Posts by Ben Shin

Ben Shin

Benjamin C. Shin has served in the ministry as a pastor, parachurch leader and professor for more than 20 years. He is a graduate of UCLA, Talbot School of Theology and Dallas Theological Seminary. He enjoys reading, music, sports (especially the UCLA Bruins) and spending time with people. His vision and passion includes mentoring leaders, rebuilding churches and teaching the Word of God. He is married to his bride, Jen, and has two wonderful boys named Adam and Zachary. He currently serves as Associate Professor of Bible Exposition and Director of the Asian-American Ministry track for the Doctor of Ministry at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, Calif.

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Talbot Magazine
Tribute to Dr. Walt Russell
Ben Shin — December 14, 2022
Dr. Walter Bo Russell, a longtime professor of Biola exposition who influenced thousands of students through his teaching and mentorship, passed...
Talbot Magazine
Some Things Never Change
Talbot’s Faithfulness & Commitment to the Word of God Over the Years
Ben Shin — December 14, 2022
In a day and age where things are changing frequently and rapidly, it is comforting to know that some things never change. One of those things is...
Talbot Magazine
Pastoring on Both Sides of the Pacific
Meet 10 Talbot Alumni Serving the Korean Church
Ben Shin — June 24, 2022
Talbot School of Theology has a long and rich partnership with Korean and Korean American students over its 70-year history. With the rapid spread...
Talbot Magazine
Faculty Profile: Fall 2021
Eddie Byun
Ben Shin — December 06, 2021
Dr. Eddie Byun, head of Talbot’s Doctor of Ministry program, is the author of a number of books, including the award-winning Justice Awakening,...
Talbot Magazine
Alumni Profile: Fall 2021
Daniel Jansson
Ben Shin — December 06, 2021
Daniel Jansson (M.Div. ’13), the lead pastor of Imago Dei Church in Downey, California, has a passion for life-on-life discipleship and setting...
The Good Book Blog
Why an Asian American Doctor of Ministry Program?
Ben Shin — September 13, 2021
I am very excited to be a part of Talbot School of Theology’s Asian American Ministry Doctor of Ministry track. Students self-study for most of the...
Talbot Magazine
Alumni Profile: Summer 2021
Steve Bang Lee
Ben Shin — June 16, 2021
I first met Steve Bang Lee and his wife Angela at a new student reception for Talbot in 2008. They were dating at the time. As my wife and I sat...
The Good Book Blog
Why a Fully Online M.Div. Makes Sense Now
Ben Shin — April 14, 2021
The world-wide pandemic of 2020-2021 certainly hindered mainstream living at many levels including work, recreation, social gatherings and the...
Talbot Magazine
Shelf Life
Recent publications from our very own Talbot Faculty.
Greg Ganssle, James Petitfils, Walt Russell, Ben Shin, Sheryl Silzer — November 13, 2017
"Mos Christianorum;" "Sustainable Church;" "Tapestry of Grace;" "Our Deepest Desires"
The Good Book Blog
Let's Appreciate Our Pastors!
Ben Shin — September 17, 2014
Whether you know it or not, pastors in the church work very hard. They do a lot of things publicly like preaching, teaching, visitation, and leading; but they also do quite a bit behind the scenes like counseling, studying, planning, and praying. Unfortunately, for many pastors, it has become a thankless job. For this reason alone, it would be important for you to celebrate this upcoming October because it is Clergy Appreciation month.
The Good Book Blog
You’re Giving a Toast, Not Making a Roast!
Ben Shin — July 14, 2014
It’s wedding season and there are many ways to celebrate on that special day for the bride and the groom. One of the best ways to celebrate this occasion is through the traditional toast that is given during the wedding reception. However, I’ve recently seen that what should typically be one of the high points of the reception just flops miserably... This is not what we should do to the bride or groom! I’d like to offer a few suggestions in this blog of what not to do in a toast and then what one should do in order to make the celebration a wonderful and meaningful one.
