General Background

Rev. Dr. James B. Joseph is an American theologian, author, and former educator known for his work in Christian ministry, biblical studies, and discipleship.

Life and Career

Born in Santa Monica, California, Dr. Joseph served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1973 as a light air defense electronic technician and paratrooper
before pursuing degrees in engineering technology in computer design and business management from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, NC.
During his undergraduate work at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, he helped start a new chapter of the Tau Alpha Pi national
honor society on his campus, the Eta Beta Chapter and became its first president. After graduating he started his own company, Duncan Professional
Sound & Electronics, Inc., with a silent partner, C.H. Duncan, designing and installing commercial audio and lighting systems primarily for churches. In
addition, in the mid-1980s, he became an instructor in Electronic Engineering Technology at Forsyth Technical College in Winston Salem, NC.

In 1989, Joseph started transitioning into full-time ministry and began biblical and theological studies. He earned a Master’s degree in

Religion and Religious Studies from Wake Forest University, followed by a Master’s in Theological Studies from Hood Theological Seminary. He
later obtained a Ph.D. in New Testament Biblical Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2004.

Dr. Joseph was licensed as a minister in 2000 and ordained as a minister in 2007 at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston Salem, NC. He
ministered at Friends Baptist Church in Clemmons, NC, in an interim senior pastor capacity from 2004 to 2005 and
later served as interim senior pastor and then senior pastor at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Mount Airy, NC, from
2006 to 2010.

In addition to ministry and writing, from 2007 to 2021, Dr. Joseph was an adjunct professor for Liberty Theological Seminary, which later became the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity of Liberty University, teaching courses in New Testament studies primarily teaching proper
interpretation of scripture (hermeneutics).  Dr. Joseph has authored books on Christian discipleship and theology, including Victory in Jesus: Being a Child of God (1997; 4^th ed. 2025), Experiencing Jesus’ Joy (2011), The Ultimate Victory: Becoming a Follower of Jesus (2024), and Unity and Obedient Discipleship in the Gospel of John (2024).

Personal Life

Dr. Joseph has been married to Alma Cummings since 1973. They have one lovely daughter, Elizabeth, who is currently serving as a family counselor, one gifted son-in-law, Stewart Welch, who is presently a commercial pilot, and three special grandchildren, Lydia, Will, and Macy.

 

Testimonies of Dr. Joseph’s Character & Ability

To James B. Joseph, President, Tau Alpha Pi Chapter: “. . .
I must complement you for the excellent job and leadership you display on
behalf of the Eta Beta Chapter and for the University of N.C. Engineering
Technologies,” wrote Prof. Frederick J. Berger, Office of the Executive
Secretary, National Honor Society Engineering Technologies, March 10, 1977.

To Mr. Jim Joseph: “On behalf of the official boards of
Salem Congregation, I want to thank you for your invaluable help in making
possible our Moravian Sunrise Service (National Service). This service could
never be the great inspiration that it is to so many people without your
interest and participation,” wrote Kenneth W. Robinson, Chairman, Central Board
of Elders, Salem Congregation, April 14, 1988.

“James B. Joseph and this writer have been business
associates and good friends for over 22 years. . . .  Jim is a devoted Christian
and family man, a loving husband and father. I would proudly recommend him for
any business or church related opportunity that might come his way, “ C. H. Duncan,
President, Duncan Music Company, Inc., June 29, 1995.

“I wish to recommend to you James (Jim) B. Joseph. We have
worked closely together on cooperative events among the Churches of
Winston-Salem. . . . Jim is a multi-talented person. He is an excellent
organizer. If he is assigned a task by a group or board of directors, he will
follow through on what is required to complete the task. If he tells you that
he will do something, it will be done. He gives attention to intricate details
of a ministry or project. . . .  ,” wrote
Dr. Cecil R. Cave, Pastor, Mineral Springs Baptist Church, June 30, 1995.

“Dear James, Wake Forest University and the Network Staff of
the Information Systems Department cannot begin to express our sincere thanks
and gratitude for your hard work and dedication. The Multi-Media rooms around
the campus are essential to the success of the Technology Initiative and Access
2000. Initially, due to the magnitude of the summer projects, it appeared
unreasonable to complete all of the classrooms and have them operational by the
beginning of the semester. The Lord sent the University and that gift is you.
Without hesitation, you began to design, engineer, and installation of the
systems with meticulous care . . .  The quality of equipment and the level of craftsmanship are without comparison.
Your devotion to the University and dedication to perfection is a goal our
Department will strive to match. Thank you for the many long hours of devoted
service and accept this gift as a small token of our heartfelt thanks and
gratitude,” wrote Ronald W. Rimme, Jr., Network Manager, Wake Forest
University, October 29, 1996.

