About David Lin

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Biography

Revivalist David Lin, was born at Taipei, Taiwan in 1961. He was born again and baptized in 1973 at age of twelve. After many years running away from God as a prodigal son, later he came back to God in 1986 when he came to the United States. He then had an encounter with God and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in 1991 at age of thirty. After this personal revival, he responded to God’s calling to preach the gospel by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, with signs and wonders following. He especially involved in the current great revival among China house churches.

1993: He began to work with Dennis Balcombe in China mission and ministered to many house churches throughout China.

1995: He worked with the Good Shepherd Ministries International to interpret for many speakers of the International Curriculum to the Mandarin language.

1996: He resigned his job as a computer engineer to serve God as an evangelist and founded the Tabernacle of David Ministries Int. He continued to hold revival meetings, gospel crusades, and ministered among churches in China, Taiwan, and the United States. He worked with the Born-Anew Christian Fellowship in Taiwan to preach gospel at prisons and led many people to Jesus.

1997: He began to travel and minister to churches in southeast Asia nations.

1998: He began to work with the High Adventure Ministries to broadcast short-wave radio Revival Sound programs daily into China and Asia.

 

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Testimony of Salvation

I was born in a family that did not believe in Jesus. When I was 10, I began to go to meetings at a Presbyterian church in Taipei, Taiwan, with my uncle who is an elder in the church. I joined the youth fellowship and the church choir. I enjoyed listening to Pastor Chen's strong preaching more than the children's Sunday school. I was able to understand many spiritual truths. I was baptized on Christmas Eve when I was 12 years old. Before my water baptism, I kept weeping uncontrollably with deep conviction that I was such a sinner that I could only be saved if I cry out to Jesus. When Pastor Ko laid his hand on my head to baptize me, I felt a surge of power and numbness all over my body. I did not dare to mention that experience with anyone. Next few years following my new-birth were full of joy and peace. Yet I began to feel confined not knowing much about what was going on outside the church. There were many "rich and prominent" people in the church, but I rarely saw those "lower-class" people there. John 3:16 told me that God loves the world so much. Who is going to tell those people the "good news"? At 14, I dedicated myself to God and made a vow that I will preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. I began to make contact with some young people outside the church. Because of ignorance and immaturity of my spiritual life, I was not able to bring them to church. Ironically, I became one of them. I began to smoke, drink, gamble, party, and game fight, etc. Eventually I grew further and further away from God and the church.

When I was 16, I passed the examination and was admitted to Jian-Chung High School, the number-one high school in Taiwan. Nevertheless, I became one of the few rebellious youngsters on campus. Everyday after I put down my backpack at school, I went hanging out in the West Gate downtown area Taipei. I was partying around, riding a motorcycle without license, and cheating on the exams. My school military counselor could not make me change. My teachers were saddened as they saw my empty seat in class. My parents were doing business and had no idea I had become like this. I acquired a bad temper and I was treating my home like a hotel. In two separate occasions, just before the gangs started fighting, by the mercy of God, He used total strangers to pull me off the scene, so I could avoid being charged and thrown into jail. Yet later I caused some trouble and was about to be expelled from the school. Then I suddenly realized that I was at the edge of a bottomless pit, yet I could not help myself. I was full of rebellion and would not listen to anyone. I was in a deep darkness. I wanted get away from those "friends" but they won't allow me. I was always afraid that someone would hunt me down and kill me. One night, when I was alone and helpless, I remembered Lord Jesus whom I believed since youth. So I prayed to God to change my heart. The God who keeps covenants of love, heard my cry and changed my heart. I was promptly changed and wanting to behave and stop wasting time. I no longer wanted to wear those strange clothes to attract people's attention. The day after, even my military counselor was amazed and left wandering what changed me. Although wanting to do good, I failed time after time because I was depending on my own strength. I would still do some of those bad things even though I did not like doing them. I began to study hard and really wanted to make up all the foolishness in the past. I was deeply disappointed because I was not able to pass the exam to enter college. That was when I was 18 years old. So I began to help out with my family's retail business. After working over 10 hours everyday, I would go to the pubs and have many drinks with some friends well past midnight. I was totally lost with no goals. When I waked up next morning, I had more frustration after each hangover. Finally I asked my dad to allow me to study and prepare to retake the exam in the next three months. The night before the exam I was suddenly awakened and realized that I have not reviewed a few course materials. In a rush, I read them over roughly. Because of that studying, I was able to be qualified for the college admission. It was again the mercy of God, because otherwise I would have been drafted into the army without another chance for entering college.

