A Liberty University student has advanced to the finals of NBC's American Ninja Warrior.
Josiah Singleton, a master of divinity student at the Lynchburg, Va., Christian university, is one of 69 finalists in the series, which is in its 14th season.
He advanced to Stage 2 of the National Finals during an episode that aired Monday, Aug. 15. He did not compete in this week's episode.
It is Singleton's third time competing in American Ninja Warrior and his second time in the Finals.
A fan favorite, he is known on the show as "Country Boy Ninja."
The winner receives $100,000 and a shot at $1 million.
Singleton is pursuing a master of divinity (M.Div) degree in Biblical studies while serving as student discipleship director at Hyland Heights Baptist Church in Rustburg, Va., according to Liberty's news office. He graduated from Liberty with his bachelor's degree in 2019.
"It's been awesome," Singleton said earlier this year. "It has given me opportunities to talk with students [at Liberty] about what really matters in life, to show that your identity is not found in those things but in Christ and that you're able to use these opportunities to share your faith with others … as well as encouraging one another as believers and competitors."
Singleton was one of three Liberty graduates to compete in American Ninja Warrior this year, joining Chad Thornhill, a professor in the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, and 2022 graduate Jeffrey Loftus. It was Thornhill's second time to compete. Loftus was making his debut.
"You have to overcome that whole mental aspect of competing on the show, with all the lights and cameras. You never really feel ready for it – kind of like marriage and having your first kid," Loftus said.
Singleton graduated in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in youth ministry.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Pavel
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
