If you’ve turned on your TV at all in the past few weeks, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve heard the name Jeremy Lin, especially if you watch ESPN. Standing 6 feet, 3 inches tall, weighing 200 pounds, Jeremy Lin is the starting point guard for the New York Knicks. But it wasn’t always this way.
Although a star in high school, Lin did not receive an athletic scholarship to play basketball in college. After playing at Harvard, he went undrafted but eventually got a deal to play professionally with the Golden State Warriors. Lin did not play much during his rookie year and was cut. He was then signed by the Houston Rockets only to be cut again, and finally signed on with the Knicks this season. Having been buried on the bench for much of the year, Lin got a shot after a couple of injuries to the other Knick point guards.
Making the most of this opportunity, Lin led his team on a 7-game winning streak, averaging 24.4 points and 9.1 assists. He has become the talk of sports media everywhere and has now been on the cover of Sports Illustrated for two issues in a row.
Within a matter of weeks, Jeremy Lin went from virtual obscurity to one of the most talked about people on the planet, and it got me to thinking. Who are those people in your ministry that have been buried on the bench? Who are those Core Team members with hidden talents that haven’t been given the chance to shine? Who is your Jeremy Lin?
Chances are you’ve got one. In fact, more than likely you’ve got a team full of people that, if given the opportunity, could do more for your ministry than you ever imagined. It’s time to get them off the bench. It’s time to put them in the game. If God is calling them to this ministry, he wants to use their time and talent to reach teenagers. You may need to mentor them, and there may be growing pains, but it’s time to step back and give them a shot. The Knicks did, and the team jumped to whole new level. Imagine what could happen in your ministry. So, think about it, and pray about it. This could take your ministry to the next level.
So, who’s your Jeremy Lin?
