Safely Home

by Randy Alcorn

Is this the day I die? Li Quan asks himself this question daily, knowing that he might be killed for practicing his faith. American businessman Ben Fielding has no idea what his brilliant former college roommate is facing in China. He expects his old friend has fulfilled his dream of becoming a university professor. But when they are reunited in China after twenty years, both men are shocked at what they discover about each other. Thrown together in an hour of encroaching darkness, both must make choices that will determine not only the destinies of two men, but two families, two nations, and two worlds.

Genres: Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, China, Book Club, Christianity, Faith

411 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Randy Alcorn is the founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM), a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching biblical truth and drawing attention to the needy and how to help them. EPM exists to meet the needs of the unreached, unfed, unborn, uneducated, unreconciled and unsupported people around the world.

"My ministry focus is communicating the strategic importance of using our earthly time, money, possessions and opportunities to invest in need-meeting ministries that count for eternity," Alcorn says. "I do that by trying to analyze, teach and apply the implications of Christian truth."

Before starting EPM in 1990, Alcorn co-pastored for thirteen years Good Shepherd Community Church outside Gresham, Oregon. He has ministered in many countries, including China, and is a popular teacher and conference speaker. Randy has taught on the part-time faculties of Western Seminary and Multnomah University, both in Portland, Oregon.

Randy is a best-selling author of 50 books including Heaven, The Treasure Principle and the 2002 Gold Medallion winner, Safely Home. He has written numerous articles for magazines such as Discipleship Journal, Moody, Leadership, New Man, and The Christian Reader. He produces the quarterly issues-oriented magazine Eternal Perspectives, and has been a guest on more than 650 radio and television programs including Focus on the Family, Family Life Today, The Bible Answer Man, Revive Our Hearts, Truths that Transform and Faith Under Fire.

Alcorn resides in Gresham, Oregon with his wife, Nanci. The Alcorns have two married daughters, Karina and Angela.

Randy and Nanci are the proud grandparents of five grandsons. Randy enjoys hanging out with his family, biking, tennis, research and reading.

Taken from the Eternal Perspective Ministries website, http://www.epm.org

Reviews

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY REVIEW

Never did I think I would say "You HAVE to read this!" about a fictional book...but neither had I read Safely Home. This book is about two men who were roommates and friends in college but now are two worlds apart and haven't been in-touch for twenty years. When their paths finally cross once again they realize that they are two worlds apart spiritually speaking. As the story unfolds you find your self face-to-face with the persecuted church of China and the amazing love of a Savior and King.

I absolutely loved this book. My stomach churned at the thought of reading about people being persecuted, but once I began, I could not set it down. This thick fiction read gives you an eternal perspective on God's love and why "bad things" happen. While it seems trite to say, it's the simple truth - when I closed the cover on this book I was a different person. It brings to life before your eyes the power of prayer, the possible encouragement we have on a daily basis, and the powerful love of our God. You'll be left thinking about the profound question: "Is this the day I die?".

I highly - HIGHLY - recommend this book for teens and adults alike. While some of it won't be easy to read, you NEED to read it.

* * * * *

This review copy was provided courtesy of Tyndale but the opinion expressed is my own.

[Stacy Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an outstanding and inspiring book! I cried so many times while reading this. This is a must read!

[Lori Keeton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book intrigued me because of the topic of persecution of Chinese Christians. It was evident that the author’s research was thorough and that he presented each harrowing scenario in eye-opening ways to a person like me who lives comfortably in a country that allows for my freedom of speech and religion. This is fiction however, to read this book just to learn about what happens in China to those who proclaim to be followers of Christ was worthwhile. And readers also get a perspective on the cultural dichotomy of life in China vs living in the US. I appreciated the message that challenged you to figure out if you are willing and prepared to die for your faith knowing of the hope you have in heaven.

