Trading palm trees for the Blue Ridge: Michael Bryant
Lexi Hudson, Staff Writer
Michael Bryant has spread the Gospel overseas, on the east coast and now he will be ministering to NGU students as the new Dean of the College of Christian Studies.
With his devout Christian faith beginning with his baptism at eight years old, Bryant has always loved church and learning the word of God. Even as a teen, he felt called to full-time Christian service.
Bryant has always loved learning. “I always felt the most comfortable in school and in the classroom,” he said.
His pursuit of academic achievement was not always so simple. Bryant came from a broken home, and this caused him to struggle at times.
Bryant being a first-generation college student only added to the challenge, but he explained that his love of learning kept him afloat.
“I didn’t do it alone. I was lucky enough to have professors and administrators that poured into me and pushed me towards success,” Bryant said.
This success includes fathering four children, spreading the academic word of God at Charleston Southern University, teaching on mission trips overseas and now becoming the new Dean of the College of Christian Studies at NGU.
His journeys overseas included stops in Uganda, Ethiopia and at an oil compound in Saudi Arabi. Bryant spent two weeks at the Saudi Arabian oil compound since it was the only place they could freely — and safely — talk about the Christian faith.
His goal in teaching anyone, from people in East African nations to college students in South Carolina, is to help them grow.
His commitment to teaching the Bible and its Creator can be a hard task.
“The Bible is the most academic book we have. It even has its own language, in a way, and every word has its purpose,” Bryant said.
Bryant noted that his favorite group to teach is freshmen due to them being at the beginning of their journey in higher education, and he can see their growth in real time.
“My wife and I are beyond excited to get to know them [NGU students] in the fall,” Bryant said.
Feature photo courtesy of Mason Bayne
