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Readers' responses to Safely
Home
Safely Home by Randy Alcorn. I've saved the best for last. Besides being an excellent writer, Randy Alcorn paints a vivid picture of the persecution faced by many Christians in China. Powerful and unforgettable. One of those books that 'reads'you while you read it. - Book review by pastor and author, Dr. Ray Pritchard
Randy Alcorn, one of the great storytellers among Christian writers today, has produced a powerful work. It's not only a first class story, it is a bracing wake up call about Christian persecution in China. You'll be challenged. - Chuck Colson, President of Prison Fellowship
Hidden heroes can be found all around the world today. Normally, their story goes untold, their fight for faith in a hostile world is largely unrecorded. Randy Alcorn puts allies in a fresh perspective by showing us what it could be like to live and die for a faith that will last for eternity. Read this book and you may never be the same again—but I guess that may be part of the author's intention. - Clive Calver, Past President of World Relief
Safely Home will change the way you pray for the persecuted church. This brilliant story mixes the warmth of a good novel with the harsh reality of the persecuted church. Randy Alcorn has mastered the art of educating while entertaining.- Dr. Tim LaHaye, Best-selling co-author of the Left Behind series
Safely Home is a compelling and gripping story that not only forces the reader to look with eyes wide open at the present day persecution our fellow believers are suffering, but also shakes Western Christians from the slumber of spiritual apathy, theological error and materialism. It should be required reading. - Steve Green, Recording Artist
My sister was recently diagnosed with ALS, and passed away recently. I had read the book Safely Home, a few years ago and gave it to her for a Christmas gift in hopes it would help her. Her sister-in-law later told me she had made peace with God after reading that book, and she was ready to go home. - L. K.
The first Alcorn book I ever read was Safely Home. I wish I could put in words how much this book effected...edified my walk with Christ, but all I can say is "thank you." - C. R.
I've grown up
in this church, I've come every Sunday, attended the school, and been taught
that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. Although when I was younger I didn't
quite understand it. As I've grown older, those childlike words have become
dear to me.
All the time I attended a Christian school and memorized Bible verses and went
to Bible class, I didn't understand the real purpose of it all. I may have looked
like I was doing the right thing, but my heart was set on the wrong path. I
couldn't wait until I turned 18 and I could move out, stop going to church,
and finally have some fun!
There was one catch in this plan. I was terrified. Constantly,
my thoughts nagged at me as to what would happen to me if I died. It scared
me, because I didn't know. I tried to reassure myself by thinking, "I go
to church! I know the Bible! Jesus died on the cross!" But it just didn't
bring me peace.
I continued to brush aside this anxiety for a long time.
In my freshmen year of high school, my dad took some time on Christmas break
to read us kids a portion of Randy Alcorn's Safely Home. Every morning, the
main character woke up and asked himself "Am I ready to die today?"
I asked myself this question and could not answer it. This scared me. A few
weeks later, I was reading the booklet handed out at a banquet and ran across
a testimony by a friend of mine. She wrote about being near God's kingdom but
not in God's kingdom. While reading her excerpt, I realized that was me; I was
near, in that I knew the answers and how to act, but I wasn't in because I had
not made the relationship with God my own. So I repented of my sin and trusted
Christ to be my Savior!
God has done nothing but pour out His grace on my life ever
since. He has led me through trials, provided grace, and brought me closer to
him. I am so privileged to be a child of God! He brought me from a place of
hate and a desire to get out from under authority and church, to a close relationship
with Him, where I am so aware of his love and grace on my life. - J. T.
Safely
Home
by Randy Alcorn is a novel about Christianity in China. While it is fiction,
Alcorn does say this novel is a composite of actual accounts by and about believers
in mainland China.
This
was a page-turner of a book, especially at the beginning. Alcorn is able to
present a compelling picture by contrasting a so-called American faith with
a genuine Chinese faith. The book often had cut scenes to Heaven and the unseen
spiritual world, which to me were reminiscent of a Frank Peretti novel (but
I have only read one of Peretti's books). This was distracting at times (Alcorn
isn't afraid to create a robust picture), but these scenes were helpful in showing
the need for God's justice. However, I was humbled and driven to follow Christ
more fully. Do I really consider all else rubbish when compared to the surpassing
greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord?
I
would certainly recommend this book. Now I really want to know more about following
Christ in China, so that I can follow Him better in the US. He gives some helpful
resources at epm.org. Plus, the royalties of this book go towards helping the
persecuted church. - T. L.
