Elizabeth City, N.C. — When Pastor Miracle Parker first went to college in 1995, he admits he did not take it seriously. But as he matured in life and began having college-age children, and often had to minister to college students in his role as a pastor, he felt a growing responsibility to pursue his education. “What better witness could I offer than to complete my own college degree,” Parker said.
Now, nearly 30 years later, Parker—a husband, father of four, pastor at Mt. Lebanon AME Zion Church and full-time safety supervisor for the City of Norfolk’s Division of Waste Management—will finally walk across the stage at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) on Dec. 13 to earn a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Community Service.
Parker said a promise to his late mother motivated his return to school. Juggling coursework, two churches, and dual job roles challenged him on all sides.
“The biggest challenge was time management, especially to make sure my family wasn’t overlooked,” he said. “What went through my mind was if I was going to take this leap, would I take one class at a time, go part-time or full-time?
Parker’s wife, Robin Parker—executive assistant to the vice chancellor in the Division of Student Affairs & University Advancement at ECSU—gave him the motivation he needed.
Her words were simple: “I believe in you.”
During most of his studies, Parker pastored at Mary Holly Grove and Center Chapel AME Zion Churches before recently beginning a new assignment at Mt. Lebanon AME Zion Church on Nov. 23.
Through every demanding day, scripture remained his guide. “My faith was the key to how I approached my studies,” he said. “Serving in dual roles on my job, pastoring two churches, completing my four-year African Methodist Episcopal Zion denominational studies, balancing family, and managing a demanding preaching schedule—I couldn’t have done it without my faith.”
So Parker set out on his journey and pressed forward, faith in tow.
Still, while faith strengthened his resolve, life continued to test it. The loss of his brother brought one of his most difficult academic seasons. “To say the least, I did not have much focus on my studies,” Parker said. His brother was someone he looked up to growing up.
“To watch him deteriorate was tough enough, but to help navigate my niece and nephews through the process was even tougher,” he said.
As Parker neared graduation, grief resurfaced. Just a few weeks ago, he buried his oldest sister, the first in his family to graduate from college and a strong advocate for education. After giving her eulogy, Parker said it reminded him of the importance of finishing strong.
When asked about his most rewarding class or academic moment, Parker said, “Hazard Mitigation Preparedness.”
At first, he failed. But he retook the course despite increased work duties—and succeeded. “While I was safety supervisor in Norfolk, I was also functioning as the interim program manager for Public Works. I passed at a time when I was most busy.”
That, he said, was proof of how far he had come, and to overcome was to put into practice what he often preaches.
The moment that stands strongest in his mind is the beginning, when fear and uncertainty tried to take over. “I even feared not getting accepted at all,” Parker said. “After talking to Mrs. Arlinda Halfacre in the Office of Admissions, which made the process seamless and very welcoming, the acceptance came, and the thought came to mind, ‘I really could do this.’”
Parker’s degree reflects his belief in ministry beyond Sunday mornings. “Ministry goes far beyond the pulpit; it’s about showing up for people in their everyday struggles, needs and victories,” he said. “This degree gives me a stronger understanding of how communities function and what people truly need so that I can serve them more effectively.”
With graduation ahead and his fifth child on the way, Parker is focused on community outreach as his short-term goal and hopes to pursue a master’s degree long term. He also hopes his journey inspires others, especially adult learners who think their time has passed. “There is more to you than previous failures. There is more to you than present fears,” he said. “One day, you will look around, and you will be seated amongst the cedars of Mount Lebanon.”
Looking back, there’s a message he’d give to the young man who once walked away from college: “Stay focused, be disciplined and look to the future.”
He wants others to know that returning to college did more than change his career opportunities. It changed his belief in himself. “It encouraged me to believe in myself more, like the old saying goes, ‘You never know how strong you are until you have to be.’ To me, that’s what it means to be a Viking with pride.”
As he prepares to cross the finish line, Parker hopes the truth of his testimony remains clear: “The real doubt, the real fear, the real anxiety is subconscious. I always believed I wasn’t college material.”
Yet now, degree in hand, he stands as living proof of what he preaches. With faith, family and perseverance, the sky is the limit. And at ECSU, a miracle didn’t just happen. This Miracle worked for it.