When I was 20 years old, I was admitted to Tan-Jian University as a computer science major, to the department with the highest dropout rates in the country. I made a decision to study diligently to redeem my wasted years. I was able to do really good in schoolwork and graduated as the number-one student in the class. I began to feel that nothing is impossible for me if I work hard enough for it. Before I knew it, I became very proud and arrogant. There were some bad habits of mine that never changed. Again God's hand of discipline came upon me. I worked my way to pass the test for an officer position yet ended up being drawn into the Marines. I realized that my life is not in my own hands but in God's hand. My complaint about this situation would not change anything. When I was in the Marines I still depended on my own understanding and wit, drinking and partying all the time. I was the training officer and once I even dared to change military orders. Another time I caused some trouble when I was drunk and about to face charges. At that point, I already received the admission and assistantship from US for my graduate study. It looked like I could not study abroad because of that incident. Awakened again by crisis, I remembered the Lord Jesus whom I believed since youth and cried before God for help. I have not been reading my Bible for a long time. I took it out and then finished reading the Book of Romans that night. That incident was overlooked and I was able to study abroad. Prior to my departure, I was still drunk-driving and fighting. I was injured in a motorcycle accident and almost died. Again it was God's mercy to spare my life from total destruction.

Leaving the familiar environment and to the US, while looking back over my entire life and many crises and hard lessons, I knew it was time for me, the prodigal son, to come back home. I joined the Bible study fellowship at Penn State University. At every Friday night, I was comforted from my pressure of schoolwork and daily life by studying the Word of God. Yet I still set my goals as getting straight A and a Ph.D. degree to become a professor in Taiwan. God was still not the number-one in my priorities. I was disappointed that I got a B in a final course when I obtained my master's degree. I was going to argue with my professor; yet there was a inner voice in me saying: "Forget about it. What's the point?" Finally I let it go. After I graduated, God led me to California and I found a high-paying job as a computer software engineer. Now my car and house were bought. My parents were able to come to live in the US. It looked like everything was fine and I should be satisfied, yet I felt so empty. I, being a Christian attending church regularly, was not different from people in the world, as I was chasing after worldly desires, weak with no testimony, and still serving the Lord in my own flesh in the church.

Although I had a burden for China and admired what Dr. Sun Yet-San has done for China. I remembered what I said even when I was total drunk in my young age: "We are the lost generation of China". I knew that God had led me to the US for the sake of China's future. When I was 30, I was deeply disappointed with the church and also with myself. Just I was feeling that there's no point in life and about to commit suicide, God did not forget His child. He has been molding me since birth. His love and grace has never left me. He remembers the vow of my youth. When I was so frustrated and about to join the Over-sea Chinese Revolution Political Organization to fulfill my vision by another way, God sent his servant Rev. Edward Miller to speak on the revival fire at San Jose Chinese Alliance Church. After some thoughts, I decided to give God one last chance and see if He can rekindle the spiritual fire in me. To my surprise that at this meeting, I met this man of God who walks so close to the Lord. After all these years of drought, it was like light shining into my darkness. It made me want to meet God and know Him in a higher degree. God waited for me more than ten years. I was like a rough rock that has been through so much hammering. I finally admitted my sinfulness and uselessness. My life in the past has been ruined because I was letting myself be the lord of my life. The hardest part for me was to change the sinfulness of my heart. At the end I surrendered and gave up the lordship to Jesus. Although the battle raged in my heart and the devil would not give up on me, as I truly said to God in my heart: "I give you all of my life and everything I have", the Spirit of God fell upon me. He washed away every sin and broke every fetter in me. I had been set completely free. I received the baptism of Holy Spirit and personal revival. I, the prodigal son, finally came home to wander no more. My loving Heavenly Father happily welcomed this child, who was lost and then found, without any punishment. Finally I indeed repented and my old-self died with Christ, now He is the Lord of my whole life.

This experience was like Paul's experience on the way to Damascus; it changed my whole life. God also revealed himself to me along with his calling and his plan for my life, including my past and my future. Everything in my life has been for a purpose. After all, my whole life is in His hand. Most importantly He allowed me to truly know him. Just like what Job said "My ears had hear of you but now my eyes have seen you". Years after I continue to grow in relationship with Him. He has also been equipping me in order to serve him, beginning with leading the youth group at church. I began making mission trips to China since 1992. I received the vision of the revival fire being spread over entire China. God also promised that the Cross and the Blood of Jesus Christ would save China. In 1996, I began serving full time and founded Tabernacle of David Ministries International. I started to preach gospel in prisons and leading prisoners to Christ in Taiwan. In 1997, I began to travel to other nations of the world and spoke at various meetings and churches. Miracles followed to confirm the words that had been preached. In 1998, our daily short-wave radio program - "Revival Sound", began to broadcast to China and Asia. God continue to lead me to build up the body of Christ and to reach the lost for His glory.


Copyright (c) 2000 Tabernacle of David Ministries, Int'l