“Dear Mr. Joseph, On behalf of the members of the Board of
Trustees, the staff, faculty, and student body of Forsyth Technical Community
College, I would like to thank you for the attention and services that you have
rendered as a member of the Electronic Technology Advisory Committee. . . . I
sincerely thank you for your support of Forsyth Technical Community College and
its many programs and I will look forward to other opportunities involving you
in the activities of out college,” Wrote Dr. Desna L Wallin, Forsyth Technical
College, March 24, 1998.

“I am happy to recommend to you Dr. James Joseph. James has
completed a Ph.D. in New Testament at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
in addition to Master’s Degrees at two other institutions. He is a very
competent scholar and is especially adept at doing in-depth research. In
addition to his academic qualifications, James has a great love and devotion to
the church as a whole. He has a burden for getting churches of like-faith to
get together and cooperate with each other in completing the work of Christ,”
wrote Dr. Gerald Cowen, Dean of Southeastern College, July 2, 2004.

“Dr. James Joseph is an astute Bible teacher, expositor, and
a fine leader. He has a servant spirit and it totally committed to Jesus Christ
and the furtherance of His kingdom. James has a strong sense of community. His
leadership and God’s blessing has resulted in an interdenominational joint
Christian ministry to parolees known as Angel House Ministries. I would count
it my privilege to recommend this dear Christian brother for any ministry
opportunity,” wrote Dr. Carlos T. Cooper, Friends Baptist Church, July 19,
2005.

“Dear Dr. Joseph and Alma, Words cannot express how much my
family and I have loved, appreciated, and learned under your guidance,
leadership, and example. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to have
heard you preach, watch you lead, and see how you minister to our elderly
shut-ins, sick, and those in need of counsel and community. . . .  ,” wrote Kat and Joe Cooke, Mt. Carmel
Baptist Church Members, May 12, 2010.

“During my time at Mt. Carmel, I was able to get familiar
with two different aspects of Dr. Joseph’s ministry. . . . His teaching style
comes from solid scholarship, which underpins every sermon or Bible study
lesson he shares. . . . Dr. Joseph’s sermons were presented in a manner not
just reserved for those with an appreciation for scholarship. . . . His
preaching style was, on the other hand, geared for the layman, making the
lessons practical, accessible and enjoyable for anyone on any level of Biblical
understanding. . . .  The other aspect of Dr. Joseph’s ministry that I both respected and appreciated was that of his
being a true shepherd of the flock God had put in his care. Numerous times I
witnessed his loving are extended unselfishly to those in his church who were
hurting or were in need, my mother and myself included. As a pastor, he was
approachable and as available as any man could be. When there was a need, he
was there, and he stayed as long as that need was present. . . . He worked with
his own people and also with local churches and pastors to see real Christian
transformation become a reality. . . . In closing, any body of believers who is
committed in their desire to grow in their knowledge and application of the
Scriptures, their personal and corporate lives with God, and also grow in love
and dedication in seeing the lost of their world brought into the family of
faith would be blessed to have this man as their pastor,” wrote Minister Dana
C. Acker, Mount Airy, NC, May 5, 2010.

“Beloved Dr. James, Welcome, it has been our great privilege
and blessing to have you amidst all the way from the USA. We are grateful to
God for your life, leadership, ministry, and significant contributions you made
for the Kingdom’s cause. With due thanks for your love, Prayer and support for
the ministry, we extend our heartfelt welcome to the ancient City of Patna
[India]. We are grateful to God and value your love, support and prayer for the
ministry of TIM in India, Bihar in particular,” written by the Welcoming
Committee of Transformation India Movement (TIM) at a two day Experiencing
Jesus’ Joy pastors’ seminar in Patna led by Dr. Joseph starting on June 26,
2018. A couple remarks from attendees: “I want to express my thanks for
the meaningful conference. I got a lot from it- great insights, & a deeper
understanding of experiencing Jesus. It was rewarding- thank you for including
me,” Pr Chandrma Prasad (Bhojpur); “Please know how very much I enjoyed the
entire conference, including that final Day that capped the experience in such
a personal way. It was a very good time to learning deeply the words of God,”
Pr. Ramavtar (Arariya).

“It has been my pleasure to have known Dr. James B. Joseph
since 2007, when we both began teaching at Liberty University. James was a
faculty member in my Instructional Mentor cohort during much of our
association; consequently, I have had occasion to observe James at close range,
as well as to oversee his work in teaching classes, first in Liberty University
Baptist Theological Seminary and later in the John W. Rawlings School of
Divinity. I have found James to be competent, unapologetically evangelical in
his beliefs and theological commitments, and devoted to providing his students
with the best experience possible. . . . ,” wrote Dr. Robert Wayne Stacy,
Professor of Divinity/Instructional Mentor, John W. Rawlings School of
Divinity, Liberty University, December 10, 2021.