‘Stronger Than a Speeding Bullet’

by Kari Apted

Gabriel Tuggle was a few months shy of graduating from Newton High School in 1991 when he was shot in the head at point-blank range. On track to becoming a professional athlete, his near-fatal injury brought those plans to a screeching halt. Recovery was full of challenges that could have dulled his drive for excellence. Instead, the trials only drove him to work harder and uncover God’s true purpose for his life.

“Once you find your purpose, you’re powerful,” Tuggle said. “I thought my purpose was to be a pro athlete, but now I know it is to inspire people, speak life into people, let them know that their current circumstance is not the end. I was not about to leave my life’s story in a doctor’s hands. My testimony is wrapped in a miracle, and I’m that miracle.”

Tuggle believes he repeatedly felt a nudge from God to write a book, especially during church. In 2022, he answered the call to put pen to paper. “It starts,” he said, “with my favorite scripture, Jeremiah 1:5, which says, ‘Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart for a purpose.’” Tuggle’s 144-page work, “Stronger Than a Speeding Bullet,” can be purchased on Amazon. It details his life experiences while encouraging readers to find their strengths within. Tuggle also transitioned to public speaking, sharing his inspirational story with sports teams, corporations, schools and various events. One memorable speaking gig earned him hugs and tears from a young softball player.

“She had suffered a serious injury that took her out of softball,” Tuggle said. “She said my talk really resonated with her, and it gave her hope that she could still do great things.”

“Once you find your purpose, you’re powerful.”
Gabriel Tuggle

Tuggle finds some of his greatest frustrations in how easily people give up on life or themselves.

“People just throw in the towel because they’re soft. People are not hungry enough these days,” he said, adding that people too often cave into discouragement instead of fighting back. He encourages others to transform or renew their mind from a negative to a positive approach. “When troubles come, that’s your test. You have to face those struggles in life. Can you stay committed to the process while honoring your calling and purpose?”

Tuggle’s motivational speeches are peppered with lists beginning with the same letter to help his audience remember core concepts. He often mentions the Three Cs of Life—Choice, Chance and Change—and his version of the Four Rs: Restart, Reset, Redirect and Refocus. Tuggle’s life has been a lesson in all of them, and he somehow manages to condense his complicated circumstances into bullet lists of singular words. He has crafted a personal communication style that has helped hundreds of people find the strength to follow his example of turning from victim to victor. Perhaps his favorite acronym is GPS: God’s Positioning System.

“You’ve got to follow that GPS,” he said. “He puts us where He wants us when He wants to. I say that I was able to get up because Jesus got up after they crucified Him. Jesus’ resurrection is the ultimate comeback story.”

For information on Gabriel Tuggle or to book him for a speaking engagement, visit alive4greatness.com.

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