Meet Joanne Gabriel

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Joanne Gabriel. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Joanne, so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.

With my call to ministry and nature of my assignment, I am bound to ruffle a couple of feathers. We live in a generation where, thanks to social media, everyone has a voice and these platforms are often used to share our “truths” and experiences. However, “your truth” is not necessarily, THE truth and this is where my ministry comes in. As a prophet of God, my assignment is to share and publish what is on God’s heart and mind. These messages or “prophetic words” bring truth and clarity to an ever-changing world. I share insight on what’s to come and uncover deception, but ultimately my assignment is to point people back to the heart of Jesus Christ.

The themes I cover in these prophetic words tend to be more challenging than not, which is what breeds controversy and nay-sayers. People do not like to be told that they are living in error or in a way contrary to biblical righteousness. While the gift of prophecy serves to encourage, strengthen, and comfort the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 14:3), one who holds the office of a prophet is tasked with uprooting and tearing down unrighteous systems, while building and planting those that are in alignment with the will of God (Jeremiah 1:10). Obviously, to “uproot” and “tear down” are pretty serious words that describe the great burden of this type of calling.

When doing this type of work, you are bound to run into those that oppose the uprooting process but how do I continue building and planting? By reminding myself of who I work for and what my assignment is. When God called me to the office of a prophet, He spoke to me through dreams and visions similar to the prophet Ezekiel. With that, my assignment is like that of Ezekiel’s where the Lord told him “The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them” (Ezekiel 2:4-5). Essentially, the Lord told me, from day one, that I would face opposition. But despite the backlash and insults “I must speak His words to them [His people].” Since this was made known to me before I stepped into my prophetic ministry, I was prepared for the negativity and mocking I am experiencing now. I was chosen to be a spokesperson for God, and since God called me, He has also given me the grace to persist in times of peril. Whenever I start to feel the weight of the slander and hate I take myself to Ezekiel 3:8-9 which states, “But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.”

When God calls you to a position or assignment, no one has the power to “cancel” you. God is my source of resilience and confidence. It is what He has spoken to me and over me that keeps me building and planting in the face of opposition.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Taking away the many titles I have had throughout my life – Athlete, Scholar, Vlogger, Fitness Influencer, and now Prophetess- I am just Joanne Gabriel, a 24-year-old daughter of the Most High and follower of Jesus Christ. I grew up Catholic for the majority of my life, but I surrendered my life to Jesus in February of 2023. Not too long after, to my surprise, God has called me to part-time ministry and the office of a prophet. As a pre-medicine Duke University graduate, I planned to continue on the traditional path of medicine while building my sister and I’s fitness brand ‘Body by Jan and Jo’. However, God had much more in store for me and I am now the leader of ‘Faith and Favor’, a prophetic Christian ministry. Faith and Favor is a spiritual training ground commissioned by the Lord, to build bolder believers in Jesus Christ. Our core pillars are biblical truth and spiritual maturity, which take people deeper in their faith and unlocks access to divine favor. Outside of being a ministry and podcast, Faith and Favor is also a covenant that God has made with me and everyone devoted to its mission. As uncertainty continues to grow in these days, God holds fast to His promise that we are all “divinely protected by His shields of faith and favor” according to Psalm 5:12 and Psalm 91:4.
In this ministry, I consistently lead fasts and Bible studies, while publishing messages from God. I am also the host of the ‘Faith and Favor’ podcast which is another branch of the ministry that goes deeper into biblical topics and themes. The podcast is currently going through some rebranding to make it more personable, which I am super excited about!
What makes Faith and Favor special is the edification of the word of God through prophecy and the transformation in the hearts of our members. We have over 2,500 members across 29 countries with hundreds of salvations and testimonies! The fruit and reach of this ministry displays the unifying nature of the Gospel and its transformative power. I am so humbled and honored that God is using me in this capacity, and I am ecstatic for what’s to come.
In the next few months, Faith and Favor will branch out into fashion with prophetic garments designed in heaven- literally. As a prophet, one of my prominent spiritual gifts is receiving vivid dreams and visions. Again, to my surprise, the Lord showed me through many dreams that Faith and Favor would make its mark in the clothing industry. Fashion designing is so nostalgic for me because before deciding to pursue medicine, I dreamt of being a fashion designer. Growing up I binge-watched Project Runway, America’s Next Top Model’, and even had a sketch book. It is heart-warming to know that God is allowing the little girl in me to revisit this dream through Faith and Favor. With that being said, be on the lookout for the Genesis collection of ‘Faith and Favor Department’, coming December 2024!!!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The 3 qualities that have been the most impactful on my journey are boldness, resilience, and humility.

I have been a bold and confident individual since I was young, and I have come to realize that this is another gift that helps me in my ministry. Many of the prophetic words I release cover impending judgments and supernatural topics. If I did not have this gift of boldness it would be hard for me to release, to millions, messages that cover topics outside the scope of mainstream Christianity. My boldness and confidence come from the Lord, the one who sent me. He has given me my assignment, mandate, and promise, and as a result, I am unwavering in a storm.