Interspersed with the fictional storyline is a glimpse into heaven and the final war on earth (Armegeddon) as Alcorn interprets it. This is always a big issue for me when I read Christian fiction. Interpretations aren’t truth and only God knows when and how these events will take place. So for me, I’d rather leave the heavenly interpretations out of fiction because it seems a bit dangerous to present it as the way heaven is and could be misconstrued by readers as fact. I was put off my the sections where ancestors who had already been resurrected were in a role of commenting on the action of the novel watching down from a portal and speculating the identity of the last martyr. So if you hold to similar doctrines as Alcorn, you may be more inspired by these sections.

[Josh Crews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiction, a story of two Harvard roommates; one American, one Chinese re-united to let Randy Alcorn spin out all this wonderful information about what God is doing in the Chinese Church (which seems to be more healthy that the American church).

I found myself refering to Jesus as "Yesu" (his Chinese name) after reading this book out of my love and awe for the Lord of the Chinese church. I wanted to follow this wonderful master after reading about his faithfulness to Chinese saints.

My copy loaned from Amy Lipsey

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a powerful book and very eye opening. I kept wondering if these things are still going on today in China and other countries. It is one of those books that makes you want to take some time to look at yourself, assess your relationship with God, and make some changes.

[Robin Hatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing fiction at its best.

[Hannah Mozingo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initial thoughts straight after reading this book: This book is absolutely incredible. Gah. I have no words. It's so beautiful, and heart-wrenching, and challenging and awe-inspiring. It makes me realise just how blessed I am to live in a country with very little persecution, and it made me long for heaven. Our God is powerful and mighty and so very loving above all else and he will return for his people! Come quickly Lord Jesus, come quickly...

Updated official review on the 17/02/18: This book. Gah… I almost have no words to describe how good it is. Though since it’s been about 6 weeks since I finished it, I’ve had some time to try and gather my thoughts. But still… just wow.

In simple terms, this book is about persecuted Christians. In complex terms… where do I even begin? I guess I’ll just share a few thoughts I came away with after reading it…

1. - Christians in the West have no idea how good we’ve got it. Seriously. We can go to church openly, pray openly, teach our children about God openly, own a Bible openly. We can practice our faith openly and without fear that authorities are going to come crashing in and kill us all because it is against the law to believe as we do. This freedom we have is not a reality for the majority of Christians around the world. And boy, do we need to remember that. This book gives such a clear picture of what life is like as a persecuted Christian – a picture that is shocking and oh so saddening. I have thousands, perhaps millions of Christian brothers and sisters around the world that live in fear 24/7 that they are going to be caught for owning a Bible. Hundreds of Christians die every day because they are willing to risk all for the sake of Jesus. And I let my Bible collect dust on the shelf because I’m too easily distracted by YouTube. Ouch. It kind of puts things into perspective, doesn’t it? I came away from this book feeling incredibly blessed with the religious freedom I have, but also very aware that 1. Many Christians do not experience this freedom, and 2. This freedom could be very easily snatched away. I pray that Christians in the West will be wise stewards of the freedom we still have and use it to magnify the name of our wonderful God.

2. - We have such a small view on what Heaven is going to be like. Guys, how many times have we been told that Heaven is going to be amazing, and we’re just like “Yeah I know Jesus is going to be there and it’s going to be wonderful” and then just go on with our daily routine like it’s no big deal. Guys. Jesus is going to be there. We are going to be with Jesus. WITH Jesus! And that’s no big deal?! That’s seriously the biggest deal we will ever face. Literally. One day we will see him face to face – God become flesh, the greatest sacrifice. And he will hold out his nail-scarred hands and welcome us into his arms with a smile. Our Saviour, our God, our brother, our friend, the one that satisfies all longings – he will welcome you into heaven with a smile and a hug. Let me tell you, Heaven is going to be AMAZING. There will be boundless realms to explore and millions of people to meet. All the beauty and goodness we have in this world will be there, magnified by eternity, with no sin or death to mar it. And we will be with our God, as we were created to be, for the rest of eternity. That my friends, is a reality worth dying for, and a reality that we should be incredibly excited for. And too often I’m ambivalent about it. This book opened my eyes to see just how blind we humans can be when faced with the reality of Heaven (and the reality of hell for that matter, but that is another topic for another day). Heaven is not going to be a boring place for all eternity. It is going to be the more wonderful than our humans hearts can conceive, and we will be worshiping our God for all eternity. Now that is something to get excited about!

