Reflections - 2020

Stop. Deep breath. We made it.

As 2020 draws to a close we all wave goodbye to a year that for many of us has been one of the hardest in our lives. Who knew that during its first full calendar year, Parable Media would be faced with a global pandemic and an economic recession? Through it all God has been present. In a time where many businesses had to close their doors, the ministry work of Parable Media became essential as many different churches and organizations moved to virtual alternatives to continue their ministries. Yes, it has been a difficult and exhausting year, but it has also been one full of opportunities to see God at work in many different people, churches, and communities.

Creating Community

The Parable Media community has continued to grow through many new connections with ministers, churches, and Christian organizations. We continue to serve many of those churches and organizations who have partnered with us since the beginning through our digital media support packages, such as Hayes Barton Baptist Church, First Baptist Church in Erwin, and First Baptist Church in Wilmington. We have welcomed new partnerships with First Baptist Church Moore Street in Fayetteville, and Wake Forest Baptist Church. 

Outside of our digital media support packages, Parable Media had the wonderful opportunity to connect with and serve many other ministers, churches, and Christian organizations including: Baptist Women in Ministry, Campbell University, Mephibosheth Project, Seaside UMC, Trinity Baptist Church, Yates Baptist Church, and many others. We have enjoyed getting to know each and every one of the communities, people, and organizations we have connected with, and look forward to both new and continued relationships.

Becoming a Nonprofit

For those of you who don’t know, Parable Media began its journey as a limited liability company (LLC). After much prayer, reflection, and discussions with the people and organizations we serve, it was determined that restructuring as a nonprofit corporation would allow for Parable Media to minister in the most effective way possible. We believe that in order to continue serving churches and Christian organizations of all sizes, as well as to continue to grow to meet the needs of our growing community, Parable Media would need the support of the wonderful people who believe in our mission and ministry. Parable Media is now a registered nonprofit in North Carolina, and we are in the process of applying for tax exempt status from the IRS. 

Since becoming a nonprofit organization, Parable Media now has one of the best board of directors we could possibly hope for. We are excited to welcome Rev. Jayne Davis, Dr. Mike Queen, Rev. Christian Davis, Katrina Tatum, and Dr. Larry Dickens to our board. We are thankful for the support each of them offer as Parable Media continues to grow and serve.

Serving In a Pandemic

Throughout the pandemic, churches have had to embrace new and creative ways of doing ministry. Parable Media has been right there with them as they worked out what was best for their community. When churches first started closing doors, many churches did not have the equipment needed to continue offering their worship services online. Parable Media was able to help advise churches on what equipment would best work for their community, as well as provide equipment for some churches to utilize as they worked on more long term solutions.

As everyone began to feel the financial impacts and fallout of COVID-19, many churches and organizations had to find new ways to accept donations and allow for members to continue to give despite not meeting in person. Parable Media helped set up several churches and organizations with online giving portals, helping to provide a space for members to continue to give. Some of these churches have found that their giving has actually increased this year because of the addition of online giving options.

At the beginning of the pandemic, many churches asked their ministers to adapt and absorb the extra workload, still hoping that everything would go back to normal quickly. As the months dragged on and it became apparent that COVID-19 wasn’t going anywhere, ministers began to find themselves overwhelmed with having to add video editing on top of their already full job descriptions. Parable Media was able to support some of these ministers by partnering with their churches and taking some of the extra video work off their plates, helping them to find a more sustainable way of doing ministry in 2020.

Staying TOGETHER

One of my favorite projects in 2020 has been the TOGETHER series. Early on in the pandemic, when everything was shut down, several churches partnered with Parable Media to share resources and create a virtual worship experience for students in many different communities. Through the combined efforts of Trinity Baptist Church, Hayes Barton Baptist Church, Yates Baptist Church, First Baptist Church in Wilmington, First Baptist Church in Erwin, and Rolesville Baptist Church, students were able to learn from many different ministers and experience different styles of music. These churches coming together embodied Parable Media’s core value of creating community, and showed that the church is bigger than individual buildings and congregations. 

Christmas in a Pandemic

I knew going in that the Christmas season was going to be especially busy this year. Many churches still have their doors closed, and most churches have incorporated online worship options even if they have opened their physical doors. I learned a lot through the months of November and December—first and foremost I learned how much of a workload one person can handle. I may have even gone over that line a few times, but it helped me to better realize that Parable Media needs to become bigger than one person in order to effectively do the ministry that God has called Parable Media to do. 

With people looking for hope more than ever this Christmas season, Parable Media partnered with many different churches and helped create different virtual worship service experiences for these churches to provide for their congregations. Several of these worship services allowed choir members to participate, which was much needed in a year where many choirs have been shut down. One of the churches we worked with over Christmas has sent some of the feedback from their members for us to see. One of my favorite comments was written to the Minister of Music and Worship of their church:

“I almost can’t type this message to you because I’m crying so much, all I can say is thank you. Thank you for such a beautiful and special gift of music to all of us in these very unique times.”

Sharing Stories

One thing that Parable Media has continued to embrace this year is the creation of original content that is freely available for use. We have created ten different original videos that premiered through the Parable Media blog. These videos have been used by churches in their worship services, bible studies, and small groups as a creative way to share the message of Jesus Christ. Along with the blog videos, Parable Media has launched a new series called RESONANCE. This series is meant to provide a space for voices from different backgrounds and places of faith to come together and better share the gospel together. We are excited to continue this series into 2021 with four new videos.

Yes, it has been a difficult year, but it has also been a wonderful year full of new connections, new ways of doing ministry, new stories, and most importantly, the continued presence and love of God.

We at Parable Media are looking forward to the hope of a new year in 2021.