Terrence Shay graduated from Talbot in 2010 with a M.Div. in Evangelism and Discipleship. He is looking forward to celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary to Regina and has three children ranging from middle school to college. Terrence cheers for the best teams in L.A. (Lakers, Dodgers, and UCLA Bruins) and loves the musicals Hamilton, Wicked, and The Phantom of the Opera.

Q: Share briefly about your upbringing, family, and place you grew up.

I am an immigrant. That simple statement conveys great meaning and significance to God’s leading in my life. My family moved from Taiwan to L.A. when I was in third grade. Even though my years in Taiwan were few, they were formative and remembered fondly. We had no religious influences growing up and it wasn’t until we came here that a family friend brought us to a Chinese Heritage Church (CHC) for the first time. Eventually, my parents, my younger sister and I started following Jesus and the local church became my primary source of community and ministry. Even though I am more “Westernized” culturally, my heart strings and experiences are anchored to my immigrant roots and defines my pastoral calling today. What better way to make disciples than to serve as a bridge connecting cultures and generations in the CHC!

Q: How did you hear about Talbot? What led you to come to the school?

Unlike many of my friends, my ambitions growing up did not include becoming a pastor. When the Lord put pastoral ministry on my heart, I was recently married and needed to trust him with the sudden change of direction in life, for which I sought confirmation. Talbot was known locally as a vibrant community that integrated scholarship and relationship with excellence. Ultimately, I came here for two reasons: 1) The friendship and impact of a pastoral intern who was serving at my local church, and 2) proximity to my parents so that I can visit and be close. God answered prayer in both of those areas during my years, especially since we had two kids. Praise God for his perfect provision.

Q: Share some of your favorite memories from Talbot. What did you gain the most from your time at Talbot?

Talbot was memorable in so many ways! From the conversations in the classrooms to the vibe (and playing ping pong) in the lounge, it was joyful to learn and grow with the community. My highlights include serving on Talbot AS to plan gatherings and encourage students, finding a mentor in Professor Ben Shin who still invests in my ministry today, and making life-long friends that have stayed in touch. The capstone experience was going to Talbot Israel led by Dr. Richard Rigsby and his wife Donna. Those three weeks of seeing the Bible come to life in the Holy Land are precious and irreplaceable. It was the perfect combination of fun (paper plate awards), food (shawarmas FTW) and fellowship.

Q: What are you doing now in the ministry? How did Talbot prepare you for this?

I am currently in my ninth year serving as the Family Pastor at First Chinese Baptist Church in Walnut, California. It has been a purposeful and challenging journey to navigate through what family ministry can and should look like in a CHC where segregation and siloing is the norm. The water that we swim in separates people weekly around languages, cultures and generations. Yet, we know through Scripture that God ordained for the home and the local church to partner together in disciple-making to reach all peoples for his glory. It has been a joy to shepherd parents through seasons and milestones to put Christ as center (family-as-church) while also connecting generations in our congregations so that we pursue Christ as a spiritual family (church-as-family). Talbot prepared me well for this by emphasizing the priority of God’s Word as a means of knowing God and leading his people, the emphasis on the local church as the necessary community for spiritual growth, and the power of the Holy Spirit to form people into the likeness of Christ.

Q: What advice would you give to current Talbot students?

My advice is to do your best to be present with full attention during your Talbot years. After all, what you put into it is what you get out of it. If seminary is about checking off classes and completing a degree with blinders on, you will be equipped with a useful toolbox but may miss out on many things God is doing around you. If you treat your seminary studies with the aspiration of having it form who you are and shape the networks that you have, then there will be ample opportunities for meaningful conversations, teaching moments and shared experiences that will broaden your pastoral leadership foundation for life.

– Interview by Ben Shin

Send us your updates!

Have you published a book? Completed doctoral work? Started a new job? Welcomed a child into your home through birth or adoption? We want to know what you're up to and how the kingdom of God is advancing through your personal and professional lives. Send us your update and include your year(s) of graduation.

Email: alumni@biola.edu

Mail: Talbot Magazine Biola Alumni Relations 13800 Biola Ave. La Mirada, CA 90639