Meet Joanne Gabriel | Prophetess, Speaker, & Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joanne Gabriel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joanne, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I attribute the success of Faith & Favor to my heart posture of surrender. Before starting the Faith & Favor podcast, which has now become a full ministry, I had to surrender my will, creativity, and idea of success at the feet of Jesus. It was only when I aligned my desires with the will of God that I started to see real success, the success that comes with ease and speed.

God’s favor has been on me since birth and as a result, I stand out and end up being successful in everything that I do. During undergrad at Duke University I was a YouTuber that made college and lifestyle content. Despite my inconsistency, my Youtube channel got me featured on the Duke Chronicle, campus notoriety, and even mentions in college application essays. You could say I reached some level of success in those 4 years, but it doesn’t even compare to what God has done through Faith & Favor in less than a year. Souls all over the world have been saved, revived, and transformed through this ministry.

I found the most sense of fulfillment and success once I surrendered my YouTube channel to God and chose to partner up with Him. This has taught me how to depend on Him in all things, from the topic of the podcasts episodes to being a leader to general content creation. This daily decision of surrender has completely shifted my idea of success. It is no longer the material rewards and applauses of men, but rather the spiritual fulfillment and applause of my heavenly Father.

Faith & Favor’s success is just a byproduct of my willingness to surrender.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am the host and leader of a prophetic teaching ministry called Faith & Favor. Faith and Favor is a spiritual training-ground commissioned by the Lord to build bolder believers in Jesus Christ. Whether you’re new to this walk or well only your journey, this platform is here to guide you into biblical truths, spiritual maturity, and abounding favor. What sets Faith & Favor apart from most ministries, is its mission to cultivate boldness in the Spirit through different avenues. Faith and Favor edifies the prophetic, teaching, and apostolic dimensions of the 5 fold ministry Paul wrote about in Ephesians 4:11-12. It is the mix of the podcast, prophecies, and corporate fasting that sets Faith and Favor apart.

I am most proud of the amount of impact that Faith & Favor has made in such a short period of time. The first episode of the Faith & Favor podcast was released on July 18, 2023 and now it is a full ministry with believers from all over the globe. I just completed leading our second “Divine Prosperity” corporate fast and God did the miraculous. When I led the first fast in March I had about 8 people commit to the 3 days of prayer and fasting, however, this April over 500 people from 26 countries completed the fast. This type of elevation could only come from God! When His hand is on something it is marked with speed, and God fulfilled His promises to me in less than 30 days. I am excited to start building community with my fellow believers and showcasing more of my personality.

Again, this elevation and success came from my decision to surrender and keep showing up. It has not been easy. Until recently, I battled with being set apart but wanting to hold onto people, places, and things that did not edify who God has called me to be. There is a popular scripture amongst believers, “A prophet is not without honor (respect) except in his hometown and among his relatives and his own household.” (Mark 6:4) I am still accepting this sobering truth, and I am seeing this verse play out in my life today. Now I am understanding why God had me leave my home in the Woodlands TX, attend Duke University, and live in Boston post-grad. Familiarity has not made it easy for my friends, and even family to fully accept my office as a prophet. I have always been authentic and direct but this added layer of prophecy only amplifies my boldness to stand up for the truth, and this often makes people uncomfortable. I have been perceived as “self-righteous” and “judgmental” amongst other things, because those that are familiar with me often think, “Who does Joanne think she is to tell us so and so?” but the truth is God has chosen me to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is beautiful and hopeful but it also brings conviction and judgment. Throughout the Bible you see that the ministry of prophets was heavily focused on repentance, rebukes, and righteous judgment with a bit of words on restoration and prosperity.

This is what sets ME apart and makes Faith & Favor’s audience very black and white. You either love me or hate me. You either want the truth or a half-truths that keep you comfortable. Either way, I will continue to steward over this ministry the way God has instructed me to: Bold and grounded in the truth. The truth in the Bible goes against many norms in this generation and I have been met with adversity because of it. I have been able to overcome these challenges by keeping my eyes on Jesus and leaning on my genuine community. I remind myself that this ministry isn’t even mine, I am just a vessel partnering with God to bring His kingdom down here on earth. So all the hate and negativity is not personal, it is people’s resistance to the love and standards of Jesus. If Jesus was perfect and his own people hated Him, who am I to think that I won’t receive the same? When the comments are too much to bear, I run to my community that understands and loves who God has now called me to be. I am forever grateful for their reassurance and encouragement because the burden of this calling is not light.

So far this journey has taught me many things pertaining to identity, humility, friendships, and even marketing. I am grateful for everything I have learned so far and I am excited to see how my personal growth and passions feed into the vision of Faith & Favor.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
It is going to be challenging for me to give specifics because I have never lived in Atlanta but I enjoy myself every time I visit. The skyline, food, and thriving culture of entrepreneurship is what makes ATL one of the most desirable cities in America.

If me and my sister flew into town for a week our priorities would be walking the beltline, trying different restaurants, thrifting/attending pop ups, and visiting 2819 Church!

In terms of food, I have a very diverse palette due to years of international living so I would love to dine at the top Thai, Lebanese, seafood, and soul food restaurants.

I know Atlanta is the hub for young black entrepreneurs and creatives so I would definitely attend some vintage bazaars and pop up shops. As a kid, I dreamt of being a fashion designer so I have always had an appreciation and eye for fashion. I would love to see and support the different visions that have come to life.

But most importantly, I would need to visit 2819 Church!!! I came across Pastor Philip A Mitchell on TikTok and I admire the passion, hunger, and mission of His church to build disciples through the spread of the gospel. Similar to my teaching style, Pastor Mitchell doesn’t shy away from truth and conviction. I would love to get the opportunity to worship God and hear His word in the atmosphere of this church.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to dedicate this shoutout to my family. I especially want to thank my parents for always showing up and speaking life into me and my siblings. Whether it was academics, sports, or our creative passions, my parents invested everything they could to make sure we ended up on top. I am extremely blessed and thankful for their provisions and sacrifices, as I would not be where I am today without their love and rock-solid support.

I also want to thank my best friends and siblings, Janice and Josh. My older sister Janice inspires me to evolve with a balance of discipline and grace, while my younger brother Josh reminds me to never lose sight of my creative passions. Both of them have impacted my approach to this thing called life and I am forever grateful.

Website: https://beacons.ai/faithandfavor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithandfavor.pod/

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@joanne.gabriel?si=6QegstWlga_Egb-W

Other: Personal and Fitness page https://www.instagram.com/joanne.gabriel/ https://www.instagram.com/bodyby.janxjo/

Image Credits
Hassan Ali Douglas Burt Photography