Safely Home
a review by Adam Pohlman
Ben Fielding was a successful American businessman looking to expand his business into the booming Chinese economy. He decided to contact his old Harvard roommate, Li Quan, who now lived in China to understand the culture better, to better promote his business. Ben soon found out that China wasn't quite what the government controlled Chinese media presented. Instead of a free-market, booming society with smiling, prosperous citizens around every block, poverty and depression filled the streets. Although religious freedom was presented to the world, he found out that Christian churches are highly regulated, including which books of the Bible a person is allowed to own and read.
In Safely Home, Randy Alcorn beautifully presents a story of the persecution of those in Chinese house churches and the exciting transformation of a selfish American businessman into a follower of Christ willing to sacrifice his riches to serve Christ. Alcorn is a master of painting word pictures and will pull you right into the worship of the house churches wondering when the authorities will force their way in the door and put an end to the church or even your life.
Li Quan was taught by his father live to each day for Christ like it was his last. He reminded himself to always ask, "Is this the day I die?" Is this what we American Christians ask ourselves? Do we live out our lives with a passion for God's glory and with an eternal perspective? Safely Home is a good reminder that this world is not our home; that something far greater awaits those who trust in Christ. In the mean time we are called to be faithful servants of the King. After reading of suffering far greater than most will ever come upon, the reader is given a new perspective of the "trials" Americans must endure. The faithfulness of Li Quan in the face of persecution makes one feel that persecution may be a blessing, and lost sinners don't upset you, but cause you to cry out to God to have mercy on them.
This book will cause you to ponder the possibility that American Christianity is far from true faith and wonder what a Chinese believer in prison would ask you if he saw your daily walk. Randy Alcorn brilliantly brings conviction and joy at the same time to any believer. Reading about faithful martyrs gives the free worshipper an appreciation for the blessings he's been given. I do not often read fiction, but Safely Home was such a wonderful blessing to my own walk. I now look at those standing next to me singing praise to God and think of how blessed I am to know that I don't have to watch the back door over my shoulder to make sure the police aren't coming to arrest us. My heart aches inside for those in illegal churches around the globe who cannot sing praises out loud for fear of giving away their location while we can all stand together and fill the sanctuary with one voice.
After reading the final chapters laying out a vision of what heaven may be like, you can't help but long for the day when you will be safely home in the arms of your Savior; and overwhelming thankfulness will fill your heart making you want to share the gospel with someone or get as many bibles into China as possible.