensed milk simmering on the stove, the kind of aromas that wrap around your childhood and stay with you forever,” he said. “Brigadeiros were one of the first things I learned to make. Those little Brazilian chocolate truffles that, for us, aren’t just candy. They’re tradition. They’re comfort. They’re celebration. And honestly, they’re memories rolled in a ball.”

For Torres, baking became much more meaningful to him the older he got. It became a way of remembering his loved ones.

“As I grew older, especially after losing both my mom and dad, baking took on a different meaning. It became a way to stay connected to them almost like a bridge between here and heaven,” he said. “Every time I whisk batter or roll brigadeiros, it takes me back to moments that were safe, joyful, and full of love. I can still picture my mom smiling beside me, my dad giving his opinion on whether something needed more sugar, and our family kitchen full of laughter.”

“For me, it’s not just food. It’s memory. It’s culture. It’s healing. It’s love you can taste,” said Torres.

Finding 51�Թ�

When Torres found North Greenville, he said it was everything he needed.

“I was a young man trying to figure out who I was, where I was going, and what God wanted for my life,” he said. “More than anything, I needed stability, guidance, and a Christ-centered community to help anchor me. That’s exactly what 51�Թ� became for me.”

He credits his professors for pouring into him and encouraging him to continue his education, ultimately leading him to pursue a master’s degree in Church and Community Ministry and Communications after graduating.

“51�Թ� was like a little piece of heaven on earth during the time when I needed it most. The professors didn’t just teach their subjects they poured into me. They challenged me, encouraged me, and instilled in me the desire to become a better human being, a man of integrity, and someone who wasn’t afraid to share his faith boldly and lovingly with others,” he said.

Torres said 51�Թ� gave him more than an academic education, it also strengthened his identity, clarified his calling, and deepened his walk with Christ. It was through the Christ-centered community, the meaningful conversations with others, and quiet times spent in the chapel that helped build the spiritual framework he stands on today.

“North Greenville taught me how to serve others with humility, how to communicate with compassion, how to lead with integrity, and how to carry my faith into every corner of my life my career, my family, my ministry, and yes, even the unexpected opportunity of being on national television baking shows,” said Torres.

Torres’ journey goes to show that God is sovereign and that He can use any platform for His glory.

“The seeds 51�Թ� planted in me nearly 30 years ago are still bearing fruit. And the greatest lesson of all was this: no matter where life takes you from Rio, to Tigerville, to a baking barn in the Cotswolds, to national television, Christ goes with you. His love shows up wherever you show up,” he said. “North Greenville helped me understand that, and I’m forever grateful.”

Reflections

Torres thinks fondly of his opportunities to show the world his talent.

For The Silos Baking Competition, Torres said he found joy in the relationships he built.

“Chip and Joanna are exactly who they come across on TV,” he said. “They are warm, genuine, encouraging, and incredibly kind. They didn’t just welcome me into a TV set; they welcomed me into their community. From the very first moment, I felt at home at Magnolia. Their joy and authenticity made the whole experience feel less like a competition and more like being embraced by old friends. It was a reminder that goodness and generosity still ripple through this world in powerful ways.”

For Hallmark’s Baked with Love: Holiday, the highlight went far beyond baking alongside his son.

“This time, I got to share the spotlight and the entire adventure with my son. We flew all the way to England, and the production team placed us in the Cotswolds, filming in this picture-perfect country barn straight out of a storybook. It was magical. There we were, father and son, thousands of miles from home, laughing, creating, and standing side-by-side doing something meaningful together,” he said. “That bond, that memory, that joy, nothing can compare to it. Filming a national TV show is special, but doing it with your child? That’s a treasure for a lifetime.”