I know this book was fiction, but far too close to the real thing. I have been in Hong Kong several times. There are posters and ads displayed trying to awake us to the horrible things going on in China in order to have organs for trade. Seeing them makes me think of Safely Home. And it makes me very grateful to live where I still have some freedom to try to live by faith. And it makes me pray for the persecuted. — R.T.

This book is a real wakeup call for the American Christian. We may someday face this degree of persecution, as we are already facing a lesser degree now. Randy Alcorn does his research so well and he is a writer that you can trust theologically. — H.R.

I just finished reading Safely Home to my family. Towards the end, my 13-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter were staring at me, elbows on my foot stool or hanging over my shoulder to read ahead of me. They loved it. I think my daughter would like to read it again. Thanks so much for that book. — K.M.

To anyone unfamiliar with Safely Home....READ IT! It changed lives for me and my kids! [It's an] amazing fictional account of what truly is the reality of the American Christian sheltered from what real martyrdom is like versus the Asian Christian who must endure the loss of all things for the surpassing riches of Christ's glory, to the extent of losing careers, finances, leadership positions, Bibles, family, friends, and even their own lives in a lot of cases. Who do we think we are? We are blessed beyond measure and dont even realize it most of the time. — R.K.H.

Safely Home showed me the horrors of the persecuted church and the glories of Heaven. I admit that when I first read the book, calling the present Heaven the “waiting room” didn’t sit well with me. Give me grace—I had no idea of the wonderful things God has in store for the Earth (which I found by reading Heaven). I also love how you portrayed our Lord in the book—so human, yet divine, approachable, loving, and intimate. — D.A.

What would you do if your home was taken from you, your spouse was suddenly sent to prison without any information given to you on their whereabouts, and you had to rely on the support of others to live? What if they were sent to jail simply because they were a Christian? And what if situations like this actually existed in the world? They do.
     Safely Home focuses on the persecution Christians face in China simply because they are Christians. They must smuggle in Bibles, meet secretly in the middle of the night for worship services, and risk their very lives to worship the one whom they believe in.
     Safely Home is an excellent book, masterfully written and compelling as it unfolds. The gripping story is fiction, but it is not fantasy. In fact, some of the events in the book reflect actual occurrences in China. Persecution in China and other parts of the world is real, and Randy Alcorn vividly describes these events with such an impact that the reader cannot help but walk away affected by them. The reader gets a real sense of the type of stress and trouble that Chinese Christians face on a daily basis. In the end, it makes us realize how lucky we are in America to have such a vast amount of religious freedom. — C.M.

This is a very powerful book about those who are persecuted, even killed, for their faith. I like this statement by Li Quan, the main Chinese character: “My father used to tell me that a good follower of Yesu (Jesus) is like the ox—ready either for the plow or the altar, for service or for sacrifice. I do not know what lies ahead on this earth. I do know something greater awaits us beyond it. That is what I choose to live for.” — J.L.

Safely Home is a book that I could not put down. Randy Alcorn’s account of the Church in China has opened my eyes to what Chinese Christians endure for the sake of the cross. This book has burdened me (in a good way) to pray for the persecuted church. I was in tears by the end of this book—praying, rejoicing and worshipping a victorious God. — R.H.

I read Safely Home and it messed up my life. Since then I have adopted twice more, taken four teams to China, have connected with pastors over there, and am getting ready to plant our first cleft palate healing home. — S.A.

Safely Home made me cry. I couldn’t help it...this is a really unique book. I was completely unprepared for where this book took me emotionally and found myself completely unwound more than once. Before reading this book, I would not have thought that a work of fiction could go where this book goes. It is not perfectly rendered, but it is amazing in its reach and scope. Read it. — B.P.

Letter from a reader who lives in China: I have been working and living in China since 1992 teaching English, studying Mandarin, and sharing the Gospel with Chinese. I have lived in NE China for half of that time and most recently I have lived in NW China. I am currently home on a one-year furlough, living in the States.
    I just finished reading your book, Safely Home. I am impressed with your accuracy as to Chinese life and culture. You did a great job of letting folks know that China is a big place and what is happening in one place may not be happening in another. I have read many books on China, both fiction and non-fiction, and am often frustrated by the biased picture they give of China being the same all over and often unfair portrayals of life there and the people and officials. Thank you for bringing a balanced and accurate viewpoint to the novel. — C.S.