March 3, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in Worsham Performance Hall
In 1984, Hendrix College inaugurated the annual Steel-Hendrix Award Lectureship to celebrate 100 years of its official relationship with the United Methodist Church. The award was named in honor of Marshall T. Steel, a prominent minister and former president of the College.
The Marshall T. Steel Center will honor three extraordinary church and community leaders at the 41st Annual Steel-Hendrix Awards Banquet.
- Deborah Bell of Theressa Hoover Memorial United Methodist Church in Little Rock will receive the Ethel K. Millar Award for Religion and Social Awareness;
- John P. Gill of Gill Ragon Owen, P.A. in Little Rock will be honored with the Mary and Ira Brumley Award for Religious Education; and
- Damaris Green of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Little Rock will be recognized as the Hendrix College Youth Minister of the Year.
Deborah Bell
Ethel K. Millar Award for Religion and Social Awareness
Pastor Deborah Bell is a living testament to the transformative power of faith, perseverance, and community-centered love. A charter member of both the Theressa Hoover Memorial United Methodist Church and Better Community Development, Inc. (BCD), she has spent over four decades architecting ministries that heal, empower, and uplift. Today, she leads both organizations as Senior Pastor and Executive Director, respectively, nurturing a legacy she helped plant in 1981 with her father, the late Rev. Dr. William H. Robinson Jr.
While her pastoral ministry was formally licensed in 2018 through the Arkansas Annual Conference, Pastor Bell has "preached" through action for decades. Her leadership at BCD has turned the organization into a beacon of possibility, providing recovery support, housing, and stability to families in the Midtown of Little Rock. Locally and nationally, she is a sought-after voice for justice, having held key roles with Strengthening the Black Church, Black Methodists for Church Renewal and the General Board of Global Ministries-Community Development.
A proud Philander Smith College (now Philander Smith University) alumna and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Pastor Bell is a lifelong learner. Her credentials include certifications from the Community Development Institute and the Neighborhood Reinvestment Training Institute.
Above all, her strength is rooted in family. The daughter of the late Rev. Dr. William H. and Sara Robinson, Bell carries forward a generational mantle of service alongside her husband Richard, her son Darryl Swinton, and her cherished grandchildren.
John P. Gill
Mary and Ira Brumley Award for Religious Education
John P. Gill is a life-long Arkansas resident. He is a Hendrix alum and holds degrees in history and law from Vanderbilt University. While at Hendrix, he began developing the strong foundation in the liberal arts and service that has shaped his law and teaching career and lifelong commitment to education and community.
Gill created and continues to support the annual Hendrix College Workshop for Preaching Excellence, which, since 1984, brings together United Methodist clergy for continuing education and spiritual enrichment. He and his wife, Marjem (Jackson) Gill, also endowed the John and Marjem Gill Lecture, which complements the preaching workshop and support’s Hendrix’s long-standing commitment to faith and learning.
John and Marjem Gill are active members of First United Methodist Church, Little Rock, where John was an organizer of the CREDO Sunday School Class, served as a Trustee, and held the roles of Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Administrative Board. He has also served on the Board of Trustees for Philander Smith College (now Philander Smith University). As an example of his care for the community and raising up the next generation, he has led March of Dimes efforts in Central Arkansas, served as Director of the Elizabeth Mitchell Child Guidance Center, and held leadership roles for the Arkansas Release Guidance Foundation. He served on the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, Quapaw Area Council. In 1970 he was named Municipal Man of the Year by the Arkansas Municipal League.
A founding member of Gill Ragon Owen, P.A., a 46-person law firm in Little Rock, John Gill has practiced law in Little Rock for more than half a century, with numerous leadership roles and achievements. Additionally, Gill has been deeply involved in historic preservation and Arkansas history. He is a published author on these topics and a variety of others. His love for law and his faith have converged in his research and lecturing on “The Trial of Jesus.” His broad community leadership, from church service to youth and civic organizations, reflects a life devoted to nurturing both minds and spirits.
Damaris Green
Hendrix College Youth Minister of the Year
Damaris Green currently serves as the Youth Director at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church. She first answered God’s call to youth ministry in 2017, serving faithfully in a variety of roles including meal service, praise and worship leadership, and teaching youth Bible study and Sunday School. Through these experiences, her passion for youth ministry deepened.
When the opportunity arose to step into the role of Youth Director, Damaris initially hesitated, questioning her readiness to lead. However, guided by faith and obedience to God’s calling, she embraced the role and has since served with dedication and purpose
Damaris leads with a welcoming and compassionate spirit that fosters trust and meaningful relationships with the youth. She is committed to discipling young people in a way that helps them feel connected to Jesus Christ through the Word of God. Her love for Christ is the foundation of her leadership, and she employs innovative and engaging approaches to help youth not only understand Scripture, but actively live it out.
By meeting youth where they are, Damaris helps them build meaningful biblical connections to their everyday lives. Her goal is to empower young people to live boldly for Christ, confidently expressing their faith and cultivating an authentic, personal relationship with God.
About the Steel-Hendrix Awards
In 1984, Hendrix College inaugurated the annual Steel-Hendrix Award Lectureship to celebrate 100 years of its official relationship with the United Methodist Church. The award was named in honor of Marshall T. Steel, a prominent minister and former president
of the College.
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Hendrix College
Attn: Chaplain's Office
1600 Washington Ave.
Conway, AR 72032