In the end, Safely Home opened my eyes to see how blessed I am have religious freedom, and how staggeringly horrific the persecution of Christians around the world is. It also reminded me about just how wonderful the prospect of Heaven really is. This was one of the first books I read this year, and I’m pretty sure it will remain one of the best books I’ve read this year. When I finished the book, my heart’s cry was ‘Come, Lord Jesus, come!’ And when a book does that to you, you know it is a good one! I’m giving Safely Home 5* out of 5 and recommending it for ages 15 up because of intense and sometimes graphic (details about the torture Christians go through) content.

* I know I didn’t really explain properly what this book is about. Sorry, it’s kind of hard… Just go and read it and you’ll understand. I highly, highly recommend it!

[Abby Burrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book twice, and I distinctly remembered it from the time before, so I wanted to read it again.

It's a powerful message of faith and suffering. Ben and Li Quan are complete opposites. Ben's all about business, he's prosperous, he's divorced, he drinks, and he is empty. He quit believing in God a long time ago. Li Quan, on the other hand, is focused on the next life, is not prosperous, has an adorable wife named Ming, and he is fulfilled.

Persecution of our brothers and sisters in Christ is something not talked about often enough. They endure so much for His sake. And their focus is completely on Christ and the eternal life He promises them.

This book, while telling an interesting and amazing story, is still full of conviction and good morals. Little hints of humor are thrown in as well.

My conclusion is, just read the book, okay? Please?

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I read this book several years ago, it left a distinct impression on me. The information provided about the church in China is inspiring and heartbreaking. Some of my favorite images of the book are in the way Alcorn depicts heaven and the role heavenly beings play in warring on our behalf. Highly recommended!

[Angela R. Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most profound books I've ever read. Eye-opening. I... can't really review it well right now. Wow.

[Elsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't my usual fare, but one of the pastors at church recommended it, so I wanted to check it out. I think it is very much worth reading. Sometimes the emotional and spiritual power of a story rises above imperfect storytelling, and this is a good example.

Stronger in the conception than the execution, it reminded me stylistically of the Left Behind books (and, indeed, features a blurb from Tim LaHaye)--which I think borrowed their format and narrative voice from pop thrillers a la Grisham and Patterson (but I've never read Grisham or Patterson, so).

Anytime there is exposition via a long-winded back-and-forth over the phone, it loses me a little. It can be preachy and on-the-nose. But the author isn't going for subtlety at all, so I can't really hold it against him. He's trying to educate his readers about the effects of persecution and martyrdom and about the plight of Chinese Christians. And beyond education, he's trying to engage the readers' emotions. I was very concerned going into the book that it would be emotionally manipulative, but Mr. Alcorn succeeded in letting Li Quan's story speak for itself.

I do wish the B-roll "Meanwhile, around the throne of God" bits were handled in some other way. Trying to describe heavenly things based on a very literal reading of the book of Revelation felt speculative and cheesy, not to mention theologically dicey. John of Patmos received a divine revelation that he translated into human terms by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; I'm not sure it's wise for a non-Inspired writer to put this kind of gloss on scripture (I also feel this way about The Robe, The Red Tent, The Book of God, The Message, Ben-Hur... it's a long tradition). It's difficult to convey in fiction that this is just one man's interpretation of Revelation. It feels true because it provides emotional resonance to the fictional story of Li Quan, but since Li Quan is fiction, so is this portrayal of God. I'm sure Randy Alcorn would be the first to say his story is only his imaginative interpretation, only a very finite shadow of a glory that we are told no tongue can describe.

