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Associate Pastor Tonie L. Gatlin

Website: www.toniegatlin.com

E-Mail:  ton28walt6@yahoo.com

Phone:  503-481-0327

Church Website: www.gcfportland.org

She is a trailblazing athlete, entrepreneur, author and mother and grandmother/great grandmother who overcame a difficult background to achieve international acclaim during America's period of struggle for racial and social equality. As an award-winning martial artist, Tonie shattered the existing stereotypes of women and African-Americans' and proved to be a leading figure in the promotion of feminist ideals and Eastern religious concepts. A radical spiritual awakening from God prompted her to denounce all Martial arts and embrace Jesus in Christianity- a controversial move that has spurred an examination of the occult, its' place in eastern philosophy and other collateral issues. The story of her transformation has been chronicled in the popular tome 'The Dark Side of Karate' and it also reveals the character of a woman who fearlessly pursues truth and leads by example. She is candid and sincere about the issues that have shaped her life and works tirelessly to deliver her message of spiritual growth to others across the nation.

Tonie was born and raised in Portland, Oregon during the post-WWII era of hoop skirts and Motown music. Her early years were marked by abandonment and abuse that led to years of internal anger and quiet rage. A turning point came when she was introduced to martial arts in her early twenties. After watching Bruce Lee's classic film, 'Enter The Dragon'. She realized she was attracted to the concept of strength through discipline and the mysticism of Eastern culture. She joined Portland's only all-female Karate school and her interest became a passion. She'd always been a skilled fighter and voracious learner. These qualities helped accelerate her rise to Black Belt. She studied various forms of fighting art and racked up an incredible fifty-eight trophies in six years. In 1979, she was named the Top Female Karateka in the Northwest by Karate Illustrated magazine and was featured in Who's Who, Black Belt and fighting Women News. In the 1983 book "A new spirit' by Linda Atkinson, an entire chapter was devoted to Tonie.

By 1988, Tonie Gatlin was a leading figure in the world of martial arts and an outspoken advocate of Eastern religious world view. It was around this time that Christianity re-entered her life and prompted a more critical examination of her place in the fast-growing Martial arts movement. After experiencing "a breakdown and transformation", Tonie found solace in the Bible and the teaching of Jesus. She began to renounce eastern religion and the pervading influence of the occult in martial arts. Her defection was met with shock and anger by fans and colleagues'.

More than anything, Tonie had learned the importance of being true to one's heart and beliefs. To deny her newfound knowledge would be unthinkable. Her evolution became a 360-degree turn when she renounced all involvement with the fight culture and embarked on a personal campaign to expose the dark forces that permeate martial arts. Right in the middle of a term at a predominate private Christian High School. And soon had to renounce to her class that she wouldn't be teaching Karate at the school any longer right after many students had been release to sign up by there parents. To say the least this did create much confusion to administration parents and most of all students.

In 1991, Tonie opened her home for ministry with her husband Walter Gatlin. The Bible study ministry opened the door to a variety of other programs designed to offer positive alternatives for young people in the Portland area telling them about the love of Christ Tonie is a certified aerobics instructor and devoted to the teaching of Christ and teaching and preaching at various radio broadcasting stations/ tv /schools/university and sitting on committees addressing the rising crime and gang violence in the city, which involved two of her own sons. Now a warrior for the Lord she sought a way to document the story of her conversion. She met writer Linda Nathan and the two produced the ground-breaking memoir'.

The Dark Side Of Karate". The book was an immediate sensation and Tonie found herself vilified for her candid recollections and perspective... 2006 Tonie is now on the (track) with the covering of her home church "Grace Christian Fellowship" in North Portland, to receive her ordination papers within a few years. She serves now as one of 3 associate pastors and pastor over the area of Fellowship and women's ministry.

At this point in my life I'm going to school learning ASL American sign language, studying my ordinations correspondence courses and with many grand kids and a hubby and teaching water aerobics keeps me busy, I'm also working on more books, my current booklet is about my "Granny's saying" old wise words and saying that she spoke often that I wish to pass down to the future generation.

