Tonilee was raised in a strong Italian, Catholic family on the east coast. Her life was all about the family, the food and the church. But her New Jersey dynamics came to a complete change when her dad decided to make a career move from working in New York City to accepting a job in Southern California.
The transition was very difficult for the entire family (coast to coast) but the change in culture brought a change in heart. Two years later, Tonilee remembers praying a quick prayer before heading to church, “God, if you want me, you’ll need to show me. But I am afraid.” When the Priest dedicated the Mass to all who were afraid to accept Jesus into their heart as their Savior, Tonilee knew God had quickly answered her prayer. From that moment, Bible reading and prayer became an irresistible love in her life.
Tonilee soon realized that she possessed a God-given gift—a boldness to speak the truth of Jesus to everyone she met. Her parents started a Bible study in their home after they noticed their daughter’s new found faith and desire for Christian friends. Dramatic things began to happen as God drew students to Him. Lives were changed as the opportunities to witness were endless.
Tonilee left a very secular, public high school that became filled with intensely focused Christ centered Christians to attend a complacent Christian college to receive her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Struggling and discouraged with the emotional rollercoaster of college life, she graduated and married, falsely thinking that marriage would bring peace and clarity in purpose. Her marriage continued to deteriorate but her nursing profession was continually improving. She quickly advanced to an Administrative position in the Neurological Unit, requiring an extremely high level of skill and expertise. She then transferred to the Intensive Care Unit, specializing in Heart Transplantation as she authored a comprehensive resource manual and trained other health care professionals in providing care for the heart transplant patient. Tonilee also assisted in initiating, training and teaching all levels of hospital employees in the development and usage of a comprehensive, hospital-wide computer system at Sharp Memorial Hospital, the largest health care facility in San Diego.
Despite her satisfaction with her profession, Tonilee felt that God had turned His back on her as she went through a divorce. Angry, hurt and confused, she purposely decided to keep God at a distance. It took some time but Tonilee sensed His presence and heard God’s voice as Psalm 139:7-10 and John 10:27-28 became a living reality instead just memory verses.
Tonilee recommitted her life to Christ, knowing that regardless of the circumstances, God’s ways are better than any other way because Jesus Christ is the only way (John 14:6). Her desire to share the Lord and do His work has only increased over the years. She has years of training from Bible Study Fellowship, Community Bible Study and Campus Crusade for Christ as she has served and taught in numerous churches and outreaches.
Today, Tonilee is married with 3 wonderful children and a passion to lead others to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She is an evangelist at heart with a desire to train others to become daily disciples of Jesus Christ. Along with her friend and prayer partner, Bobbye Brooks, they started the ministry “Daily Disciples.” Their passion is to help others deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ as they teach the hope and joy they have found in the study of His Word and prayer.
