10-year-old scores at Plenary SpeakOut! 

Issues of passion, concern, celebration, and calls to action generally populate the signup list for the “SpeakOut!” segments of each Plenary session at the 35th General Synod of the United Church of Christ.

A youth from Missouri South-Central Conference saw a microphone and a spotlight and decided that what the Monday evening session really needed was a few good jokes. 

Gabe, age 10 (but almost 11) gave the SpeakOut! coordinator fair warning by listing “Jokes” as his topic. And he delivered. 

“I’m not tired of [my construction job], but I’m still working on it.” 

“Why are they called ‘Pop Tarts’? Because of the pastry-archy.” 

Gabe is no stranger to the one-minute format. His mom Laura brought him to meetings of the Missouri South-Central General Synod delegation. When things started to drag, the delegates would call for a break, and the popular stand-up act “60 Seconds with Gabe” was born. 

Although the budding comedian said he didn’t have much previous experience other than the delegation spots, Gabe was excited to sign up for a SpeakOut! slot. Why? 

“I wanted to go National,” he said. 

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