Resilience is another quality that has kept me from growing weary and is sustaining me today. When I first started Faith and Favor, I barely got any views on my podcast episodes or prophetic words. I was discouraged because I would spend hours studying scriptures for episodes, preparing my notes, filming, and then editing, all to get 100 views. The same was true for the first few prophetic words God had me release. I hold God’s messages to the utmost importance and felt like everyone else should too, but my views on TikTok didn’t reflect that. Despite the low engagement, I kept filming and remained obedient to my assignment. In this season of being “hidden,” God began to prune me of things that would taint the ministry once it was given a stage, such as pride, unforgiveness, and a lack of grace. Focusing solely on pleasing God, and dismissing external validation, has been valuable on my journey and has made me a better leader today.

And finally, as I alluded to earlier, the most important quality that has helped me in ministry, and life, is humility. The Bible clearly states that God “exalts the humble and resists the proud” (James 4:6). After I gave my life to Christ, God started showing me the parts of myself that did not reflect His nature and pride was the main one. Pride causes someone to think more highly of themselves than they ought to, which steals glory and reverence from God. I was prideful when it came to my intelligence, beliefs, and even my office as a prophet but by the mercy of God, I have been walking with more humility. Being able to admit your wrongs and take correction is not always easy, but it is an essential part of being a leader. I am 24 years old and have only been in ministry for a little over a year, which means I still have a lot more growing and learning to do. I am so grateful for my community that corrects and guides me with conviction and love. When studying the bible, it is clear that a majority of prophets walk alone, but thanks to community I have been able to develop humility and grace.

My advice to young people in this generation, who are called to ministry, is to be bold and zealous for the faith. But allow God to work on you before you step out. You cannot lead others if you are not fully submitted to the Holy Spirit. Before David became the king of Israel, he was a shepherd boy fighting lions and bears. Before Joseph made it to the palace, he had to go through the pit. Many of the prominent leaders in the bible had a season of training, pruning, and refinement. It is not always pretty and comfortable, but the wilderness is where true leaders are birthed and developed. Trust the process; don’t rush it.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

From the multiple scripture references throughout this article, you can probably guess that the Bible is the book that has completely transformed my life. It is a timeless account of who God is, His capabilities, and how He redeems imperfect people in a fallen world. I once heard someone say “The Bible is the only book you read that reads you back” meaning it acts like a mirror. In a generation filled with filters and AI, the Bible reveals the real you. The good and the bad. The beautiful and the ugly. Once I became intentional about reading the Bible daily, I realized that the word of God really is a double-edged sword. It is fashioned to cut away sin, unrighteousness, and the pride of life. This cutting away allows us to have an intimate relationship with God where we get to experience His favor and grace. This process of sanctification has not only benefited my spiritual life but has also caused a drastic shift in my personal life as well. I am in a constant state of joy, peace, and gratitude. I have a heart for people which manifests itself through humility and generosity. All these things were the result of gleaning wisdom from the word of God.

When the Lord called me to ministry, He had me do a deep study of the story of David in 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel. The Old Testament is an intricate account of how God still used imperfect people and rewrote their stories for His glory. David was the youngest son in his family, overlooked by his own Father, but God chose him to be the next king of Israel. Despite committing adultery and murder when he became the king, God continued to use and exalt David to the point where, even thousands of years later, he is still one of the most prominent characters in the Bible.
The most impactful nuggets of wisdom I have received from David’s story are:

There’s purpose in the pain. David spent around 13 years in the wilderness before walking in the promise of being the next King of Israel. The wilderness is where God prunes, molds, and prepares you for who He has called you to be.

“Obedience is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). It is easy to get caught up in the religious nature of Christianity, but God values relationship over routine. It is only through a relationship with Jesus that you will be able to walk in full submission and obedience to the call on your life.

There are friendships and relationships ordained to help you fulfill your destiny. Jonathan, King Saul’s son, was next in line to become the king of Israel, but he established a covenant with David. He loved David more than he loved himself and their friendship was instrumental in preserving David’s life so he could live out his God-given destiny.

God is no respecter of persons. The One who called you has the same power to replace you. David was only anointed to be the next king of Israel because of Saul’s disobedience. Saul was also chosen by God at one point, but when you start operating under your own authority, rather than submitting to God, He will replace you with one that is better.

God is close to a broken spirit and a contrite heart. Humility is one of the greatest currencies in the Kingdom of God. Being able to admit that you messed up, you can’t do this your own, and you’re fully dependent on Jesus will get you far in life. When David was confronted for committing adultery and murder, he immediately confessed and went into repentance. David’s humility is what kept him in his position of power. “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12)

The Joanne Gabriel you see today is the one who has been, and will continue to be, refined by the word of God.

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Douglas Burt Photography

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