Rev. Sharon Avril is the second daughter of Sergeantfirst-class Phillip and Delphine Avril, she has four other siblings. She wasborn in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Being an Army brat, she left Arkansas and spend herfirst Three years in England. Upon returning to the States, she started schoolin Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The family was transferred to California, where sheattended Mary Farmer Elementary School in Benicia California, and Sharongraduated from Benicia High School. Eager to continue her education she beganundergraduate studies in the summer at University of California, Davis. Twoyears later, she transferred to California State University, Sacramento, majoringin Early Childhood Development.
After graduation Rev. Avril moved to Los Angeles and workedfor the State of California the Department of Disability. Rev. Avril moved toMaryland where she owned and operated Kneehigh University Early LearningCenter, in Lanham, Maryland. After returning to California, she worked for thedepartment of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms as a recruiter for Northern Region STAKE ActYouth Project and Women Escaping Violent Environment, Inc. as a SafeHouse Counselor and Advocate. Rev. Avril answered her called to Ministry andreturned to school and earned a B.A. in Humanities and a Master of Divinityfrom Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley with a concentration in pastoral careand counseling. She holds certificates in Marriage and Family Education andMental and Behavioral Health Disorders, is a licensed Domestic Violence andSexual Assault Counselor. She is a Board Certified Christian Mental Health and LifeCoach, with a concentration in Crisis and Trauma. After completing hereducation and training for the African Methodist Episcopal Church, she was licensedan ordained an Elder.
Rev. Avril has served as an instructor for the CaliforniaConference Board of Examiners for the African Methodist Episcopal Church, has servedon the Judicial Council and the Ministerial Efficiency Committee for theCalifornia Annual Conference of the A.M.E. church, she is an Adjunct Professor for Alliance InternationalUniversity. She served on Fresno’s Mayor Lee Brand Faith based Council, she wasalso a member of the mayor’s cabinet. Rev. Avril served on the cabinet of thepresident of CSU Fresno. She is a member of NAMI. Rev. Avril is the Director/Founder of HealingHands Wellness Center, which offers counseling and support for families withmembers that have terminal illnesses. Rev. Avril is a conference and seminarspeaker/facilitator and a Master Trainer. Rev. Avril has had the privilege topastor 4 churches in the California Conference of the African Methodist EpiscopalChurch. She is a part of the legacy of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She wasinitiated into Eta Lambda Chapter at California State University, Sacramento. Sheserves on the Spiritual Oversight and Wellness Committee for the Far Western Regionof Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She has served as Graduate Advisor and Chaplainis a charter member of Sigma Pi Omega chapter.
Rev. Avril was the first female President of West FresnoMinisterial Alliance in its 67year history, and member of Faith in the Valley.Rev. Avril was the first minister of the African Methodist Episcopal Church toaddress the Pacific Institute for Community Organization (PICO) regarding itslong history of educating people on the importance of voting. She was the firstpastor in the AME Church to designate itself as a sanctuary church. The. Avril is the first female to preach atAllensworth Baptist Church, Allensworth, Ca. Rev. Avril was named the adult volunteerof the year for 2018 from Hands Across the Valley. Rev. Avril was the recipientof the United States bronze medal for volunteerism in 2018 also the President’sVolunteer Service Award, and a Certificate of Recognition from California StateLegislature and California State Senate for her Volunteer Service to the community. She was a recipient of Black Women Organizedfor Political Action (BWOPA) for outstanding contribution to the spiritualhealth and wellbeing of the community. Withall these things being said the most important thing to know about her is thatshe is privileged to be able to serve the one and only risen Savior JesusChrist.