I've been promoted as a leader in our women's ministry at our church and really excited about serving there and helping all women see how much the Lord loves them and discovers their purpose for life. I have a deep burden to help those who suffer with mental disorders of all kind. I seem to be drawn to them. Sure glad I have the best answers for them.. God and his word will do it every time.

Thanks so much for this opportunity, may God's face shine on all our ministries.

1.  Tell us about you. Who is Tonie Gatlin?

Twenty-four years ago, my life drastically transformed from being a self-centered person to Christ-centered. My journey has been full of surprises. Some bad and many good, but by His grace, I am what I am today - a free women in Christ. I have a deep passion and calling to teach all about freedom, love, and forgiveness that God offers. This results in thanksgiving and praise. Attitudes of complaints and ungratefulness no longer control my life. I desire to accept what God allows in my life. God’s love made me, free to be me.

Romans 8:28, II Corinthians 5:7, 17.

2.  Please tell our readers how Thinking Thankful Thoughts was birthed.

The birthing of my booklet came from the loss our son “Jokava Leone Harris” who was victimized by suicide April 9, 2006.  I Thessalonians 5:18, 23  is the scriptural based for my booklet.

Not knowing then that eventually I would learn through God's help to stop my ungrateful, depressing complaining thoughts from controlling me. In this experience, God gave me a glimpse through my Son’s pain and death, a deeper sense of God’s spiritual and practical  love and His  care - especially for those who suffer from forms of depression and negative thoughts. My passion is to speak (freedom) from these negative thoughts that result in low self-esteem, bad habits, hurts, and hang-ups. God commissioned me to write and speak about being grateful and thankful, for who He is and what He has done. And learn how not to focus on the negatives’ of life. I know and believe, (really believe) all things do work together to those who are called and love God. I’ve learned to live in Romans 8:28. Faith is risky business, but it’s the only thing God really rewards, and I desire to please Him and only Him.

A mental shift happen to me that (sad, dark day), but the light of God shined, and my son’s ashes became my beauty. This is where I learned to be thankful IN everything and not necessarily FOR everything.  But in everything my God is there.

3.  So it was written to as a daily devotional, so to speak?

More than just a daily devotion, my booklet, and its (Companion Manual), can be a minute-by-minute devotion.   Researcher says we have 60,000 thoughts that pass through our minds daily. I believe that what we think about we bring about. Thoughts become things; my booklet will help minimize fleshly, negative sinful thought patterns, and break the chains of mental bondage through a Christ-centered theology. My booklet is rooted in a biblical view of humanity, it can help analyze the (spirit, soul and body) and help one to understand why they are the way they are and why they do the things they do.  My booklet is a re-reader, to be kept close and memorized for best results.

4.  How would you encourage our readers to think thankfully?

I would tell them, "No matter what your circumstances; always remember whose you are. We were created in the image of God. Forgetting that can cause double-mindedness. This opens doors of deceptions of all kinds,  and can blind one spiritually and emotionally - creating bitter, unthankful thoughts, which always produce trouble life.  Which causes you to identity those negative thoughts as their reality."  See Hebrews 12:15 and II Peter 1:9

I advise your readers to wake up every morning saying, "Thank you”.  I’m positive this will please God and set his grace in motion, as you walk by faith and not by sight. See II Corinthians 5:7

5.  Please share any upcoming events, projects that you are working on. Any plans to write another book?

God has formed a team of writers, poets, preachers, singers. We call ourselves, “Free Speech Hidden No More”. May 17th, we’ll praise God with the fruits of our lips once again. I am also writing another book entitled, “Freedom in Forgiveness”, dedicated to my surviving twin, Franklin Delano Harris Jr.  I yield my plans to the Lord and write, speak and go where the Lord leads. See Proverbs 16:9.  Our family is church planting this year; we’re excited to see what the Lord is doing. For that and so much more; I’m a very grateful and thankful free woman.