I love Randy Alcorn's
books! My absolute favorite is Safely Home. I first listened to it on
tape. I would listen to it as I did my walking each day. One time I had to walk
off my walking trail, into the forest to cry. How pampered we are here in America,
juxtaposed to our brothers and sisters in chains. I have since re-read it in
novel form, and have given several copies away. - W. B.
There are books
that move you, there are books that rattle you, and there are books that force
you to examine your life. This book does all that and more.
Though
fictional, the story has a full sense of veracity. The author has done an outstanding
job of researching the history and tradition of China, from the prophetic aspects
found in some of the Chinese written characters, to the reality of communist
oppression, to the higher reality of the persecuted Body of Christ in that part
of the world. The author aligns all these elements with the Word of God, such
that the Truth is clearly visible in comparison to what the world understands
and views as religion.
Those
who have eyes to see, and ears to hear, will be compelled to understand that
freedom of religion and materialistic abundance only breed complacency and apathy.
And who wants an apathetic, lukewarm church? No wonder the church is loosing
ground in the developed countries where liberals are doing everything they can
to be rid of religion. We should not wait for persecution to flare up to push
us into being boiling hot or freezing cold. Is this the day you die? Is this
the day you seek the face of the Lord with all you have in you? - W. P.
This is the best
book I've ever read! I've read Safely Home four times in the last three
months. I would finish it and put it away but after a few days pick it up and
start over. Every time I read this book, I find new insight and renew growth
in my faith. Mr. Alcorn has woven a stirring story that highlights the difference
between a country with free religion and one with very limited freedoms. -
L. P.
Let's face it—the
title Safely Home has a placid, unappealing sound to it. In fact, before
seeing the cover, I thought perhaps Randy was delving into the Christian romance
market.
That
all changed when I saw the Chinese writing on the dust jacket. Having traveled
in China, smuggling Bibles and sharing my faith, I was intrigued. Then, I peeled
back the jacket to discover the amazing picture of a Chinese believer held in
Jesus' arms. Standing there in the bookstore, I was hit with emotion, with moisture
in my eyes. Suddenly, the title Safely Home made sense. The persecution
of the Chinese church is real, and Alcorn shows clearly the difference between
the state church and the underground church. I've met some of these underground
believers. Alcorn captures their heart for God in ways that I've never seen
in fiction before. He captures much of the Chinese believers' humility and struggle
in this heartfelt novel.
The
contrast between two former college friends, one a Chinese doctor, the other
an American businessman, is credible and lends itself perfectly to the contrast
in their levels of faith. Through the looking glass of this story, Alcorn forces
us to weigh our own faith. Do we know what it means to stand for our beliefs?
Do we know what it means to pay a price for our integrity?
Although
Alcorn can come across as preachy at times, he always has something worth saying.
By mixing a fascinating cultural and spiritual struggle in a fictional form,
he opens our hearts to hear the truth. The response is up to us. - E. W.
We could not put
it down. My wife and I read this book in about a week. That week was one of
the hardest weeks of our lives simply because of the fact that we couldn't wait
to read some more. Even though we are asleep most of the time by 10 pm, we were
up until 3 am on at least two occasions. If the "un-put-down-ableness"
were the only thing going for this book, it would be occasion enough for a five-star
rating. However, the fact that this book stirred up in us both a passion to
share the Gospel, instilled a greater love for God, and humbled us greatly makes
me want to give it six stars. Amazon.com, unfortunately, won't let me.
I
don't normally read Christian fiction. I don't normally read fiction at all.
I usually would prefer books like Piper's Desiring God, Stott's Cross
of Christ, and C. J. Mahaney's Cross-Centered Life. But this book
has made me aware of a whole genre of life-changing books which I would have
downplayed had it not been for my encounter with this one. Please read it, enjoy
it, and then pass it on. - J. H.
I had Safely
Home in my bookcase for at least a year before reading it, which is amazing
considering how much I loved Deadline and Dominion by this author.
I've just never been too interested in the Orient, and when I saw that the story
took place in China, I kept putting other books ahead of this one. Thank God
someone happened to mention how good it was. I was completely captivated from
the beginning. Li Quan lived and breathed for me. This hero made me really stop
to think about courage and commitment to God. Watching the slow conversion of
his visiting classmate from college days was so satisfying. Li Quan was the
kind of man who preaches a sermon silently, through his manner of living and
coping with hardship. The persecution of Christians in China is a sad reality.
I honestly cannot see how anyone could help but love this book. The story line
is exceptional, the characterization is superb, and the message is life-changing.