But humans are bad at separating the symbol meant to point us to the reality from the real thing--see Moses' bronze serpent, for example, or even the Ark of the Covenant--so I think it can be dangerous and misleading to add to scripture in this way.

All that to say, I think it could have been powerful to make Li Quan's wrestling with his heritage and family part of the human story and, rather than publishing a fictional version of the heavenly places, to interpolate only sections of scripture to describe the martyrs crying out for justice and Christ's final victory over death.

[Poiema · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book about 10 years ago, and have just finished reading it aloud a second time to my daughter. Generally I would only read a book twice if it were a stellar classic. I cannot say that about this book--- fine literature it is not. But it strips away my complacency on the issue of persecution of political and religious dissidents in China. It is successful in that it will not allow me to forget those imprisoned for their faith, those who desperately need to be brought before the public eye, the "least of these" who need targeted support and prayers.

This is well researched fiction, centered around the friendship of a rising corporate businessman (Ben Fielding), and his former Harvard college roommate, Quan. Both men became Christians during their college years, but the ramifications of that decision were different for them. As Ben climbed the corporate ladder, his faith waned and became dormant. Quan, on the other hand, returned to China and found his faith severely tried when he was barred from using his coveted Harvard degree because of his profession of Christianity. His faith was vibrant in direct proportion to his persecutions.

When Ben arranges a visit with his old friend in China, he is shocked to find that Quan is forced to be a lowly locksmith--- totally barred from exercising his brilliant scholarship. *SPOILER ALERT* The timing of Ben's visit to China is strategic. He witnesses the joys of Quan's very humble home life, his pride in workmanship, and the fervor of belief in the underground church. He also witnesses Quan's arrest and from the sidelines sees the torture and ultimate martyrdom of his friend.

Ben returns home shaken, a changed man. He is able to redirect his energies and his corporate influence in such a way as to call attention to human rights violations. He is able to extricate his company from using political slaves in their factories.

Also of interest is how Ben is able to do missions-in-reverse after returning to America. He teaches and mentors and befriends Chinese university students, who---like his former college roommate--come to this country for education. He makes sure they receive a special book, a wonderful book, a dangerous book--- the Bible.

[Sarah Swann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This one surprised me. I wasn’t prepared for what this was. It was very difficult to read about someone basically being treated like a POW by his own government for practicing his religion. Very eye opening and lots of things I wasn’t prepared for.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most impactful books I've read in my life. If you are a Christian and you read at all, or even if you don't usually read, this is one book you must read. It will challange you.

[Angie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have never imagined while reading this book that I would see parallels between my country, Canada, and communist China, but alas that is where we are at...
This is a very powerful book, and although I don't agree with everything theologically, I still enjoyed it as a fiction story. If I owned my own copy I know I would have underlined so many quotes and portions of this book. Many great nuggets of truth. Brave souls standing up for Christ no matter what the circumstances. Stories of God calling his own when you least expect it, or when you aren't even looking. Examples that if you have true saving faith you will never turn your back on God, you will persevere until he calls you home.

"And those he predestined, He also called; those he called, He also justified; those he justified, He also glorified" -Romans 8: 30

Also after reading this book it is a great reminder to remember the persecuted churches in your prayers, as they are battling everyday and are probably often forgotten among the saints.🙏

[Kanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was given to me as a birthday gift when I was at university (as the Brits would say), and at the time, I really loved it. It was during a time when what occupied my mind a lot was doing missions and traveling. It was very well-written and the descriptions of modern China were pretty accurate.

