Here's the boring stuff that is supposed to impress you...

Tonya Lee, M.A. grew up a pastor's daughter.  After a failed marriage she ran as far from God as she could go. After losing everything as a club and party promoter on South Beach in Miami, she began her journey back only to experience the pain of another divorce.  She shares her story of rebellion, failure, redemption, restoration and finding a peace that only comes through an intimate relationship with God. It is her desire to show people that peace is not found by perfection or trying to be the "Proverbs 31 woman." it's about seeking a deep and meaningful personal relationship with our Heavenly Father. 

Tonya is currently a Bible Study teacher and Prayer Leader for the Women of Worship on Wednesdays Bible study at First Redeemer Church. She is a regular host of Atlanta Live, a two-hour live nightly program on WATV in Atlanta. 

Tonya is also the Ministry Director for There’s Hope Ministries. These ministries include: There’s Hope America television/radio/Internet program that is shown in over 190 countries; There’s Hope for the Hungry which feeds the needy in three southern states; PrayerWatch which is a daily prayer ministry and Bible ministry to our soldiers; and Whispering Hope a Women’s Resource and Pregnancy Center.

She is the writer of three Bible studies: A Diamond Girl in a Rhinestone World.  She shares with women all over this nation that they are worth more than they could ever imagine.  And, Reflection, Rediscovery, Restoration: A Call from the Book of Haggai and Navigating the Gray: Walking in wisdom through the gray areas of life both with Dr. Traci Alexander. 

Tonya holds a BS in Psychology and an M.A. in Human Services: Marriage & Family Therapy both from Liberty University and is currently working on her Master of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty Theological Seminary with an expectant graduation date of Dec. 2010.  She is also working on her PhD in Franklian Psychology through the Graduate Theological Foundation. 

She is a member of The Oxford Round Table (2010), Psi Chi (the National Honor Society of Psychology), the American Counseling Association (ACA), the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), and a Student Affiliate of the American Psychological Association (APA), Div.36 Psychology of Religion of the APA, and the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC).

Impressed yet? Me either... so, here's the real stuff that matters:

I am the result of the ultimate and divine grace of God. I've screwed up... I've wasted much of my life just playing around and doing nothing but whatever felt good or right at the moment. It was fun in the moment but there was always a morning after - and, that was rarely fun. There is a line in a song that says, "No matter who you go to bed with you wake up with yourself." Well, that "bed" can represent many things... and when the dusk breaks you have to take a good hard look at yourself. When I was forced to do that I saw a cynical and jaded little girl trapped in a grown woman's world. Luckily for me, I have a Heavenly Father that loves His girl.

I am a sinner saved by grace... nothing more and nothing less. I've seen too much. Experienced too much. And caused others too much pain. But, I am forgiven. I am healed. And I am using what I've experienced to share with others that there is no depth that God cannot reach to pull you up and set you free. Love Him for that. God loves me. Serve Him for that. - T.