Biography

Dr. Fernando Ortiz is a graduate of Andrews University, where he completed both his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry in missions with an emphasis in Youth Ministry. During his 20 years of ministry, Dr. Ortiz has worked in a variety of pastoral roles in Honduras, Brazil, and the United States. From 1995–2000, he served first as the Youth Pastor and then as the Senior Pastor at the Berrien Springs Spanish Church. In 2000, he served as youth pastor and later interim senior pastor at the Battle Creek Tabernacle in Battle Creek, Michigan. From 2003-2011, he pastored the Bloomington and Bedford churches in the Indiana Conference. Since 2011, Dr. Ortiz has served as the Master of Divinity program director at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. He is the creator of Youth Sabbath, and outreach and retention ministry for youth now present in 30 countries. He also founded Care for Cuba, an initiative to equip Cuban pastors and Bible workers with crucial resources to share the gospel. Since the study tour to Cuba began in 2013, more than 150 MDiv students have attended the trip and over 1,400 precious souls have been baptized. Dr. Ortiz and his wife, Daniela, have three sons, Daniel, Samuel and David. His hobbies include spending time with his family, preaching, teaching, traveling and vision casting with his students.