This book made me cry a lot, though I do realize after reading it that there was a lot of posed sentimentality in its, which makes for bad literature. This is personal to me, I know, but it made me think of being a firstborn in a Chinese family. My grandfather made my parents cut my hair short like a boy's until I was five. This book spoke a bit about the metaphor of being a woman regarding steep Chinese traditions. Girls used to be given broken pottery to play with instead of jade. Metaphorically speaking, I am so grateful that i was always given jade and never anything broken.

The ending was disappointing and too ambitious. Overall, this book was a good read. I learned a lot.

[Becca Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐
This book totally took me out of my easy American life and reminded me what I've known about the persecuted church. It made me so much more grateful for my freedom but also so convicted to pray for the persecuted Church and to cling to Scripture. What surprised me about this story was that it left me not feeling an urgency to pray that the persecuted Church will be delivered as much as almost praying that we would be tested a bit more than we are here in America.

I don't love the parts in which the author envisions heaven for us. Those portions just felt a bit odd to me... I don't really want to imagine them; not sure why I feel that way.

Overall, I'm so glad I read this!

[Autumn Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so good. I wrote several inspiring quotes down in my journal. It not only opens your eyes to see what the persecuted church is facing, but also opens your heart for a full inspection of your life and makes you ask the question "What are you going to do with this?" Now that I know, what will I do? Now that I've seen, what will I say? How will I live differently.

I love how it shows things form both the perspective of the 'persecuted' and the perspective of the 'sceptic and easy-life guy'. It makes you realize what a cushy life does to many of us. We can't just say we're Christians. We actually have to live it.

A new favorite of mine!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindle Freebie
Wake up call to awareness of persecution of Christians in China. I enjoy Randy Alcorn’s non fiction books, Heaven is a favorite. I wasn’t sure what to expect from him with fiction, it was touching and life changing. My emotions were all over the place. Highly recommend!

[Ailey Leman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is eye opening!! I learned so much about the persecuted church and what it’s like to be a Christian in a country like China.
So, so good!! An amazing story.

[Michelle Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both to Christians who are passionate about sharing the Good News and to distracted American softies who forget about the persecuted church — read this book!” Safely Home challenged me to pray for the persecuted church. It also convicted me to be bold in the Gospel while I am in this “trial of prosperity” in America where I can place more importance on my comfort than on sharing the Good News.

Safely Home gives the reader a perspective into the author’s depiction of the spiritual powers at play behind the scenes of the story. It convicted me to live this present moment as if it eternity depends on it — because it does.

But if you just want a good story, moral aside, I still recommend it — it’s interesting and engaging. I found it hard to put down.

[Lucy Fifield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It combined a couple of my favorite genres. Great perspectives and I wish I could meet Li Quan.

[AnnaScott · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you get when you take the vice president of Getz International, who is an atheist, and drop him into rural China with his old roommate, who is a staunch Christian? In this book, we meet Ben Fielding, who from the outside has the world by the tail. He is the vice president, is on track to be CEO, and has everything that money can buy. What he also has is a divorce, a broken family, and a feeling of desperation. No matter how hard he works, he is never happy. Even when he gets the things that he thinks he wants.

Jump across the globe to China, and we meet Li Quan. He comes from a long line of Christian martyrs. After denying his father's faith as a teen, and going to Harvard, he becomes a Christian when his roommate, Ben, invites him to Bible study. Once that fire was lit, it soared out of control. Now, twenty years later, he is risking everything to tell others of Yesu. He has been in jail, has been persecuted, and has almost lost his life. Yet every day he continues to speak openly about Yesu and the lies of Mogui, knowing that this might cause him to lose his life.

These two roommates, who used to be best friends, meet after twenty years while Ben is on a business trip to China. Ben has everything that Quan dreamed of, yet as he sees his friend, he is jealous of him. He is happy. He has a loving wife and an adoring son. Why is this the case? Ben Fielding, future CEO of Getz International, could not be jealous of a poor Chinese locksmith with a "primitive" religion.

