A life marked by grace, formed through fire and given back to God.
Author, speaker, ordained minister and spiritual mentor — Maria's life is a long story of encounter, formation and calling. What follows is her story in her own chapters.
I came to the end of myself — and found the beginning of Him.
A life told in fourteen turnings.
Not a résumé — a formation. Each chapter is a door God opened, and a place where He kept His word.
A Catholic beginning and a long search for God
Maria grew up in a Catholic home and, as a young woman, moved through other religions and spiritual paths in an honest search for the God she could sense but had not yet met.
A passion for the arts — architecture, theater and ballet
Her love of beauty pulled her toward the arts. She studied architecture and design and, for a season, stepped into theater and ballet — early formation in creativity, discipline and story that still shapes how she communicates today.
UCLA, and the collapse after graduation
After graduating from UCLA, Maria began experiencing severe anxiety and insomnia. What looked like a successful new chapter was, underneath, a soul coming to the end of what she could carry alone.
Receiving Christ at a church in Westwood
A friend invited her to a church in Westwood, California — and there Maria received Jesus into her life. The rescue had begun, even as the anxiety continued for several more years.
A broom closet, a prayer, and a healing impartation
Someone finally took her to a healing meeting at a local Vineyard church. After the service she was prayed for in a broom closet — and that day she received a powerful impartation from the Holy Spirit that changed the rest of her life. She was not only healed of the anxiety; a gift of healing was ignited, and people began to be healed wherever she went.
Marriage and ministry partnership with Rick Sainz
Marriage to Rick Sainz became a shared calling — a home, a partnership and a ministry built on the same covenant of following Jesus together.
Ordination and the founding of Red Seal Ministries (2015)
Maria and Rick were ordained into the ministry in San Diego and, in 2015, founded Red Seal Ministries — a work centered on the sealing love of the Father, the finished work of Jesus and the present power of the Holy Spirit.
A breast-cancer diagnosis
Shortly after Red Seal was born, Maria was diagnosed with breast cancer. The diagnosis carried her from fear into a deeper trust — a school of formation she would not have chosen but would not trade.
Brazil, Global Awakening, and a miracle on the last day
Five months later she was on a missions trip in Brazil with Global Awakening and Randy Clark. On the last day of the two-week trip she received a miracle healing — and arrived home to discover there was no cancer. Since then she has seen dozens and dozens healed of cancer tumors.
Hundreds healed of incurable diseases
The healing ministry only grew. Over the years Maria has seen hundreds healed of many incurable diseases as she teaches, prays and equips others to do the same.
Deliverance — freedom for the tormented
Maria is not only passionate about physical healing but also about those tormented by demonic oppression. She has seen many set free as the true Jesus displaces every counterfeit power that steals, kills and destroys.
RESTORED conferences and online mentorships
She hosts yearly RESTORED conferences for healing and deliverance, and offers online mentorships that are equipping and raising up believers to walk in the mandate of healing the sick and setting captives free.
Twelve years co-leading Red Seal Ministries
Maria has now been co-leading Red Seal Ministries with her husband Rick for over twelve years — a long, faithful yes to Jesus, His people and the work He entrusted them with.
Creativity in service of the Gospel
She remains passionate about using the creativity and strategies God gives her to communicate the Gospel in ways people can relate to — so believers can be inspired to walk in their gifts, callings and identity in Christ Jesus.
A short confession of a long convictions.
The love of the Father
God the Father is good, near and personal — the sealing love beneath every other love.
The finished work of Jesus
Jesus is Lord. His cross and resurrection are the ground of every healing, freedom and identity we live from.
The present power of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit still speaks, still heals, still empowers — for maturity, not spectacle.
Scripture as bread
The Bible is God's living Word — read slowly, obeyed daily, trusted entirely.
Formation over performance
Discipleship is the long obedience that outlasts a moment on a stage.
The Church, sent
The Church is a family of the sealed and the sent — carrying His love into ordinary places.
A shared calling with Rick Sainz.
Maria and Rick share a marriage, a home and a ministry. Together they founded and lead Red Seal Ministries — a work centered on the sealing love of the Father, the finished work of Jesus and the present power of the Holy Spirit.
Their partnership is the quiet frame around the more visible work: writing, teaching, mentoring and sending.
Learn more about the ministry they steward at Red Seal Ministries.
A life side by side.
Speaking
Signature talks and teaching for churches, conferences and gatherings.