"To share pictures or a testimony about brother Benjamin Chen, please visit https://www.facebook.com/Benjamin.TseChuan.Chen/ (for Facebook users, Chinese-language supported), or https://benjamin-chen.skymorials.com/ (English-language only)."
Benjamin Tse-Chuan Chen was born in Shanghai, China on January 24, 1938, according to the lunar calendar, to parents Hsi-Tseng Chen and Jane Chow. He belonged to a family of prominent political leaders in Chinese history who were involved in the revolution of 1911 and the founding of the Republic of China. As a child, he lived through turbulent times, witnessing Japan’s invasion of China during World War II as well as the Chinese Civil War. He moved to Taiwan with his parents when he was 11 years old where he spent his formative years. After his family lost all material wealth after the Communists took over China, his mother felt that all things were vanity. One day, she hailed a pedicab and asked the driver to take them to a church. The driver brought them to the meeting hall of the church in Taipei, where young Benjamin had his very first meeting with the Lord’s recovery. This was where he heard brother Witness Lee speaking to the saints about the tripartite man. He was captured by brother Lee’s message and continued returning to hear more about God’s economy. It was to these high truths and vision of God’s economy that he would uphold and adhere to his whole life. As a high school student, Benjamin had a strong burden for the gospel. In his senior year, the Lord gave him a sense of urgency to spread the gospel to friends and classmates in his school since it was his last year. Every day, he and other saints in the school would stand outside the entrance passing out tracts and speaking to any student who would listen. He maintained this burden for his classmates and returned to Taiwan for class reunions, even as late as 2015, to continue to preach the gospel.
Benjamin received a B.S. degree in industrial management from National Cheng Kung University (國立成功大學) in Taiwan. He immigrated to the United States and attended University of Tennessee in Knoxville where he earned another B.S. in chemical engineering. In 1964, he attended CUNY City College of NY (CCNY) to study his M.S. in chemical engineering. He started meeting with the church in New York City and lived with brother Eugene Gruhler Sr. who was a pattern to him in shepherding people. Benjamin enjoyed the church life in New York along with a group of young adults, among whom was Phebe Ting. One day when they were playing basketball, Benjamin tried to take the ball from Phebe and accidentally injured her ankle. Afterwards, he would inquire how her ankle was whenever he saw her. This was how their relationship began. After a five-year courtship, they were married on June 19, 1971. After their first daughter Sheryl was born, Benjamin had an opportunity to pursue his PhD at New York University in conjunction with his job as a systems analyst at CPC International. Benjamin studied and worked full time while being heavily involved in the church life and attending all the meetings. He was also appointed elder of the church in New York City during this time and served faithfully alongside the other elders, his brother-in-law James Chu, Edwin Righton and Eugene Gruhler. No matter how busy he was at school or work, he always put the Lord first. Because of his expertise and strong work ethic, Benjamin’s boss valued him very much as an employee. Benjamin told his boss that he was not interested in promotions or raises, and instead requested the time flexibility to travel to all the church trainings and conferences. Many assumed that he served the Lord full time and did not work because of all the time he put into the church. Brother Benjamin appeared to have boundless energy, demonstrating utmost commitment to serving the Lord and taking care of his family while also excelling professionally. He was able to give so much of himself and live so richly through great personal diligence and discipline, the devoted support of his wife, Phebe, and the countless prayers of all the saints throughout the years.
Phebe’s mother, Dy Giok Ha, faithfully cared for her family and husband, Kepler Ting, who was a coworker of Watchman Nee, so he could freely serve. With this experience, she taught Phebe to care for Benjamin in the same way. Phebe’s mother lived with the Chen family for several years and was an example to the family of one who was unwavering in her pursuit of the Lord. Because he was so busy with the church, Phebe’s mother prayed that other than Sheryl, they would not have more children because she believed additional children would be an added burden to them. However, at the same time, young Sheryl was also faithfully praying that the Lord would give her another sibling. In 1985 when Phebe was two months pregnant with their second daughter Serena, her mother passed away from colon cancer. In this way, the Lord had answered both prayers.
When he was 62, Benjamin’s company was acquired by a new company that offered early retirement packages. Because of his increasing amount of travel and service for the church, he took the opportunity as a speaking from the Lord to retire early so he could devote all his time and energies to serving the Lord. Benjamin and Phebe both loved to travel and had taken many trips around the world. After his retirement, he and Phebe traveled together and greatly enjoyed fellowshipping with saints from churches all over the world. In December 2005, Phebe was diagnosed with lacrimal gland cancer when a tumor was discovered growing along her optic nerve. After it was surgically removed, she enjoyed over a year living life to its fullest with her family and the saints. Sister Phebe’s illness was a time filled with fervent prayers and great spiritual growth for both her and brother Benjamin. After she passed away, Benjamin discovered that when Phebe prayed with the sisters, her prayer was for her illness to not be a hindrance to his service. The Lord had answered this prayer even in the timing of Phebe’s passing on Thanksgiving Day 2007. Because of this, Benjamin endeavored even more to give himself to serving the Lord and traveled all over the world for the Lord’s work. He loved Phebe very much, and after her death, he often shared her testimony and his experience with the Lord during these difficult times.
In September 2014, Benjamin was diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s. Despite this difficult news, he strongly believed that the Lord would strengthen and keep him. He continued to enjoy the Lord, spreading happiness with his infectious smile and sharing good times with the saints. He was aware of his limitations, but was optimistic that he would get better and was adamant that his illness would not interfere with his service to the church. Instead of cutting back, he would allot double or triple the time it would normally take him to prepare messages for the meetings. His daughters and the saints urged him to rest more and move in with family. However, brother Benjamin was determined to live independently on his own and keep his rigorous travel schedule doing what he loved in the place that he loved, which was made possible through years of generous care, service and prayer from numerous saints in New York City.
Brother Benjamin Chen peacefully went to be with the Lord on Lord’s Day, February 21, 2016. We believe the Lord honored Benjamin’s desire to live a full life serving Him until the very end, enjoying his family and all the saints. He recently had an excellent time visiting places from his youth during a family trip to Taiwan. He had also just returned from a weeklong visit with Sheryl’s family in California attending the International Chinese Speaking Conference and playing with his grandchildren. Brother Benjamin was very happy on his last day, spending time with Serena, David, and many saints attending two church meetings and a wedding. His last months, weeks and days of his life were full of joy, much of which was overflowing from his enjoyment of the Lord.
Benjamin was a devoted husband to wife Phebe Chen who he now joins in the cloud of witnesses, and is survived by his daughters Sheryl and Serena, and sons-in-law Tai Phung and David Phillips, to all of whom he was a loving father. He leaves behind two grandchildren, Jonathan Tyler (JT) and Julianna Phung, to whom he was a doting grandfather. He also leaves behind many saints in New York City and worldwide, many of whom considered him their spiritual father. His life was centered on Christ and the church. As an elder, he served the saints in the church in New York City with brothers James Chu and Edwin Righton for over 40 years and was also a coworker in the Lord’s recovery, faithfully serving in oneness according to the ministry and never wavering from it. Benjamin lived a life according to God’s eternal purpose and His economy and we are thankful that the Lord took him in the midst of serving the Lord to his fullest capacity.
Matthew 25:21 “His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.”
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.9.5