JJ Banek Gabelle ‘21 Wins Harry Denman Award

THE POWER OF FAITH

JJ Banek-Gabelle ‘21 Earns Harry Denman Award

Written by R-MA Chaplain, Rev. Josh Orndorff

Each year, the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church celebrates a youth who has demonstrated evangelism in word and deed. The Harry Denman Evangelism Award is named for Dr. Harry Denman, founder of The Foundation for Evangelism and renowned lay evangelist. Harry spent his life focused on sharing the Word of God with everyone he encountered. He believed that faith sharing should be the focus of every Christian. The Virginia Board of Discipleship presents these awards to persons who are recognized by the Annual Conference for the influence their lives and personal ministry have on the people around them. This year, R-MA’s very own JJ Banek-Gabelle ‘21 is the recipient of the Harry Denman Award!

Jerry James (JJ) Banek-Gabelle grew up in Sierra Leone to Muslim mother and Christian father. His parents divorced when he was 3 years old, so he grew up in both faith traditions and he ultimately chose to be a Christian. When JJ was 6, tragedy struck and both of his parents passed away in just a 9 month span. His loss was and remains to this day a great one. JJ was later adopted by a family friend of his father’s, and then in 7th grade, JJ came to study at Randolph-Macon Academy. He decided to take Confirmation though he was very frustrated with God for the losses he had endured in his life.

Since that time, it has been powerful to see how JJ has claimed his faith in Jesus and shared it with others. In 8th grade, he was a leader in R-MA’s Bible study group and chapel services. He worked to help other students attend John Wesley UMC on Sundays, and led by example by becoming a parishioner of the John Wesley UMC church. At the Upper School, JJ used his gifts to lead others to Christ through his involvement in the Spiritual Life Leadership Team. He attended R-MA’s mission trip to eastern North Carolina to assist in hurricane recovery work in 2019, and he attended this year’s trip back to North Carolina. He was served as Junior Cadre Chaplain, coordinating student participation in worship services and connecting with people of different faith traditions. JJ has had students who are Muslim or from no faith tradition serve in chapel through readings or as an acolyte as a way to connect with them.

JJ was also willing to take risks to help people to learn about and grow in the Gospel. A gifted three-sport athlete in soccer, wrestling, and tennis, JJ teaches the younger students about mental toughness and the skills needed in the particular sport with grace. As the captain of the school soccer team, he had the courage to lead his team in prayer before each game. JJ developed the strategy of offering an open gym gathering before The Beacon, R-MA’s weekly Bible study group, in hopes of reaching Middle School students. He used his skills as an athlete to model a life of passion and purpose.

JJ has the gift of influencing others, and he uses it wherever he is to live out his faith and invite others to know Jesus. In chapel this year, JJ shared his testimony about his tragic loss of his parents in hopes that other students would turn to God during their difficulties. He even wrote a rap about his testimony to connect with the students in a different way.

JJ truly seeks to serve other people and when the opportunity is right, he shares his faith. Lives are transformed through his leadership and discipleship. In the chapel service when JJ preached and shared his personal testimony, many people were moved by the Spirit to come to the altar during the closing song. The true impact of his powerful story cannot be measured. JJ has impacted the culture of R-MA through his leadership and courage.