Ted Chen

What a relief this must be for some of the single men and women watching our show. Singleness can be a gift sure, but that doesn’t mean it's YOUR calling just because you haven't found your wife or husband yet. If marriage is a desire God has placed on your heart, as He did with mine, you don’t have to give up hope simply because someone behind a pulpit or in your church community has tried to convince you that remaining single is somehow more virtuous. Admittedly, the church hasn’t always done a great job ministering to singles. Especially now that we live in a culture where isolation has become easier and genuine connection increasingly difficult, we need to do much better. Thank God for pastors like Jim Crews, who leads @atmospherelive with a heart for the single men and women in his congregation. Episode 6 Link in bio Jim Crews @TheTFreddy

The Scarlet D for divorce. I’d never heard it described that way before, but that’s how it felt for @thetfreddy as he shared his experience of living as a divorced Christian man. The honesty and self-reflection this guy brought to the table really stayed with me! Life doesn’t always unfold the way we hoped. And often we’re left carrying not only our own disappointment, but the weight of everyone else’s expectations. For Tyler, the pressure to move on led him back into dating. But as women quickly began opening their hearts to him, he realized he wasn’t ready to open his so fast. That takes humility to admit! Wanting to be loved and being ready to love someone well are two very different things. Faithfulness often means being still and allowing God to shape and heal us. Episode 6 Link in bio Jim Crews @TheTFreddy

Singleness is an epidemic. We weren’t created to do life alone. We were made for connection, for community, and for meaningful relationships. God places marriage right at the beginning of our human story in Genesis 2. Before nations, governments, or institutions, we see a man and a woman brought together. So why are so many of us struggling to find lasting love today? It’s complicated, and I don’t think we’re talking about it enough! If you’re a single guy navigating dating, relationships, and the hope of marriage, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. Episode 6 Link in bio @atmospherelive Jim Crews @TheTFreddy

Nothing prepared me for marriage more than falling flat on my face during that first year. Looking back, I don’t think I ever fully understood what my role as a husband was really about. I’m not embarrassed to admit that I entered marriage with an immature perspective. But boy, did I learn quickly! Agape love. It’s not just a feeling. It’s a choice to love selflessly, sacrificially, and without conditions, even when it costs us something. That’s how Jesus loves us. And that’s the kind of love we’re called to bring into our marriages. Whether you’re single at 25, single at 55, or already married, there’s a message here for all of us. Episode 6 Link in bio Jim Crews @TheTFreddy

Many, many thanks to The Garden Church for a fantastic men’s breakfast yesterday! It was such a joy to speak to my brothers in Christ and share how God moved me from TV News to ministry. Lots of laughs with a great group of men. Thank you Pastor David Kim for the invitation!

I have dad baggage. Father wounds. Whatever you want to call it, I didn’t grow up with a father who cared for me in the way I felt I needed. I appreciated Bishop Ulmer’s perspective here. Maybe there’s a risk in the over analysis of our wounds so much that we never move beyond them. So how can we acknowledge what happened, make peace with what we didn’t receive, and move forward without letting the past define us? And as pastors how do we help men heal without pulling them back into what wounded them? Tune in to our episode on Fatherhood. Episode 5 Link in bio @BishopUlmer

They say everyone needs a doctor and a lawyer in their life. But what about a financial advisor and a pastor? My friend Wes happens to be both, and I could go on about the many ways I admire what he’s doing over at @thehousela. In this conversation, we get into what it means to approach our finances faithfully. How do we navigate different financial priorities, habits, and expectations as we enter marriage? Wes offers some great insight into having honest conversations about money, making financial decisions together, and remembering that what God has entrusted to us is something we’re called to steward as one, not separately. He’s also written a book, Roadmap to Your Financial Freedom, available on Amazon. Practical wisdom, and much needed. If you don’t have a friend like Wes to help you navigate these conversations, I’d encourage you to pick up his book. Episode #2 Link in bio Wes Dunn @H1LLWALKER

No Netflix and chill with a girl you’re interested in until it’s official. That's what we were trying to get at in this clip with my buddies Chaz Smith and @ChrisBennett143 If you’re still getting to know someone, there’s wisdom in spending time together only in groups. You can still have the eye of an observer, practice boundaries, and yes, still have a crush. Flirting too soon can get you into trouble! Stay undercover until you’re sure you’re ready to pursue this person with integrity. Thank you Chaz, for bringing this question to the table and having the courage to share with us. If you haven’t watched this episode yet, it’s our pilot, and one I won’t soon forget. Episode #1 Link in bio