This was one of the most amazing books that I have ever read. It beautifully portrays the gospel, and gives us a glimpse of what heaven might be like. It was shocking to read such an accurate portrayal of Chinese society, especially as an American, but it was eyeopening to see just how strong the church is in China to endure the persecution. I thought that the end was going to be really sad, but it turned out to be one of the most beautiful endings that I have ever read.

Join Ben, as he experiences what true Christianity looks like, goes to an underground church, is expected to teach about a religion that he no longer believes, and learns for himself the truth about China.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely read fiction, except for Frank Perreti books, Alcorn's book, DEADLINE, THE SHACK and this book. SAFELY HOME was very meaningful to me because I have some friends who have actually smuggled American "greenbacks" into China in money belts to help house church families whose husbands and fathers are in prison and I have heard many stories from them of the persecution of saints in China. Also, I had spent time in the military in Asia and knew of martyrs and homeless families due to Christian persecutions in China in the 70's.

This book, though being fictional, has been very well researched and possibly based upon very real life scenarios. The "western church" needs to wake up and realize we are not exempt of the same "purifying" and "purging" through persecution here in the USA.

[Gina Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure if I could give this book more than 5 stars I would. Safely Home is a novel about an affluent American businessman who goes to visit his (Chinese) college roommate as a business ploy to help PR in China. His roommate had been saved during college (at Harvard) and then returned to live in China. The book is really about God's supremacy and how rapidly the Church spreads through suffering and persecution. Convicting, enlightening, eye-opening, and certainly a book to spur us on to do more than we are doing, to pray for and serve the persecuted church. I consider this a must read. Thanks for the recommendation Deanna!

[Dorothy Tolman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Jamie for this book. I loved it. It was very well written and the message was beautiful. As Christians we know that in the days prior to the Second Coming of the Savior that there will be persecutions of the righteous. It helps us remember that the fight against Satan is real and that we need to be spiritually prepared for the battle as well as ready and willing to take Missionary work to all nations despite the costs.

[Jake Griess · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and edifying story that was an absolute pleasure to read. The more I read of Alcorn, the more I want to read of his.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent. I had some clue what to expect from a brief previewing, but I didn't know what I was really in for. I was reluctant to bring this book to work today to finish it because I didn't want to cry in the office. I had to hold back tears so often through reading this novel, and upon reading the last few pages, I had tears streaming down my cheeks (I was alone by then!). I think more pages are dog-eared than not, actually.

I'm a Christian, but I feel like I would become one after reading this if I wasn't one already. I learned so much about the continuing persecution of Christians in China and about the history of Chinese Christianity along with China's general history. I also learned more about God and the Bible reading the verses that Alcorn includes. I read the Bible every day, but seeing verses out of context without their references, along with the translation Alcorn uses, gave me a different perspective. I love seeing Christianity and faith through Li Chuan, an amazing example of fortitude, courage, and perseverance. I loved reading about the two main characters' platonic love story--Ben Fielding and Li Chuan have a strong bond that transcends not only physical hardship but also many arguments and sometimes bitter (on Ben's end) disagreements. Through it all, Ben and Chuan remain friends and provide us with an example of two people who can disagree but still love each other.

The characters in this novel are all well-developed, and the plot is straightforward and unfolds really well. The ending is fairly obvious from the beginning, especially because Alcorn includes a frame story that takes place in heaven, and the observations of the angels, the King, and the martyrs of the Li family let us know what to expect, for the most part. Still, reading the story and watching it build towards the climax is emotionally impactful. I also love a good redemption story, and that's what this is, among many other things.

I enjoyed the fact that Alcorn's narrator's commentaries are true to the Bible and don't take a denominational standpoint but stick 100% to the Word of God, nothing doctrinal or dogmatic. That's a feat in itself! The only agenda Alcorn seems to have is informing people about the truth of what happens in China and accurately conveying the message of Biblical Christianity. A lot of Chuan's explanations helped me understand the Bible more clearly but also the relationship between Christianity and the world. It was great to see explanations of concepts I've thought about but never fully fleshed out.

