Apryl Ortiz

 

Apryl was raised in the church in a rural community and responded to Christ as her Savior at a young age, but did not acknowledge her true calling until much later in life. After her parents divorced, she not only suffered the negative effects of a broken home, but also survived multiple instances of sexual abuse and rape in her childhood and teen years. She soon turned to a life of violence, drugs, and sex to still her rage. Enduring a toxic marriage of her own, Apryl had 3 daughters with her first husband by the time she turned 20. It wasn’t until after her divorce that she rediscovered transformative grace in embracing her heavenly Father, who through all of her pain had always been close at hand.

Apryl found a new fervor for serving the Lord through her involvement with Youth for Christ, where she developed relationships with hurting students and used her powerful gift of prayer to share the grace she had received. She served for 12 years as a Campus Life director and impacted the lives of hundreds of students. Honoring and redeeming His daughter again, the Lord led her into a new journey with Ozzie Ortiz, whom she married in 2004. During her years by Ozzie’s side, as a youth and young adult minister at First Christian Church in El Centro, California, she raised up countless young women to be teachers, prayer warriors, and disciples to live out the Great Commission.

Apryl currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband Ozzie. She is the mother of three grown daughters and a grandmother to her sweet grandson. God continues to move mightily on her behalf as He opens doors for her to share her redemption story to young women across the country and around the world.