You simply can't close the cover of Safely Home and not look for a charity
that distributes Bibles to the Christians in China. Another thing you can't
do is ignore the message: God may require the supreme sacrifice from those who
truly love Him and follow Him with steadfast faith. Few of us will ever be called
to give our lives for our faith, but we must be willing to do so. And it is
our eternal destination that really matters. Safely Home will entertain
you immensely, but that is the least of what you'll gain by reading it! Please
do get this book, and pass it along to a good friend after you've read it. -
J. T.
I was in Shanghai on business with my employer. I just finished re-reading Safely Home and wanted to say once again how much I thank ya'll for this book and praise God for the faithful telling of the truth. This book will be in the hands of a business colleague as he flies home to finalize his divorce. I pray Yesu opens his mind and heart to His Truth during his trial. - A. P.
I just finished reading Safely Home. I had heard how good it was and so enjoyed it myself. I like books that propel my mind into thinking how I can further serve Our King. I am moved by the sacrifices that people make for the sake of the gospel. It shames me at times to live in such a wealthy and materialistic society (knowing that I fall into materialism so easily). But the Lord does not make mistakes and he has us here for a reason. We are just called to serve Him faithfully. And that is what I choose to do! Thanks for the reminder. - S. K.
A few weeks ago I was in the Barnes and Noble near my college browsing like I love to do. A young man came up to me with a very thick Russian or Serbian accent and asked me what kind of books I like to read. He said he did not know anything about American Literature and wanted to know what I would suggest he read. At first I was very annoyed that some strange guy was talking to me and I had no idea what to say to him. But then it was like I heard someone whisper that this was an opportunity, and the first and only book that came into my mind was Safely Home. B&N has one copy of the book and every time I go there and walk by it I think of what a wonderful book it is. So I gave the book to the young man and told him it was a great story. And he bought it! I probably will never see him again, but it's so encouraging to me to know that there is a young man out there somewhere who now has a book that clearly gives the gospel in it. Who knows how the Lord will use it in his life or in the lives of those around him! - S. A.
I just put down your book Safely Home, after reading it pretty much non-stop for the past couple of days. What you wrote really impacted me. My wife and I returned home from China on Christmas Day this past year with a one-year-old daughter to join our two biological children. We are currently in the process of doing the paperwork for child number two. In 1995, God touched my heart for a culture in a way I never imagined. After reading your novel, it further spoke to me what was told me two years ago. "This is bigger than just getting a child." I'm not sure what all that entails but your words have challenged me in an even greater way. I should say things for that, but when one is in the midst of God's changing the direction of his life, it's difficult to say thanks without trepidation of where the path is heading. But...thanks anyway. Your inspired words touched my heart. I hope it speaks to my wife the same way as she is anxious to get started. - S. A.
I just finished reading Safely Home, and was deeply moved by its content. I had difficulty sleeping last night as I contemplated what I read in the pages of the book. I am unable to watch television, as everything on the screen is meaningless. I now feel as though the things I have been planning on buying, may be distractions to what would be a much greater purpose for God's money. I am a missionary myself, and yet your book stirred me awake again. I am grateful, and I pray that I don't soon forget. May God bless the persecuted church throughout the world. - J. D.
I just read Safely Home and wanted to say this is a brilliant novel. It is so full of spiritual meat and exhortation while also educating American believers about the heart wrenching and factual struggle of the persecuted church in other parts of the world. There were so many great thoughts and expressions of personal theology to help believers grow up. Thank you for writing this wonderful book—I feel as if I grew a lot. I am now praying for hardship on the American church. I finally figured out that this the missing piece—that is just what is needed! - K. R.
I wanted to let you know how Safely Home has impacted our lives and
our small town here in Florida. I heard a testimony last fall on a Christian
Radio Station re: martyrs. Your book was recommended by the speaker as one of
the best examples of modern day persecution. I was in a bookstore later that
week and bought the book. It revolutionized my thinking and changed my life.
I had my husband read it and he was so moved he bought a copy for all of his
40 employees for Christmas. As a result of that several have shared it with
others in their church. One employee read the book and emailed my husband thanking
him for giving him the book and how after reading it he had completely changed
his thinking.
I shared the book with my pastor and he bought copies for
our church library and from the pulpit has encouraged our congregation to read
the book. He also shared the book with another local church that is ministering
in China. All the members of the church were encouraged to read Safely Home
and all the China team members were required to read it. One of their members
who went to China with his family to live lost a 1 year old daughter to an infection
after only being in China for 2 weeks. They read the book and have now returned
to China after 3 months.
Our family was impacted also. I had my older children read
the book. This summer God allowed us to go on our first mission trip to Haiti.
I do not think we would have had the burden if we had not read Safely Home.
