Israel Ortiz

Israel Ortiz is a native of Guatemala. He studied for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theology at Central American Theological Seminary in Guatemala; he earned a bachelor’s in sociology at the National University of San Carlos of Guatemala and completed his PhD in philosophy at Wales University, UK. Dr. Ortiz has been involved in student ministry with IFES for 28 years. He has served as General Secretary of the Guatemalan movement and Regional Secretary for Mexico, Central America and Panama. He has also been involved in theological issues with the Latin America Theological Fraternity as Regional Secretary for Central America, as president of the Continental Executive Board, and as a teacher in various theological entities in Guatemala. He was a member of the General Assembly of World Mission of Guatemala for 25 years, president of the National Executive Board, and president of the Forum of World Vision International for Latin America and the Caribbean region. Along with his colleagues, he founded two churches in Guatemala City. He is currently the founder and director of Ezra Centre, a Guatemalan foundation dedicated to biblical and theological training for leadership since 2009. Dr. Ortiz is the editor of the books A Latin American Perspective of Mission and Christian and Politics. He is married to Lily Escobar, and they have three children (Emily, Israel, and Alex).