April Osteen Simons is an American author, motivational speaker, and pastor born in 1967 to John and Dodie Osteen, founders of Lakewood Church. She co-founded High Point Church with her husband Gary Simons and authored “Better Than Ever,” inspiring millions through faith-based content across multiple platforms.
Early Life
Who are April’s parents?
April Osteen Simons was born in 1967 to Pastor John and Dodie Osteen, who founded Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. She grew up as the youngest of five siblings in a household deeply rooted in Christian ministry. Her father, John Osteen, pastored Lakewood Church for over four decades before passing away in January 1999.
The Osteen family faced significant challenges that shaped April’s perspective on faith and resilience. When April’s sister Lisa was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and brain damage, the family prayed continuously and witnessed her gradual healing. These early experiences with miraculous healing would later influence April’s ministry approach.
In 1981, April’s mother Dodie was diagnosed with stage four liver cancer at age 48 and given only weeks to live. April watched her mother literally stand on her Bible while praying, refusing to give up hope. This profound display of faith became a defining moment in April’s spiritual development.
How did family tragedies shape her?
After John Osteen’s sudden death from a heart attack in 1999 at age 77, April again witnessed her mother’s remarkable resilience. Rather than retreating into grief, Dodie “turned the page and blazed a trail forward,” demonstrating the strength that April would later embody in her own ministry.
These family experiences taught April valuable lessons about maintaining hope during adversity. She learned that focusing on faith rather than fear could transform seemingly impossible situations into testimonies of divine intervention.
Professional Career
What does April do professionally?
April Osteen Simons serves as senior pastor at High Point Church in Arlington, Texas, which she co-founded with her husband Gary Simons. Beyond pastoral duties, she has built a multi-platform ministry that includes speaking, writing, and digital content creation.
Her Instagram account reaches 60,000 followers with content focused on “faith, wellness, mindset & travel.” This social media presence complements her YouTube channel, where she creates motivational videos and faith-based content for a global audience.
April has positioned herself as a “Hope Coach,” combining professional life coaching with Christian principles. Her approach emphasizes practical application of faith in everyday circumstances, making spiritual concepts accessible to diverse audiences.
How successful is her ministry?
The success of April’s ministry extends beyond traditional church metrics. Her Facebook page maintains over 5,400 active followers who engage with her hope-centered messages. This digital engagement demonstrates her ability to connect with people seeking spiritual guidance in contemporary formats.
She has established herself as a creator of the “House of Hope series” on YouTube, providing consistent inspirational content. Her speaking engagements and pastoral work contribute to a comprehensive ministry that addresses both spiritual and practical life challenges.
Published Works
What books has April written?
April authored “Better Than Ever,” a book designed to inspire people to live their best lives through faith-based principles and practical guidance. The book reflects her personal experiences with family challenges and spiritual growth, offering readers tools for overcoming adversity.
The book combines encouraging stories with actionable advice, reflecting April’s approach as both pastor and life coach. In “Better Than Ever,” April shares that “every day presents the chance to begin anew, to see circumstances and situations differently, and to choose the path that leads to a life that’s better than ever.”
Her writing style emphasizes accessibility, making complex spiritual concepts understandable for readers at various stages of their faith journey. The book serves as a practical guide for maintaining optimism and purpose during difficult seasons of life.
Family and Personal Life
Who is April married to?
April has been married to Pastor Gary Simons for approximately 25 years. Together, they established High Point Church in Arlington, Texas, creating a ministry partnership that combines their individual strengths in pastoral care and community outreach.
The Simons family resides in Euless, Texas, maintaining close ties with the broader Osteen family ministry network. This geographical proximity allows for continued collaboration with Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church while maintaining their independent ministry focus.
Their marriage represents a partnership model in ministry, with both spouses contributing distinct gifts to their shared pastoral calling. This collaborative approach influences their church leadership style and community engagement strategies.
What about her famous brother?
April’s brother Joel Osteen became pastor of Lakewood Church after their father’s death and has published 18 books, many appearing on The New York Times bestseller list. While Joel gained international recognition, April has maintained her own distinct ministry identity.
The sibling relationship demonstrates different approaches to Christian ministry within the same family. Joel took over Lakewood’s television program and became ordained through their father’s church in 1983. April chose a more community-focused pastoral approach through High Point Church.
| Family Member | Ministry Role | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Joel Osteen | Senior Pastor, Lakewood Church | Television ministry, bestselling books |
| April Osteen Simons | Senior Pastor, High Point Church | Life coaching, hope-centered speaking |
| Dodie Osteen | Church Matriarch | Cancer survivor testimony, author |
Speaking and Coaching
What makes her speaking unique?
April’s speaking style combines personal testimony with practical application, drawing from her family’s experiences with healing and loss. She emphasizes “focusing on the positive and possible,” encouraging audiences to choose gratitude and intentional joy.
Her “Hope Coach” designation reflects a specialized approach to motivational speaking that integrates Christian faith with professional coaching techniques. This combination appeals to audiences seeking both spiritual encouragement and practical life strategies.
April teaches that “being intentional about enjoying your day with a heart of gratitude is a choice” and encourages people “not to overlook all the miracles in plain sight.”
How does she help others?
April’s helping approach centers on sharing hope through personal stories and biblical principles. During a medical appointment for severe sciatica pain, she discovered her doctor was battling stage 4 cancer and shared her mother’s healing testimony, providing unexpected encouragement.
This incident illustrates her natural ability to offer hope in unexpected moments. The doctor later revealed that April was “one of two people who heard of my diagnosis and gave me hope,” with the other person having recommended Dodie Osteen’s book “Healed of Cancer.”
Her helping methodology includes:
- Sharing family testimonies of miraculous healing
- Encouraging perspective shifts from negative to positive
- Providing practical tools for maintaining hope
- Offering biblical principles for everyday challenges
- Creating accessible spiritual content through multiple platforms
Impact and Legacy
What lasting impact does she create?
April’s impact extends beyond traditional church boundaries through her multi-platform approach to ministry. Her ability to provide hope “out of billions of people in this world” by being at “the right place at the right time” demonstrates the personal nature of her ministry influence.
Her legacy builds on the Osteen family tradition while establishing unique contributions to Christian ministry. Through High Point Church, speaking engagements, and digital content, she reaches diverse audiences seeking spiritual guidance and practical hope.
The combination of pastoral leadership, authorship, and digital ministry positions April as a contemporary voice in Christian life coaching. Her approach demonstrates how traditional Christian ministry can adapt to modern communication methods while maintaining authentic spiritual impact.