The Good Book Blog
Pre-Marital Counseling Asian-American Style, Part Four
Ben Shin — June 30, 2014
We have previously been working through some of the unique and distinct challenges that Asian-American couples face in regards to preparing for weddings and marriage. This blog has raised some of the issues that typically come out during pre-marital counseling sessions. The goal of this series has been to try and understand some of these cultural dynamics that may be vastly different from the many books that are out there on the subject of pre-marital counseling and marriage that may be written from a Western perspective. Some of these differences include dealing with parents, setting up appropriate wedding venues and services, transfer of authority between parents and spouses, guest lists for the wedding, and other potentially shame based challenges. This blog will now give some general and practical advice on how to resolve some of these tensions.
The Good Book Blog
Pre-Marital Counseling Asian-American Style, Part Three
Ben Shin — May 21, 2014
In my last blog, I explored some of the key differences of the dynamics of Asian-American weddings specifically in relationship to “honoring” the parents and their guests at the wedding ceremony. In this blog, I’d like to discuss some of the challenges related to the relational dynamics of the different families prior to marriage. This will include “family matching,” approval of different vocations, and the transfer of authority from the father/mother to the husband and bride ...
The Good Book Blog
Pre-Marital Counseling Asian-American Style, Part Two
Ben Shin — April 15, 2014
In my last blog, I discussed the concept of how the parent-child relationship is viewed differently from an Eastern Asian style than a Western American style. With this difference comes the difficulty of “leaving and cleaving” as found in Genesis 2:25. This also relates to obedience from parents for a lifetime since being a child is viewed more as a permanent status rather than an age range. This is also coupled with a long-term care of the parents supported by passages such as 1 Timothy 5:8 which states that if one does not care for his family that he is worse than an unbeliever.
The Good Book Blog
Pre-Marital Counseling Asian-American Style, Part One
Ben Shin — March 17, 2014
Recently, a friend contacted me and asked for a resource in pre-marital counseling that would be specific to some of the unique cultural needs of an Asian-American couple. I thought about this for a while and realized that I was not familiar with such a curriculum. I explained to him that I typically use material by Family Life’s Dennis and Barbara Rainey and add my own insights on some of the challenges for Asian-Americans in preparing to get married. This first blog will summarize some of those insights ...
The Good Book Blog
Ain’t That a Shame, Part Two: Learning Important Lessons Today from Examples of the Past
Ben Shin — February 17, 2014
In my last blog, I attempted to explain some aspects of shame and how it is different from guilt, as well as to show how shame should be defined more in terms of a relational understanding rather than simply a judicial aspect of exchange. This blog will show a connection between 1st century Roman culture and 21st century Asian-American culture and the lessons that can be learned from studying and comparing both.
The Good Book Blog
Ain’t That a Shame, Part One: Understanding An Older Concept In Today’s World
Ben Shin — January 15, 2014
The dynamics of shame are one of the greatest cultural dynamics of the New Testament. This paradigm is key in understanding other concepts and various texts accurately especially as it relates to topics such as approval, reputation, glory, and status. While these practices were prevalent in the 1st century of the Mediterranean, they also have current bearing to different segments of society today, specifically Asian-Americans in the 21st century. This blog will be the first in a series of blogs that will demonstrate the correlation of Paul’s use of shame in light of the framework of Roman cultural practices as well as how it relates to modern 21st century Asian-American spiritual tendencies.
The Good Book Blog
How to Invite and Host a Guest Speaker for a Retreat, Part Two
Ben Shin — November 26, 2013
In my last blog, I wrote on how to invite a guest speaker to a retreat well. This included knowing how to choose a speaker for your group’s needs, giving enough time to prepare for the retreat, and serving him well as he arrives to the retreat. The goal for the time at the retreat is to serve the speaker well so that he would gladly want to return in the future without a second thought. This entry will concentrate on how to host the speaker well at a retreat.
