Dr. Bur Shilling

Dr. Shilling began his career in ministry and academics in 1970 when he served for 14 years as a church youth pastor and staff member of Youth for Christ.

During this time, Bur founded Children of the Light, a marquee youth music ministry in Findlay, Ohio. Bur directed the group for 31 of its 41 years, eventually handing the baton to one of the hundreds of alums who had benefited from membership in the group.

Bur was a contributing writer for the Life Application Bible as part of a team that wrote the life applications of the biblical text at the bottom of each page. Published by Tyndale House, this book is the best-selling study Bible today.

Dr. Shilling taught New Testament and Evangelism/Discipleship for 15 years at Findlay’s Winebrenner Theological Seminary, where he designed and developed the Doctor of Ministry degree, a professional degree for pastors and church workers. While serving on the seminary faculty, he began to teach in Israel for the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies. Bur continues to teach in Israel and other Middle Eastern and European countries, where he explores the impact of geography, history, and culture on the biblical text.

Bur retired as an Emeritus Faculty member from Bowling Green (Ohio) State University, where he taught for 15 years in an online degree program. He also taught a university multidisciplinary course exploring the intellectual concepts that contributed to the development of Western culture (religion, politics, philosophy, science, etc.).

Bur completed a baccalaureate degree in religion from Taylor University in Indiana, a Master of Divinity degree from Winebrenner Seminary, a Doctor of Ministry degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois, and a Ph.D. from Bowling Green State University. He also has done post-doctoral work in biblical geography at Trinity.

Bur has authored five books: Christmas Worship and the Birth of Our Savior; EXPOSED! Answers to Mysteries from the Life and Ministry of Jesus; East vs West: How Differences in Thought Impact Our Understanding of Scripture; And The Word Became Flesh: Can Jess be Entirely Human and Still be Fully God?; and DISCARDED! How God Transformed an Unwanted Baby into a Servant of His Kingdom.

He and his wife, Cathy, live in Bluffton, Ohio. They have two children and eleven grandchildren. Bur enjoys woodworking and playing golf.