Ministry

Aaron serves as Director of the Master of Art in Ministry (MAM) and Master of Arts in Formational Leadership (MAFL) programs at LBC | Capital. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Biola University and a Master of Divinity from Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, CA. He is also currently a student in Capital’s Ph.D. in Leadership Studies program. Aaron’s primary research interests include spiritual formation, discipleship, and the influence of digital culture on individuals, communities, and society. He has presented on these subjects at workshops, retreats, and training conferences. Prior to joining Lancaster Bible College, Aaron served in a variety of youth ministry roles including most recently Senior High Youth Director at Living Word Community Church in Red Lion, PA. He and his family currently reside in Mount Joy, PA where he also serves as an elder and teaching team member at his local church.

Esther is Scottish though she now makes Pennsylvania her home. She attended Cairn University (B.S., Bible and B.S., Secondary Education), Pennsylvania State University (M.Ed., Training Design and Development) and earned a Ph.D. from Lancaster Bible College | Capital Bible Seminary & Graduate School. She has been teaching full-time at Lancaster Bible College | Capital Bible Seminary & Graduate School since January 2016. Prior to that, she served for 12 years as International Children’s Ministry Director for a global mission organization while also supporting her husband in local church ministry. Esther has been blessed with a global ministry perspective as she led a training project that extended to 60 countries. Her passion is multiplication of discipleship ministry to children in their families and communities and she continues to serve as an active member of the Global Children’s Forum and 1/50 Initiative. She and her husband, David, have three children: Rebekah, Daniel and Abigail.

Sam Harbin is blessed to have been a follower of Jesus Christ since childhood, and brings more than 30 years of experience in pastoral and Christian higher education ministry to the classroom. He has served in a variety of roles, including assistant pastor, senior pastor, seminary chaplain and professor, and seminary president. His ministry has taken him throughout the United States and to seven countries internationally. Sam holds degrees from Indiana Baptist College (B.A., 1982), Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity, 1985), and Dallas Theological Seminary (Doctor of Ministry, 2001). His doctoral studies focused on effective interpretation and communication of Old Testament narratives. As chair of the Bible & Theology department, Sam enjoys leading his talented team to serve with excellence every program at Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary and Graduate School. Tasked with providing the biblical and theological content for every major, the Bible & Theology team seek to build growing believers who understand Scripture and know how to integrate biblical truth into life and service regardless of vocational calling. Sam teaches at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in the areas of hermeneutics, English Bible, and homiletics. He also maintains an active speaking and consulting ministry and particularly enjoys serving local churches who are in the pastoral search process. He holds pastoral counseling certification with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. Sam and his wife, Elaine, have three grown sons and two grandchildren. They reside in Manheim, PA.

Publications

• “The Office of Deacon in the Local Church,” Calvary Baptist Theological Journal 2:2 (Fall 1986): 22-28.
• “The Emerging Church: A Journey Back to the Future,” Frontline Magazine, July-August 2005:37-39.
• “Transformed Hearts, Transformed Homes: An Imaginative Dramatic Narrative Sermon for Father’s Day,” Preaching Journal (online edition), (May-June 2007).

Ron has extensive education and academic experience in the fields of youth, family, marriage, & ministry. After graduating from Grove City College as a double major in Psychology & Religion, he attended Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, accruing 36 credit hours in an M.A. program. After obtaining an M.S. in Counseling and Human Relations from Villanova University, he pursued doctoral studies at Syracuse University (Ph.D. ABD in Child & Family Studies) and Biola University (Ph.D. in Education). Procuring a grant in one case, Ron has led and collaborated on several research and writing projects primarily focusing on attachment, mentoring, youth work, and the religiosity of youth. He has published chapters, articles, and reviews in academic texts, journals, and trade resources. Ron recently published the text, A Defense of Youth Ministry: Attachment Relationship Ministry, which is being used in Higher Ed classrooms from the U.S to the U.K.” On a broad variety of topics, Ron has also presented papers at academic conferences and speaks regularly to youth workers, pastors, and youth. He has served on or consulted with the Board of Directors of multiple organizations, most recently overseeing research presentations, leadership nominations, and a graduate-student-scholarship sub-committee, as a board member for the Association of Youth Ministry Educators.