Tim Tebow, Jeremy Lin Make 2012 TIME 100

Time magazine has named its TIME 100—The 100 Most Influential People in the World—and included on the list are Christian authors and athletes Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow.

Time’s list calls out “the people who inspire us, entertain us, challenge us and change our world.” They are “breakouts, pioneers, moguls, leaders and icons,” according to Time’s website.

The life of the New York Knicks’ point guard is covered in Linspired by Mike Yorkey and Jeremy Lin: The Reason for the Linsanity by Timothy Dalrymple (both releasing next month). Books by Tim Tebow include the best-seller Through My Eyes, published by Harper and available through Zondervan, and Through My Eyes: A Quarterback’s Journey for young readers, from Zondervan. Yorkey’s Playing With Purpose from Barbour Publishing also features Tebow, now playing for the New York Jets.

Lin, 23, is commended by contributor Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, for his values and for achieving success “the old-fashioned way”—by earning it. “He worked hard and stayed humble,” Arne said. “He lives the right way; he plays the right way.”

Lin’s story is held up as “a great lesson for kids everywhere because it debunks and defangs so many of the prejudices and stereotypes that unfairly hold children back. He’s dispelled the idea that Asian-American guards somehow couldn’t hack it in the NBA—and that being a world-class athlete on the court is somehow at odds with being an excellent student off the court.”

Significantly, it was Lin himself who wrote 24-year-old Tebow’s TIME 100 commendation, noting “his fierce competitiveness, his strong work ethic and how he is a leader that his teammates trust and respect.”

Lin particularly highlighted Tebow’s consistency off the field. “He is unashamed of his convictions and faith, and he lives a life that consistently reflects his values, day in and day out. Through his foundation, he constantly reaches out to people and communities in need of hope. He realizes what he has been blessed with and seeks to help those who are worse off. As athletes, we pour our hearts into winning games. Tim is a reminder that life is about much more than that.”