The Good Book Blog
How to Invite and Host a Guest Speaker for a Retreat, Part One
Ben Shin — October 16, 2013
Being a retreat speaker can be an enjoyable time but can also be a challenging time. The difference maker for which outcome occurs is largely dependent on the host for the speaker. Over the years, as both a speaker and also as a host, I’ve seen some excellent treatment of speakers and also some situations that could use a lot of improvement. This will be a 2 part series of blogs in which I hope to highlight some ways to invite and host a guest speaker in which he would feel very well taken care of throughout the whole process. In this first part of the series, I will focus on how to invite a guest speaker to a retreat.
The Good Book Blog
The Value of Office Hours
Ben Shin — May 03, 2013
I love my office. There are many reasons that I love my office. One is that I can store the many books that I own in there. Second, it is a place for study or reading in a quiet setting. But what I love most is that my office is a place for ministry and discipleship to occur. In other words, it is a safe place to meet students who are not only facing the challenges of academia but also the hardships of life. For this reason, the value of my office hours is priceless!
The Good Book Blog
Resume Red Flags: How to Read a Ministry Resume for All Its Worth
Ben Shin — March 29, 2013
Looking over a resume in order to hire a person for ministry can be trickier than one realizes at first. This is especially true because they typically want to give the benefit of the doubt to one’s accomplishments and experiences as listed on a resume. However, it has been the experience of this writer that what is often listed on a resume may not actually be the truth. There are those who like to “stretch” the information or possibly “embellish” the facts to point in favor of the applicant. Then there are those who just flat out lie about who they really are and what they’ve done. This blog will highlight some clues or signs of “red flags” that may show up in ministry resumes.
The Good Book Blog
Matching Aspects for a Ministry Team
Ben Shin — March 06, 2013
Forming the right kind of pastoral staff or leadership team can be a very challenging endeavor. Getting the right people to work together for the long run is much more difficult than people imagine. Sometimes great individual leaders do not necessarily mean they will work well together in a team. So, how can this be remedied? But before this question can be asked, there is another important preliminary question that needs to be raised. What elements need to be in place or need to match in order to build a strong and cohesive staff? This blog will examine three aspects that need to match well in order to build a good, strong, and cohesive staff.
The Good Book Blog
Why An Asian-American Doctor of Ministry Program?
Ben Shin — January 21, 2013
I am very excited to announce that Talbot School of Theology will be launching a new Doctor of Ministry track in Asian-American Ministry in June of 2013. This is a 2-week residency that will run from June 3rd to the 14th, 2013. This track will be taught and guided by some of the most experienced leaders, instructors, and practitioners in Asian-American ministry. The track is geared towards anyone who pastors or leads Asian-Americans in a church or parachurch.
The Good Book Blog
The Confessions of a (Formerly) Busy Person
Ben Shin — November 08, 2012
Life can be busy. This just seems to be a reality of life. And especially within the Christian world, busyness sometimes seems to translate into godliness. I have known this to be true in my own life. I have the privilege to teach each week at the seminary and interact with students and colleagues regarding very important eternal matters. I also served as the lead pastor of a church on a “part-time” basis. I’m married with two little boys who were always wanting daddy’s time. And I was finishing my dissertation for my doctorate. Just a little busy!
The Good Book Blog
Lessons on Leadership, Pt. 6-The Self-Awareness of a Leader
Ben Shin — February 20, 2012
The different tasks of leadership pose many challenges for a leader. It requires that the leader have a good sense of knowing the people well enough to relate to them but also for him to have a good sense of direction in terms of where he wants to lead them. Fundamentally, however, one of the most neglected aspects of leadership entails knowing exactly where the leader is in terms of self-awareness. In other words, the leader must have a good read on his own strengths and weaknesses in order to know how to best lead the people he shepherds over. This requires a strong sense of self-awareness of the leader in his giftedness, his personality, and his leadership style. This entry will examine the biblical encouragements for self-awareness and the hindrances that prevent his success in leadership.