My favorite part of the book, by far, is the Epilogue. It's beautifully written, including passages directly from Revelation but also interpreting some of the "vaguer" parts of the Biblical book and putting them more clearly in chronological order.

I highly recommend this book, whether you're a follower of Christ or not. If you are, you'll see amazing examples of faith, and you'll be encouraged to pray for your brothers and sisters, not only in China but all around the world, who are punished for refusing to deny Jesus. If you're not a follower of Christ, you'll learn about Chinese Christianity, you'll see some interesting parallels between modern American culture and Chinese culture regarding the suppression of religious ideals, and you'll also get some insight into why people who believe in Jesus refuse to stop believing even when people ridicule us or tell us there can't be a loving God when so many bad things happen. You might not convert exactly, but the book offers a true perspective on Christianity, not the hypocrisy, negativity, and lies spread by people who claim to believe but propagate the complete opposite message that Jesus came to give us.

[Angela Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great Christian fiction novel and definitely would recommend it to other believers to read at some point. It taught me so much about the persecuted church in China and what believers there have to go through. The lengths they go through to get their hands on scripture and their hunger for it - I think through the persecution and suffering and having lost so much of their worldly status and possessions make them value the word of God so much more and their faith is so much more refined because of the sufferings. It was convicting that we so often take advantage of free access to the Bible and faith that we often don’t hold tight to faith and don’t learn to stand firm as these brothers and sisters do in China. They stand firm in the sufferings and as a result, the underground church has grown and prospered despite the enemies purpose to crush them.

It uses a fiction perspective to tell of the tale of two friends, one in America who seems to have it all and one in China who has nothing. Yet as the tale goes to where they meet and have discussions, we realize the one in China, who has Christ has everything - and through the suffering and persecution for his beliefs- he holds tight. The one in America, who has fallen away as he is choked away by the pleasures of this world and little idols, slowly starts to see that he has nothing and that Christ is all. Their conversations throughout the book wonderfully weave scripture and wisdom that we must look beyond this earth to the new earth and new heaven that is to come. Our home is not here, and in fact our time here is so limited we must make good use of it to share the gospel to those around us. This book put such perspective on it through the lenses of the believers in China, and honestly, and we must rejoice in trial for we are being refined. In fact, as one part of the book says, perhaps we must pray for trials so that our faith may be further strengthened and refined.

Surprisingly this book also discusses Gods grace even for the persecutors. It reminds us we too are unworthy, no one is worthy, and no one is beyond the reach of Gods saving grace. Though we might cry to God for the sufferings; he delays it to allow his grace to work so that more may be redeemed and that includes those who may have persecuted believers at one point. One day he will execute His justice and the wicked will be judged- but until then, who are we to know who is to be redeemed by Christ and our duty is to call others to repentance.

It also emphasizes the importance of prayer and will make you want to look into how to support these believers in persecuted countries.

[Laura Burkhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been meaning to read this book for more than a decade, and I really, really wanted to like it. The story was good, insightful, challenging, moving at times…but the writing. Oh my goodness. It was so melodramatic. Some of the metaphors were so over the top I was literally grimacing. The endless conversations written in broken English. The vast majority of the book is just page after page of dialogue. The heavenly realm scenes were a tad strange/uncomfortable sometimes…Jesus massaging someone’s shoulders, for example. Li Quan is so spiritual all the time, and basically perfect, so I didn’t find him to be terribly believable. Poor Ben Fielding is almost exclusively referred to as Ben Fielding, never Ben. Even by Jesus. Ming giggles so much. Pretty much all the women giggle incessantly. Poor Shen’s face is always quivering. It just kinda drove me crazy.
Three stars is as generous as I can be. Great concept, good theology, good heart…if you can get past the writing style and the weirdness that inevitably comes with trying to imagine the unimaginable.