Christian basketball star Jeremy Lin has started playing with his new NBA team, the Charlotte Hornets, and he has already started making a difference in the team—perhaps not as the top scorer but as the spiritual leader.
According to The Christian Post, Lin has convinced his teammates to hold prayer and Bible study sessions.
The 27-year-old Lin became a household name globally in 2012 when he led the then struggling New York Knicks to a series of victories, which generated a global following known as "Linsanity."
Lin is now asking his fans and those of the Hornets to pray for the team to help keep the members' faith on and off the court.
"Pray for our team as we've started a Bible study and many of my teammates have shown a hunger to either learn more about Christ or strengthen their relationship with God," he requested from his digital prayer group.
Lin had a rough season with the Los Angeles Lakers last year. When he was selected by the Charlotte Hornets during his free agency last summer, he heaved a sigh of relief and thanked God for the new blessing and opportunity.
"Praise God for me landing in Charlotte!! I truly believe God specifically placed me in Charlotte as He left one obvious door open and closed the rest," Lin wrote back in August. "Initially, Charlotte wasn't even on my list of top destinations, but my journey has always had unexpected but divine turns and surprises."
He then requested for "prayer that I would build great chemistry with coach Clifford and my teammates in Charlotte," and "prayer that I wouldn't fall into a complacent or comfortable state spiritually during an offseason with less stress/pressure, but that I would greatly thirst and desire God's presence daily."
Lin started his digital prayer group just last year to update fans about his progress and to strengthen their resolve to pray. Last May, he admitted that he was feeling "burned out" and had lost his passion for the game. But later, he felt blessed that there were tons of people who were willing to pray for him and support him spiritually.
