In 1975, he and his family were called to new ministries in New Jersey, where he established 2 new congregations, one under the United Church of Christ and the other under the Presbyterian Church USA.  During his tenure in the East Coast from 1975 to 1978, he was also a Presbyterian chaplain at Rutgers University.

 

In 1979, he came to Northern California and found the Taiwanese - English bilingual congregation of the First United Presbyterian Church of San Francisco (FUPCSF).  In the 27 years at FUPCSF, Rev. Chen has relentlessly devoted himself toward building and maintaining the foundation of the church upon sound Christian education and ministry for the spiritual growth and wellness of the church's community.

 

In 1980, he found the Taiwanese - English congregation at Grace Presbyterian Church in Walnut Creek.  Two more foundings soon followed,  the Taiwanese - English bilingual congregation of  FUPCSF in Burlingame, California, and the Taiwanese - English bilingual congregation of Immanuel Presbyterian Church of Fremont. 

 

Rev. Chen is an avid and prolific writer and educator. Among his publications are bible study guides as well as theological essays, some of which are taken from his sermons.  He also began a lay student pilot program with the San Francisco Theological Seminary. Off campus course work for academic credit was made available to members of the church, furthering the academic and theological training of the church's lay missionaries and pastors. 

 

Rev. Chen envisions that in the near future well trained lay pastors would work alongside ordained ministers in continuing the Lord's ministries at FUPCSF.  The church has also began a new mission into Asian American ministries, strengthening its mission ministry into the local and Pacific communities.

 

A graduate of the Reformed Theology Seminary in S.E. Asia, where he received his Master of Divinity, Rev. Chen went on to St. Andrews, United Kingdom, where he received the Diploma of Further Study.  He was called to Union Theological Seminary in New York and earned a Master of Theology and was an Ecumenical Fellow.  He received his doctorate in theology from Drew University in New Jersey.

 

He lives with his wife, Jochebed, in Millbrae, California.  They have four adult children, Sam, Mary, Ruth, and Esther, and three grandchildren, Megan, Nicholas, and Lucas.