Jamin Goggin (B.A. ’03, M.A. ’08, M.A. ’08), one of the newest additions to Talbot’s faculty, is a pastor, author, and theologian whose work is motivated by a love for the local church and a passion to care for the spiritual well-being of Christian leaders. He is the author of several books on ministry and spiritual formation, including the newly released Pastoral Confessions: The Healing Path to Faithful Ministry (Baker, October 2025).

Q: Share briefly about your upbringing, family, education, and place you grew up.
I grew up in south Orange County. I was blessed to be the only child of parents who loved the Lord. My mom was a schoolteacher, and my dad was a Secret Service agent. Many of my fondest memories of childhood and teenage years are connected to my experience of church. I was saved, baptized, and mentored in the faith by faithful pastors, youth pastors, and volunteers at Saddleback Church. Upon graduating high school, I went to Biola for my undergraduate education. It wasn’t until my junior year of college that I sensed a calling into pastoral ministry. That calling led me to pursue two M.A.’s at Talbot. I have served as a local church pastor for 20 years. After about a decade in pastoral ministry I decided to pursue my Ph.D. in Systematic Theology. I earned my Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen in 2021.

Q: How did you hear about Talbot? What led you to come to the school?
I came to Biola as an 18-year-old originally interested in pursuing a vocation in the media industry. It wasn’t until my junior year as a communication major that things shifted for me. One significant experience that contributed to a new sense of vocational interest was a three-week summer intensive offered by the Institute for Spiritual Formation at Talbot. That experience, of both rigorous theological study and meaningful growth in my prayer life, precipitated a new interest in studying at Talbot and considering pastoral ministry. When I began my time at Talbot, I was initially earning an M.A. in Spiritual Formation & Soul Care, but after a year I decided to also pursue an M.A. in New Testament.

The combination of those two M.A.’s prepared me well for the pastoral vocation. After serving as a local church pastor for nearly two decades, I was given the opportunity to return to Talbot as an adjunct professor. After a couple of semesters teaching, I discovered that I had real passion, love, and joy for teaching in the seminary classroom. That experience led to my desire to join the faculty full-time.

Q: What program and classes do you teach at Talbot? What other ministries are you involved with outside of Talbot?
I am primarily involved in teaching our seminary students at Talbot. Right now, my primary area of teaching is in our pastoral care and counseling program. I teach foundations, intermediate, and advanced pastoral care and counseling. As an associate professor of Christian ministry and leadership, I will likely teach various other courses in the semesters ahead, but anticipate my primary focus always being the core classes of our pastoral care and counseling program. Having served as a pastor for 20 years, I believe my experience of serving in the local church is an added benefit to our students seeking to pursue various aspects of ministry in the church. Outside of my role at Talbot, I am also the director of the Healthy Pastor Initiative with Finishing the Task. I facilitate retreats and create resources to invest in the spiritual and vocational health of pastors.

Q: What advice would you give to current Talbot students?
While you are here, be here. Seminary is a unique experience. It is an opportunity to grow in theological, exegetical, and practical ministry knowledge. It is also an opportunity to grow in an abiding relationship with Christ. Many come to Talbot still in the process of discerning a particular calling and navigating questions of life and vocation. In my view, Talbot is a wonderful incubator of such discernment. As you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18), I believe the Lord will meet you in meaningful ways in the deep questions of your life. Give yourself to the lectures, reading, prayer projects, spiritual retreats, and soul care being offered. Sign up for office hours with various faculty, ask questions, and pursue their wise counsel. In my experience, the Lord will use this time to deepen your communion with Christ and to help clarify his calling in your life.

– Interview by Ben Shin