Tonilee Adamson

Even as a young girl, Tonilee Adamson understood the reverence of the Lord and believed in God. Her family was even considered to be religious. Yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that surely there was more to life than what she’d experienced so far. And then her family moved across the country from New Jersey to southern California. Unlike some girls her age, Tonilee was 12 years old and excited about this move. She looked forward to making new friends—especially since she had already seen that many of her East Coast friends were heading down a path she did not want to take.

Moving to California brought a lot of changes to her family. Tonilee’s mother accepted Jesus as her Savior at a neighborhood Bible study and encouraged her daughter to do the same. One Sunday morning, Tonilee remembers praying a quick prayer, “God, if you want me, you’ll need to show me.” As Mass began, the priest asked, “Why are you afraid to accept Jesus Christ into your heart?” He continued, “Today this Mass is dedicated to everyone who is afraid.” Tonilee knew that God had answered her prayer from earlier that morning and accepted Jesus as her Savior. Bible reading and prayer became an irresistible love in her life from that moment.

Her parents started a Bible study in their home after they noticed their daughter’s new found faith and desire for Christian friends. After all, her public high school had a campus population of close to 2,000 students! Opportunities for her to witness were endless. Tonilee soon realized that she possessed a God-given gift—a boldness to speak the truth of Jesus to everyone she met. Dramatic things began to happen as God drew students to Him and changed their lives.

After graduation, Tonilee went to a Christian college. The transition was much harder than she expected. She encountered persecution from the Christian kids and discovered how much more painful it was coming from them than when it was initiated by unbelievers. Struggling and discouraged with the emotional rollercoaster of four years of college life, she graduated, married, and entered the nursing profession full-time. She continued to witness and pray for job promotions and for the salvation of others and saw indisputable results.

But it wasn’t long before Tonilee realized that her marriage was in trouble. She cried out to God for help, but her prayers seemed to bring no response at all. After three and a half years, Tonilee was angry, hurt…and divorced. She felt that God had turned His back on her and felt herself turning away from Him.  

Tonilee soon met and started dating a nice guy who attended the Mormon Church. She told the Lord that the Christian guy hadn’t worked out so she was going to date someone else. As she discussed her confusion and struggles with the Lord over her divorce, her new boyfriend accepted Jesus as his personal Savior and left the Mormon Church. Marriage followed quickly, followed by two miscarriages—the first one she attributed to medical statistics, but the second one got her attention, and she quickly turned back to the Lord in repentance.

Tonilee observed her husband closely following his salvation experience. He was totally committed to daily personal Bible study, and his devotion encouraged Tonilee to surrender self-control and allow God free reign in her life. God has blessed Tonilee and her husband with a wonderful life, complete with three terrific kids.

She began sharing her life experiences and teaching a Bible study at her church. Tonilee’s desire to share the Lord and do His work has only increased over the years. Along with her friend and prayer partner, Bobbye Brooks, she started “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.

< Back to About Us