Reverend LaTonya April Fakir was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan; she was educated in the Detroit Public Schools, graduating from Martin L. King Jr. Senior High School. Reverend LaTonya received the Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development from North Park University in Chicago, Illinois, and is currently pursuing the Master of Divinity degree at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.

On March 19, 2001 she was licensed to preach in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and  Reverend LaTonya was ordained an Itinerant Deacon in August of 2009 at the 123rd Session of the Michigan Annual Conference, in Kalamazoo Michigan.

As a member of Oak Grove AME Church, LaTonya served in the Liturgical Dance Ministry, the Genesis Choir, Sunday Church School, the after school tutorial program, and the Women’s Ministry. LaTonya also implemented and directed two ministries; The D.O.V.E.S. (Daughters Of Virtue Empowered Spiritually) Ministry was formed to embrace and enhance the spiritual relationships of young women through spiritual formation, self-realization, etiquette and home economics. The D.O.V.E.S. Ministry was founded in August 2001 and was introduced to the young women of Oak Grove AME Church in that same year. The D.O.V.E.S. Ministry continues to impact the lives of many young women. 

God placed the spirit of worship through dance in LaTonya at an early age; and through this love for dance Creative Movement Worship Arts was formed in July 1997 to creatively express her love for God through the movement of praise and worship.  This ministry engaged youth in after school programs and summer camps across the City of Detroit.  Creative Movement Worship Arts strives to present the gospel through Dance, Mime and Theatre.

God’s blessing continues to reign upon Reverend LaTonya’s life, as she is now the First Lady of Celia Gregg Memorial AME Church, serving as Executive Minister, facilitator of the Women’s Ministry, Married Couples Ministry, and the Dance/Theatre Ministry.  Reverend LaTonya is also employed at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary as The Assistant Director of Admissions where she serves God diligently with the preparation of our future teachers and preachers; additionally, she serves as Artistic Director of Ecclesia Liturgical Dance Ministry at Garrett.  Having first hand life experience that parallels the experience of Job, LaTonya’s ordained purpose and passion is to teach and preach about God’s Healing and Restoration Power.  To that end, she is a woman after the heart of God and seeks only his agenda for her life.

Reverend LaTonya has been married to the Reverend Nazim B. Fakir, Pastor of Celia Gregg Memorial AME Church,  for 15 years and they have three beautiful daughters; Yazmin Kya, Najma Kiann and Ilana Kali.