Pastor Matt Chen: A Family’s Calling From the U.S. to Taiwan for Revival of Generations

In 1988, Pastor Matt Chen of Taiwan was living with his wife and children in USA. In a season of fervently seeking God, the Holy Spirit clearly instructed him to “Move back with your whole family to Taiwan to serve God!” At that time, his response was: “If you want me to serve you as a pastor in Taiwan, I will not go back. I can serve you in many other ways.”

Fast forward many years later, Pastor Chen has dedicated his life to full-time ministry for 30 years. Married for 40 years to his American missionary wife, Elizabeth, they have seven mixed-race children. However, moving back to Taiwan wasn’t an easy decision.

At the time, their family life in the U.S. was stable, and returning to Taiwan to pastor a church was not part of their plan. God, however, spoke clearly: “You cannot force her to follow you back just because of your calling. If you pressure her, it will become your burden, not hers. She will simply follow you as the head of the family, rather than own the mission herself.”

After much prayer, Elizabeth also received confirmation from God. God’s message to her husband resonated with her: “God says: I want to use you to raise up this generation to reach the next generation.” This revelation shifted her perspective. She realized that moving to Taiwan was not just about her, but about their children and the future generations they would impact.

Strengthening Their Children Amidst Their Calling

As they embarked on this journey, they were intentional about building strong relationships with their children. Pastor Chen would take each child out individually to spend quality time together.

“My dad would often invite me out for coffee, just the two of us, to talk about life. Those moments taught me so much,” Pastor Chen’s eldest son, Kristopher Chen recalled. “He was always available. I remember calling him once just because I needed money. That day, he didn’t answer, which was rare. But immediately, I got a message from him: ‘Rose, what do you need?’ It turned out he was having dinner with the president at that moment! Yet, he still made sure to respond.”

With seven children, each with their own personalities, Pastor Chen balanced being a strict yet humorous father. His faith and way of life became the foundation on which his children stood.

“During my school years, I struggled with porn addiction. I felt God telling me (Nathanael Chen), ‘You need to talk to your father.’ I was terrified. After much prayer, I finally sat down with him. I was shaking, but the way he responded—comforting, affirming, and guiding me toward repentance—became one of the most significant moments in my life.”

A Family Committed to Ministry

Today, all nine members of the family serve in ministry. Their identity as God’s children surpasses just being “pastor’s kids.” This commitment stems from witnessing their parents’ complete devotion to God’s calling.

“One of the reasons we never resented ministry was that our parents made it clear that church work was family work. We were always encouraged to participate. This wasn’t just Dad’s ministry—it was ours too.”

The Chen family believes their calling is to raise up the next generation. They invested time in their children, instilling in them the importance of pursuing their own God-given callings. Unlike the stereotype that pastor’s kids often drift away, their children saw ministry as a shared journey rather than a burden.

Taiwan as a Center for Revival

During GoodTV News’ filming of the Chen family’s ministry, an extraordinary event took place. It was the 14th day of a prayer movement in Tainan in 2024, where young people had gathered to intercede for Taiwan. Among them were 50 young Americans who had felt a divine burden for Taiwan.

One American leader shared, “I received Jesus’ heart for East Asia in a prayer room in America. He cares deeply about the youth of Taiwan. Now my heart burns for them too. I traveled across the U.S., preaching to college and high school students, asking, ‘Who will come fast and pray with us this summer in Taiwan?’ I spent months calling out to young people, telling them, ‘God cares about Taiwan.'”

These young people believe Taiwan is uniquely positioned to be a center of revival and missions, not just for its own people but for all of Asia, extending even to Jerusalem.

“Right now, Taiwan is one of the few places in Asia where the gospel can be freely preached, where people can gather without persecution. It is a critical time for Taiwanese youth to understand the era they live in. This is not just an ordinary time—it is unprecedented. We need a revival and a missions movement like never before, and Taiwan is uniquely positioned to lead it.”

Prophetic voices and global missionary leaders have confirmed Taiwan’s role as a significant mission hub for this generation and beyond. Foreign and local youth prayed around the clock, believing that Taiwan is meant to play a key role in preparing the way for God’s purposes.

Pastor Matt Chen’s story is more than a personal testimony—it is a testament to generational faithfulness. His willingness to obey God’s call transformed not only his own life but also the lives of his children and the future of Taiwan’s church. His story exemplifies how faith, when lived authentically, can inspire a nation.

As Taiwan’s youth rise to meet the challenges of their time, they do so on the foundation laid by faithful predecessors. Pastor Chen’s journey, his family’s unwavering commitment, and the growing international support all point to one thing: a spiritual awakening is on the horizon for Taiwan. From a family’s personal calling to a nationwide spiritual movement, the legacy of faith and revival continues to grow.

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The Chen family’s story is a testament to faith that transforms generations—a spark that is now igniting a nationwide revival. From their obedience to God’s call to the rise of Beacon Lighters, Taiwan is stepping into its prophetic destiny, calling 100,000 young people to be set apart for His purpose! 🔥👇
https://voanews.xyz/en/beacon-lighters-taiwans-march-of-fire/

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Read the Mandarin article here: https://voanews.xyz/rev-matt-chen-family/

The report above is primarily a translation of Chinese language GoodTV News’ video report below.

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