I also shared this with a friend in Oregon and she and her family have in turn
sent the book to others. This is rather long but..... I wanted you to know in
our little corner of the world God is using your book to change people's thinking
and perspective about missions, life and priorities. I would guess over 100
people have read Safely Home here. Thank you for the insight and the
blessing you have been for the Lord. - M. L.
I cannot describe how Safely Home captivated and transported me. I should
say I remained in China and walked with each character, listened to each conversation
and suffered with each atrocity.
I thrilled with each reference to the great drama of the
Kingdom and its ultimate unveiling and ascendancy. I finished the book at 3:00
a.m. thoroughly shaken by my newly acquired sense of unworthiness and utter
gratitude and indebtedness to God. I don't ever remember reading anything that
was so masterfully crafted and blended together even after watching Lord of
the Rings.
I am at a complete loss to express the immensity of the impact
of your book but will need to buy a number of them to distribute to key people.
- A. W.
I happened to find Safely Home in the library and just finished reading it this morning. I could hardly put it down, and the wisdom it contained. Reading it made me feel closer to the Lord and I am now going to begin praying for the persecuted church around the world. Soon, perhaps, we may experience it here in the U.S. as well. Thank you for such a well written book and for the proceeds going to help those who are suffering. - L. P.
I praise God for the writing of your book Safely Home. I believe it has forever changed my perspective on my brothers and sisters in the persecuted church. I read it in two days. I now know better than ever to remember those in chains. - L. R.
You may not remember me, but about 4 years ago you saw me reading a Bible in
the Chicago airport on your way home from a conference. You stopped and gave
me a copy of your book, Safely Home. I read it and a couple years later
wrote you an email telling you how it impacted my life.
Well, now I am writing you again and telling you that Father
used your book to begin and grow a passion and love for China in my heart. Now
I am an English teacher at a university in China. Without saying much more you
can guess what else Father has given me: the chance to share with hundreds of
locals who have never heard the good news. I just thought that I'd let you know
how Father used your book in my life and how He has led me to a team in China
sharing and spreading His story. - (Name withheld for security reasons)
I wept all the way through Safely Home and have shared much of it with my college son who is studying linguistics and has taken Chinese. Thanks so much for your integrity and research in writing this book. - L. K.
Last year my daughter bought Safely Home for me for Christmas. What
a book!
I am in charge of the International Day of Prayer for the
Persecuted Church (IDOP) for my church. Using info from Safely Home we
had an underground house church meeting in addition to our traditional church
service. We kept the meeting place secret and people had to give a "sign" to
get in-either a cross or a fish. Some ladies hand copied portions of scriptures
to be read later in the meeting. Everyone received a page that was torn out
of an old Bible that was falling apart (I must confess this was hard to do,
but I know persecuted Christians do this to share God's Word).They were instructed
to use that as a reminder to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters.
There were only a few chairs in the place we met so most
people sat on the floor. We had a door keeper who only admitted people if they
knocked three times (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost). We sang to guitar music.
We had people give reports about persecution (taken from Voice of the Martyrs
magazine) and we spent time in prayer for our persecuted brothers and sisters.
We also had a project of collecting Bibles and blankets for VOM.
We concluded our service by telling about "mules" for Jesus
that smuggle Bibles into lands. Our "mules" brought in the blankets and people
prayed over each of them as well as the Bibles. The people who attended really
felt they got a lot out of the service. I thought you might like to know about
this, since the inspiration for it came from your book. - M. D.
I worked in China for 7 years...your Safely Home was very, very accurate. Thank you. - N. J.
Having just finished Safely Home my heart is humbled and broken. Unfortunately I related more closely to Ben then to Li Quan. May our King and Father have mercy upon me and make the needed and necessary make over in my life and actions. Praise God for your work! May he continue to use and transform and educate individuals through your work. - S. L.
"As a pastor, I am always trying to encourage my people to read good books.
After reading Safely Home, I offered teens $20 each if they would read
it and discuss it with me. About 10 of them took me up on it. Over 40 couples
in our church then read it, and one couple felt God's call to missions service
as a result. They have already enrolled in seminary to prepare for missions.
I will continue to encourage people to read Safely Home. It was the best
book I have ever read, and I have read over 5000 books in my 43 years of ministry."
- H. N.
My husband was given Safely Home last Christmas and we both devoured
it. It was especially touching to me because my grandparents had been missionaries
in China for 48 years. (My grandfather lost his sight in one eye because he
was stoned for his beliefs.) - K. L.
I just put down your book, Safely Home, after reading it pretty much
non-stop for the past couple of days. What you wrote really impacted me. My
wife and I returned home from China on Christmas Day this past year with a one-year-old
daughter to join our two biological children. We are currently in the process
of doing the paperwork for child number two.