This week we are going back into our past episodes. There are so many moments to share that highlight what this show is about. Proud of what we've done together so far. Proud of the vulnerability demonstrated at the table, together, as men sharing tough stories without shame or condemnation. This is what it looks like and this is how we grow. @ChrisBennett143 thank you, dude. You were awesome. Ep. 1 FORMED Link in bio #FORMEDwithTedChen #MensConversations

This past week, I went out and sat by a river. Literally. Just sat there 😆 Can't say I've done that very much in my life. I’m a city guy through and through. Didn’t grow up camping or spending much time in nature, but this week it did good for me. One of the best parts of being married is having a wife who knows what I need even when I don't! Thanks for planning such a beautiful retreat @mrsariellchen Coming back to LA rested, with some fresh perspective, and ready for this next season of conversations around the FORMED table.

I had such an amazing time emceeing the Door of Hope’s 40th Anniversary Benefit, hearing stories of healing and restoration from formerly homeless families who found hope and redemption through an organization that truly lives out Jesus’ command to care for “the least of these.” Thank you, Door of Hope, for inviting me and loving people the way God loves them!

We’re headed back into the studio this week to film another episode of FORMED. And I can’t wait. 🤓 Since retiring from the newsroom, life hasn’t exactly slowed down. It doesn’t really feel like retirement. It feels like the beginning of a new chapter. And one of my favorite parts has been sitting around the table with other men, having honest conversations about faith, relationships, purpose, and what’s forming us along the way. If you haven’t checked out FORMED, episodes 1 - 5 are on YouTube now. Link in bio.

Would you date someone who doesn't have a good relationship with their family? 👀 🚩 or 💚? We want to know what you think. #RelationshipAdvice #Dating #RedFlags #GreenFlags #DoYouAgree #WhatsYourOpinion #RelationshipDebate

Did anyone else read the article in @Relevantmag about celebrity pastors being replaced by Christian influencers? I don’t consider myself an influencer, but I do feel called to social media. And I’m still figuring out what that looks like... in front of all of you. Thank you for the grace! Yet most importantly, I need to be in the Word and surrounded by church leaders and believers who know me, speak into my life, and hold me accountable. Because if I’m trying to help form others, I have to keep asking, What is forming me? #GoodNewsTed #Christianity #ChristianFaith #Faith #ChristianCommunity #ChristianContent #FaithOnline #SocialMediaMinistry #ChristianLeadership #SpiritualFormation #ChurchCommunity #ChristianInfluencers

Who says you have to agree on everything to be married. You asked for more... so we'll deliver. 🚩✅ #TheMarriageGame #Marriage #Relationships #MarriageHumor #Couples #GoodNewsTed

I am the expert on unrequited love. Lived it. Learned it. Now I'm here to tell you why you can't let this take over your life. Don't be like me and spend too long pining after the wrong one. Here's some simple steps to get unstuck and back on the path to finding love and (real) partnership. #UnrequitedLove #RelationshipAdvice #DatingAdvice #FindingLove #HealthyRelationships #MovingOn #RealLove #GoodNewsTed

I am the expert on unrequited love. Lived it. Learned it. Now I'm here to tell you why you can't let this take over your life. Don't be like me and spend too long pining after the wrong one. Here's some simple steps to get unstuck and back on the path to finding love and (real) partnership. #UnrequitedLove #RelationshipAdvice #DatingAdvice #FindingLove #HealthyRelationships #MovingOn #RealLove #GoodNewsTed

Love is like a box of tissues. For me. I've been married a little over two years now. I've found that while it may have been built up by grand gestures, the first dates, the proposal, the wedding, the fancy honeymoon ...my marriage is sustained by the little things. #Marriage #Relationships

For the guys out there trying to figure out who’s actually worth pursuing… these are my top 5 dating red flags I wouldn’t ignore. 🚩 What would you add to the list? And ladies, I want to hear from you too, fair or way off? #DatingAdvice #DatingRedFlags #Relationships

Had to be done 😅