Beth Shinn

Missionary to Japan

Beth Shinn has spent the last 12 years with OMF International in Japan. For ten years she has worked at Hokkaido Bible Institute as Dean of Students. The ministry involved many tasks from student life to teaching, cooking when the kitchen workers was ill, to maintaining the building.

During these ten years HBI has built a new building, started a one-year course, maintained its three-year full-time course, and increased the budget to include funding for the position of dean. God is moving the school to make faith-building decisions and has faithfully answered prayers. Continue to pray for young Japanese men and women to enter full-time ministry and for Hokkaido Bible Institute to continue to be open to God's creativity.

Teaching became a growing ministry with God leading Beth to consider further studies. It was a history of mission class that God used to spark interest in Christian missions during the early middle ages (pre-Crusade). Though not wanting to leave Japan, Beth was prompted by God to apply for further studies. This would mean leaving HBI as well as Hokuei Church for a time.

Once Beth was obedient to God's leading, the door opened for her to attend the University of Edinburgh to research Christian missions pre-Crusade in the department of history.

During this study time (the next three years), as well as after the study if completed, Beth is looking for God to continue to move in her heart as well as in the hearts of those around her. She will be looking for ministry opportunities among Japanese students at the university. The future is in God's hands, so although Beth's desire is to return to Japan, she is open to God's leading.