LIFT Board Members
Jane Keck — Board Member
Jane grew up in northwestern PA, met her husband Tom in college, and moved to Phoenix a few years after getting married. She and Tom have been married for 46 years, have 2 sons and 4 grandchildren. She has a master’s degree in counseling through Liberty University’s distance learning program. After attending the Valley West Women’s Bible Study, she joined the teaching team and served in that role for 15 years. She also became the Women’s Ministry Director at Northwest Community Church and served in that role for 11 years.
Currently, she serves as the Deacon over Women’s Studies for Christ Church Peoria. Additionally, she serves as a table leader for the Eunice Initiative and Charles Simeon Trust Workshop for Women. She loves to study God’s word and encourage others to do so as well.
Jill Rhodes — Board Member
When she is not serving her family, Jill’s greatest love is exploring the deep riches of God’s Word. Over the last 38 years, she has shared the heart of God’s Word with women around the world through writing, teaching, and mentoring the next generations. She has written dozens of studies which the Lord has used to encourage women in over 75 nations.
She has been married for 42 years to the love of her life, David, and they have been blessed with wonderful kids and grandkids. Jill and David partner together in Grace & Glory Ministries and Jill serves as Women’s Minister at Wellspring Church in Goodyear, Arizona.
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Lori Schumaker — Board Member
Lori Schumaker is an AACC Certified Christian Life and Mental Health Coach, speaker, and author with a Master’s in Education and over two decades of ministry experience. She helps women break free from what keeps them stuck so they can move forward with hope and live fully, bridging Biblical truth with evidence-based mental wellness strategies through the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit.
Lori built her ministry, Unveiling Hope, from the ground up—creating resources, hosting retreats, coaching women, leading abortion recovery groups, and developing a thriving community at LoriSchumaker.com. She authored the award-winning adoption memoir Surrendered Hearts. Her hands-on experience in growing a ministry gives her unique insight into the joys and challenges women in ministry face.
Brenna Stull — Board Member
Brenna is an internationally best-selling author with her book Coach Mom: 7 Strategies for Organizing Your Family into an All-Star Team. She has been mentoring women for 25 years and has had the opportunity to impact thousands of moms everywhere from local moms group meetings to the International Mothers of Preschoolers Conference. Passionate and transparent, she inspires women to live the lives they were created for, full of purpose and joy.
Brenna and her husband Chris help couples develop powerful communication to enhance intimacy and clarity of shared family vision. Brenna, her pastor husband, and her children live in the Phoenix, Arizona area.
Julie Whaley — Board Member
As a teen-ager, Julie began a lifelong journey to growing in a deeper understanding of how God values her and other women. She has served on various ministry teams and in leadership roles over the years. Traveling from Payson to be a part of LIFT for the past 5 years has also been a blessing to her.
Julie currently serves on the Women’s Ministry Leadership Team as a Bible Study Co-coordinator at Mountain Bible Church. Julie and her husband Linton of more than 20 years have lived in Payson for 11 years on a small micro-homestead raising their goats, rabbits, chickens, a dog and a cat! They share 5 children and 8 grandchildren.
Danya Works — Board Member
A devoted follower of Jesus, Danya Works’ life is a testimony to God’s transforming grace. After fully surrendering her life at age 30, she fell in love with Scripture—a turning point that ignited her calling to study His Word and disciple women in truth and grace.
Danya has led women’s ministries across several states, including leadership roles with Bible Study Fellowship and Desert Springs Community Church. She is deeply passionate about servant leadership, curriculum development, and prayer. Beyond the church, she supports the New Life Pregnancy Center, ministering to women facing trauma, loss, or difficult pregnancy decisions.
Married to her best friend, Eugene, for 30 years, Danya is a mother of six and grandmother of two. Her family stands as a beautiful witness to God’s redemptive power. Whether serving on school boards or speaking on the sanctity of life, Danya’s heart’s desire is to glorify God, lead others toward healing, and encourage women to trust deeply in Christ.
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Apryl Ortiz — Phoenix Regional Director
Apryl Ortiz is a proud Mexican American—lovingly calling herself a “Wexican.” Raised in a farm labor family, she grew up in a “cholo church,” a community that deeply shaped her love for the Bride of Christ in all its beautiful diversity. Coming from humble beginnings, she developed a lifelong passion for serving under-resourced leaders with dignity and hope.
Apryl’s journey is one of profound redemption. After overcoming a background of brokenness and trauma, she rediscovered God’s transforming grace and spent 12 years with Youth for Christ as a Campus Life director. Since 2004, she has served alongside her husband, Ozzie, raising up disciples and prayer warriors.
Now living in Phoenix, Apryl is a mother, grandmother, and speaker. Whether through her podcast or retreats, she carries a heart for Church unity and a testimony that shouts of God’s redeeming love.
Janell Neumann–East Valley Regional Director
Janell is a wife and mother of four who has a deep heart for women and their identity in Christ. Having served in a variety of professional and vocational positions, Janell has spent time as a leader in various roles including women’s ministry table leader, children’s director, small group leader, and worship leader. Currently, Janell is the bookstore manager for Redemption Press, the nation’s largest hybrid Christian publisher.
Janell and her husband Jason continue to serve within their local church in Mesa, working on the worship and technical ministry teams. Having now been a twice published author, Janell has found a love and passion for encouraging and equipping other women to know God as their Savior and Lord and boldly stepping out to what God is calling them to do.