Safely Home

Safely Home

by Randy Alcorn

Ben Fielding is an American business executive whose company is trying to expand development in China. When his boss asks him to travel to China to visit an old college roommate in order to get a better feel for Chinese culture, Ben is skeptical. He hasn't seen his roommate, Li Quan, for 20 years. When he arrives at Quan's house, he is shocked to discover that his friend lives in a tiny one room house with little amenities. He also discovers that Quan has kept true to his faith in God, while Ben has walked away. 

Determined to keep his distance from Christianity, he escapes the first few Sundays of the underground house church that meets in the wee hours of the morning. When he agrees to go one week, his impression of the Chinese Christians, and God, makes him second guess his aloofness. When Quan takes the ultimate stand for his faith, Ben discovers what is most important in life. 

I loved this book. It was very hard to read at times, because persecution is not an easy subject. I found myself amazed at the level of faith that the Chinese Christians have. As the book notes, American Christians have no idea what it is like to have to hold a church meeting in secret, or hide Bibles. I was very moved when I read the part about the way they painstakingly copy sections of scripture, and rip out books of the Bible so they still have a part of the Bible in the case of Chinese authorities discarding. 

Of note, this book was originally written in 2001, and the copy I read was the 10th anniversary edition. This is truly an amazing, eye opening book, and it is one I think every Christian should read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."