Joshua Styles, an NGU favorite
Abigail Welch, Staff Writer
North Greenville is filled with wonderful students, faculty and staff who are making a difference on campus, in the community and peoples lives. Dr. Joshua Styles, a Christian Studies professor, is doing exactly that.
Styles grew up in Asheville, N.C. where he attended Merrimon Christian School. He then moved to Greenville, S.C. and attended North Greenville for an undergraduate in Christian Studies. In 2005 he graduated with his Bachelor�s, married his then fianc�, Charlotte and they both packed up and moved to Raleigh, N.C. While living in Raleigh, he attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and obtained his Masters of Arts in Christian Ethics.
Styles was also accepted into the Raleigh Police Academy but was unable to graduate due to an injury. Still interested in pursuing law, he then attended law school at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He graduated in 2012 and finally found his way back to Greenville, where he obtained his role at North Greenville.
While Styles was in his third year of law school, he began as a tutor to second year law students as a mentor program. That same year, North Greenville was starting the American Studies Program, and knowing that someday he had wanted to come back to teach, he reached out about the opportunity to teach within the new program.
Around the same time, North Greenville was also launching the Criminal Justice concentration, and Styles began teaching as an adjunct professor. After two years, he was promoted to full time faculty in the Christian Studies department, while still teaching entry level Criminal Justice. Lord willing, Styles’ long-term goal is to still be teaching at North Greenville in both Christian studies and Criminal Justice and he hopes to be able to see his girls attend and graduate North Greenville.
Styles’ said his teaching philosophy is �absolutely everything we do we should glorify God.” This philosophy comes from Colossians 3:23-24, �Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.�
He is always telling students that no matter what class you are in, whether it is a basic course, or an important part of your major, you need to learn everything you can. That way, you can be the best at whatever role God has chosen for you.
When Styles is not on campus teaching, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters Cara, Anna and Elise. As a family, they enjoy playing strategy board games and any sports that involve balls. On Sundays they attend the Church at Greer Station, where Styles is a lay pastor.
Whether you are taking a class lead by Styles, see him for advising or just happen to run into him on campus, your day will be better just by speaking with him. With a kind heart and a helping hand, Styles is an irreplaceable asset to North Greenville.
