The Story of Parable Media

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Stories have always been important to me.

When I watch television or movies, I am drawn to epic adventures like Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings,” George Lucas’ “Star Wars,” and HBO’s series “Game of Thrones.” When I read, I am captivated by those same tales of adventure and transformation. Since childhood I have been able to lose myself in books and movies -- to become so engrossed in the story that I forget my own self for a liberating moment. In recent days, I have discovered that I don’t simply love the specific content of the stories but the whole concept of ‘story.’

About a year and a half ago a close friend asked me what I was passionate about, what drives and motivates me. I didn’t have an answer, and that bothered me so much that it drove me to some serious prayer and self-reflection. I thought about the things I enjoyed as a kid, the things I enjoy now, and the things I don’t like at all. I thought about the people I look up to, what makes me angry, and what I am afraid of. I quickly discovered that this depth of self-discovery and reflection was uncomfortable as well as transformational. As I spent more time working through the discomfort, I discovered a few important truths.

I discovered that the underlying passion that drives my relationships, desire for adventure, and imagination is a deep love of story. Stories spark my imagination and drive my sense of adventure. Stories inspire me to go new places, meet new people, and see new things. I often form relationships by listening to a person’s story, and my relationships are deepened as my story and their story become interwoven and connected.

As I began to understand these things about myself, I felt a shift in the direction God was calling me. Since high school I have felt the call of God to work in ministry, and I interpreted this as a call to work in the church. At first, I thought I would be a youth minister, but while working through my undergraduate degree at UNCW I began to understand my calling was to media ministry instead.

The seed that became Parable Media was planted in a conversation I had with a close friend and mentor. In that conversation she mentioned that the work I did creating video content could be a powerful tool for churches that may not be able to afford a full-time media specialist. That comment stuck with me, but for a long time I didn’t take it seriously. Pursuing an idea like that would mean taking a massive leap of faith into the complex realm of self-employment. It would be much easier to just get a good job in a church that offered benefits and a consistent paycheck, but God had other plans for me.

As I was finishing divinity school, I accepted a comfortable full-time ministry position with a consistent paycheck. I became a media specialist position at an amazing church. I loved the work I was doing, I loved the people I worked with, and I loved the church family I was adopted into. I had the consistent paycheck and full-time benefits. It was the perfect position for me, but I was uncomfortable. I couldn’t understand why until I realized that the call I heard to serve at this church was only for a season. This was a time of growth and preparation for the next call God had for me – starting a small company with the goal of helping churches, non-profits, and people with a vision to share their story.

The idea for Parable Media was formed though many hours of prayer, meditation, and a bunch of conversations with friends and family. The name Parable Media stems from my love of the story. For me, the most memorable and impactful stories from the bible are the parables found within those pages. A parable is a story that is used to teach a moral or spiritual lesson. A parable is a story with a purpose, and I believe every story I will tell should be told with purpose.

The logo I created draws another connection to my love for stories. The campfire symbolizes the authenticity of stories shared around a campfire. Campfires are gathering places for storytelling. The play symbol and aperture ring symbolize my method of sharing stories through videos. The color red symbolizes passion, energy, and a call to action, some of the things I hope to inspire through the stories I tell.

“My goal for Parable Media is centered in my mission statement: Sharing stories, inspiring action, creating community. It is rooted in telling stories honestly, authentically, and passionately. The stories told through Parable Media should be true representations of the uniqueness of the people shown. These stories should challenge people to become better versions of themselves. These stories should help to spark conversation and build community.”

I firmly believe that the services offered through Parable Media should be available to any person, church, non-profit, or organization that needs them, regardless of budget. Lack of money should not lead to a poor representation of who you are and what you stand for.

The Pastor of Baptist Grove(where I served as media specialist) once asked me how I am sharing all of the things I am learning as I grow in my faith. This blog is an answer to his question. I hope to be able to inspire all who read this blog to look more deeply at what you believe. I want to encourage you in your own walk of faith. I want to help you share your story, to inspire you to action for what you believe, and to help draw you into a larger community.