Inside Hope Channel:Serena Thummalapalli

Ever since I was young, I aspired to help people know Jesus Christ. As I thought about how to achieve this, I was drawn to medicine. I studied hard and worked in the medical field for many years before I realized that I wanted to make an impact on a larger scale.

Since I started working at Hope Channel, I can honestly say that I’m making that larger impact every day.

Different forms of media, especially television, are powerful ministry tools that can reach thousands of eyes and minds in a matter of minutes. What is shared, then, is extremely important.

In my role as broadcast traffic coordinator, I personally oversee all incoming programs and maintain the master database for Hope Channel. Together with various producers and editors, my team and I work to find content that meets Hope Channel’s expectations and standards.

Aspects like file quality, video length, and other technical requirements are all things I’m responsible for checking on when I receive videos, but the most important part is the content itself.

Good spiritual and educational content is important, not because of Hope Channel’s standards, but because of the impact it has on the lives of thousands of viewers. My team and I, knowing that people around the world are coming to Christ through Hope Channel, are committed to acquiring and airing these powerful, life-changing programs. It is an incredibly humbling responsibility.

And a joyous one too! Although I haven’t yet met someone who has chosen Jesus as their Savior as a direct result of my work at Hope Channel, I know I am part of a mission that is much greater than me. I am always amazed to hear the testimonies of our viewers and am grateful to have played some role in their story.

I love my work and I’m positive that what happens in this office is making a difference in the world. I thank God for the opportunity to be part of a team that is so passionate and dedicated to furthering God’s mission.

I believe that my being at Hope Channel is an answer to my prayers from when I was younger. It’s been a long and interesting journey, but He’s placed me exactly where I need to be. God is fulfilling the deepest desire of my heart—and I could not be more grateful!

Serena is married to her childhood friend Samuel, and they live together with their sweet dog, Junior. She also shares Jesus outside her time at Hope Channel by being an active member of her church. She is a Pathfinder associate at Southern Asian Seventh-day Adventist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, and recently completed the Pathfinder Leadership Award, a level higher than Master Guide. Serena is an avid photographer and uses her skills for personal enjoyment as well as for her church.