God at the Center: John Austin Earles Builds Noble Roofing with Faith and Purpose

Guided by the Lord and professors from Dallas Baptist University and the Carter School of Business (CSB), 2019 alumnus John Austin Earles has drawn on his Bachelor of Arts in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics to create and build his own business from the ground up.

Raised in a Christian home with his parents and four siblings, John Austin grew up with church being a central part of his life. At five years old, he accepted Christ into his life and began his own personal journey of faith. Years later, during his senior year of high school, John Austin recommitted his life to Christ, which was a pivotal turning point in his walk with the Lord.

After hearing about DBU from his brother's colleague, who was an alumnus, John Austin was inspired by the university's commitment to being a community that challenges and strengthens one's faith. He explains that his time at DBU taught him how to live for Jesus in a real, everyday way, calling it "one of the best decisions" he's made. What made his experience at DBU so impactful was the direction and guidance he received from the professors at DBU, noting "they weren't just great teachers, they really shaped how I think and lead."

While at DBU, John Austin was heavily involved in campus life, from being President of Student Government, participating in the fraternity Tau Alpha Phi, PPE Society, and Omicron Delta Kappa, to working several on-campus jobs. In addition, he was also able to travel the world through the Global Studies program. John Austin highlights that these experiences "expanded my perspective and deepened my appreciation for different cultures."

After completing his undergraduate studies at DBU, John Austin began working as a project estimator for a large commercial roofing company. In this role, he participated in over $40 million worth of commercial roofing projects, an experience that laid a strong foundation for the next step in his career.

In 2024, John Austin launched his own company, Noble Roofing, with the vision of creating an organization that would honor and put God at its center, while serving others with excellence. Despite the challenges that came with starting a business, he expresses how the journey has "been deeply rewarding" and that he has "loved the process of creating something that reflects my values." 

Noble Roofing has lived out its vision of serving the Lord by partnering with multiple ministries, including Homes for HOPE, the Mighty Oaks Foundation, and EveryVillage, where they had the opportunity to build ministry huts in South Sudan. While serving people in these ministries, Noble Roofing is dedicated to giving each homeowner and business owner a personalized Bible at the end of every project. John Austin shares how this act is their "way of sharing what matters most to us."

Looking back to his first experiences at DBU, John Austin remembers his first management class with Dr. Justin Gandy. He shares how this class opened his mind to the possibility of social entrepreneurship, along with the idea of building a business to serve the Lord and His Kingdom. These encounters led to John Austin feeling the call to "Business as Mission," which was a big turning point in bringing him to where he is now with Noble Roofing. 

Further encouraging him to pursue entrepreneurship, Professor and Program Director for the Center for Business as Mission, Dr. Ross O'Brien, mentored John Austin to help him see what early business planning looked like. In this mentorship, he saw how he could use his business to serve others practically and sustainably. John Austin says, "the Carter School of Business didn't just teach me how to manage or lead, it helped shape the way I live out my purpose through business." 

While starting his own company with a Christ-centered focus has been a major accomplishment for John Austin, he highlights that his most significant milestone since graduating is marrying his wife, Kenna, a 2020 DBU alumna. The two are expecting their first child, and John Austin expects fatherhood to be the next exciting chapter in his life.

In reflecting on his life thus far, John Austin would advise current DBU students to follow the Lord's plan for their lives and pray over every opportunity that comes their way. "When life feels overwhelming with options, God may simply be calling you to slow down, settle in, and listen closely," John Austin states. He believes that when you give every opportunity over to the Lord in prayer, He will bless every part of it, just as He did with Noble Roofing. He emphasizes that your path may not make sense to others, but when it comes from God, it will bring you peace, and that is what matters most.

As he walked the graduation stage in 2019, John Austin says that he would have told his past self to "trust God with your future" and that "He will sustain you." At the time, he did not know what his future held, but in looking back, he sees how the Lord has guided and sustained him in every moment. He recognizes how the foundation built at DBU and in the CSB has shaped his business, family, and his calling to live out "Business as Mission."