In 1995, God touched my heart for a culture in a way I never
imagined. After reading your novel, it further spoke to me what was told me
two years ago, "This is bigger than just getting a child." I'm not sure what
all that entails but your words have challenged me in an even greater way. I
should say thanks for that, but when one is in the midst of God's changing the
direction of his life, it's difficult to say thanks without trepidation of where
the path is heading. But...thanks anyway. Your inspired words touched my heart.
I hope it speaks to my wife the same way as she is anxious to get started. -
S. A.
I just finished reading Safely Home. My face is still wet. It was two
weeks ago that I returned from China, where I was teaching in an underground
Bible school. Your book enabled me to relive my experiences.
Thank you so much for writing this book. Truly God was involved
in the process. I am recommending the book to my entire congregation. - L.
L., Antigo, WI
I have just finished reading Safely Home, and I needed to tell you that
the impact it had on my emotions and thoughts about myself is big. If I look
at the way I have been living the last few years, not going to church anymore,
hardly ever reading the Bible, hardly ever seriously praying to the One that
has giving me so much to be grateful for. Your book made me cry, made me feel
very ashamed about myself, made me feel so very jealous about the relationship
that Li Quan has with Jesus in your book. To make it even worse, I know that
if Jesus hadn't come into my life 15 years ago, I know I would be dead, or at
least in prison by now. I have been so terribly wrong with the choices I made
after my father died. Your book kind of put me back to where I belong, what
I am here for, who my Lord is, where priorities are, that I have to battle,
and never ever give up. - R. K., The Netherlands
It is indeed with great pleasure that I am able to correspond to you. I am
a mother of 3 and a pastor's wife. I am not a reader. I truly do not enjoy reading
unless I come across something wonderful like what you have written. I thought
it couldn't get better after reading Lord Foulgrin's Letters but after
reading Safely Home, I literally sobbed for almost an hour. I just finished
it moments ago. My husband and I support missions and have done so for years
even before my husband became a pastor. He has a heart for missions, so does
our congregation (about 30 members). I will never look at missions the same
way again. You have opened my eyes to missions as well as heaven, I see it clearer
than ever before. - P. B., Columbus, Ohio
I am a 16-year-old Chinese American, and I have just read your best book so
far, Safely Home. Although I knew Chinese Christians get persecuted,
I never imagined the persecution would be so horrific. Thank you for all of
the time and research you put into Safely Home. Shortly after reading
Safely Home, I started my first job, and enclosed is my very first paycheck.
If it is possible, I would like it to be used to help my fellow brothers in
Christ to receive Bibles. - C.F.
P.S. I gave my parents the money and they wrote the check, because I don't
have a checking account yet!
Thank you for being obedient to God and writing the book Safely Home.
I really enjoyed this book. You captured the typical North American in the person
of Ben Fielding, and the suffering persecuted believer in the person of Li Quan.
It's like you gave flesh and blood to the persecuted believers.
So often we are caught up in our own comfortable worlds-just
like Ben. I found myself getting frustrated with Ben. I was like, "Just listen
to Li Quan, would ya?" But you know all too well that there are so many Ben
Fieldings and if I don't check my own heart on a regular basis, I will be just
like him.
Talking about the persecuted believers isn't a very nice
subject here in North America, and having the eternal perspective doesn't exactly
endear you to the world, if you know what I mean.
Thank you for the great reminder of our dear suffering brothers
and sisters in other countries. Keep writing for His glory. - L. R.
I just finished Safely Home. I was profoundly, deeply affected.
I don't even know where to begin.I met a man (about 15 years
ago) and spent quite a few hours with him-his name was Harry Lee. He was from
China where he had been jailed for his faith. He had the most beautiful spirit
of anyone I have ever met. He loved "Yesu" with a gentle passion. He was amazing.
He is now "safely home" with his Lord. He shared many of his experiences with
me. I learned of the persecuted church in China and the truth of serving Jesus
there. But I am ashamed to say that while I prayed for the church for awhile,
pretty soon I just "forgot." I got complacent in my Christian life. I took my
Bible and my church for granted...and even, sadly to say, my Lord.
Your book was a wake up call. I have asked the Lord to forgive
my complacency and my lack of genuine love for His Word and His persecuted people.
And now I want to help. I'm not sure what form that will take at this time except
for prayer. But I am praying about how I can raise money to help get Bibles
to China.
I work at a Christian bookstore. When I went to work today
all the Bibles on the shelves brought tears to my eyes. In my quiet way I am
going to try and get people to read your book, too.
I just wanted you to know that indeed the Lord is using your
book And I am really praying that the Lord will not let me go on this. My heart
is open before Him. - A. S.
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