Stephen Chen: Pastoring Jeremy Lin



Jeremy Lynn (by nikk_la)

Jeremy Lin was an eighth grader when he first met Pastor Stephen Chen of the Redeemer Bible Fellowship (the English ministry of the Chinese Church in Christ, Mountain View, California).  At that time, the 5’3” (or so) Lin told Pastor Chen “that one day he [Lin] will grow to over six feet and play basketball.”  The young Lin went on to elaborate that he would accomplish this by ingesting plenty of calcium each day.

Today Lin would instead credit God for the realization of these dreams.  Although The Christian Post also reports that “Lin’s parents are devout Christians and his maternal

grandfather was a Taiwanese Christian pastor,” much of Lin’s spiritual inspiration has likely come from Pastor Chen.  In a USA Today video, Chen discusses Lin’s humility and love of the Gospel.  Chen emphasizes that everything Lin has “is a gift from God” - and if it were to all go away tomorrow, “it’s okay…  He [Lin] knows that he can hold on to it lightly because there are more weighty things in store for him. Very

possibly, you know, he can go into the ministry…  I think he understands that the most important thing is not the Linsanity…  the most important thing is that he honors God.”

Chen himself “came to a saving knowledge of Christ at CCIC [Chinese Church in Christ] Mountain View.”

According to the CCIC website, Pastor Chen is “currently pursuing a Th.M. at The Master’s Seminary…”  Prior to pastoring the CCIC, Chen “served at Community Christian Alliance Church with the college ministry.”  He and his wife Shirley also enjoy “reading, hanging out, watching movies, and playing Scrabble.”

Pastor Chen continues to carefully shepherd Lin’s spiritual journey.  Myles Collier, a Christian Post contributor, states that Rev. Chen “is concerned about the temptation and sin that are present” within the trappings of fame.  As Linmania intensifies, Pastor Chen warns:  The Scripture talks about the devil lying in wait like a lion waiting to devour.  All Christians would be foolish to underestimate the devil.

      

Resources

http://global.christianpost.com/news/jeremy-lins-pastor-warns-of-nba-sin-temptations-69814/

http://www.streamingfaith.com/news/entertainment/story/who-is-jeremy-lins-pastor

http://www.usatoday.com/video/jeremy-lins-pastor-discusses-phenoms-faith/1458732806001

http://ccic.org/mv/about_stephenchen.htm

Copyright February 23, 2012 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved