This is one of the most touching books I've read. It is a challenge to much of the teachings that pass for Christianity today.
Safely Home is seen through the eyes of American Ben Fielding, a successful executive eager to expand his company's business with China, and his reunion with his humble Chinese roomate who had gone back to China with a PhD, and expected to be a university professor. What Ben finds when he beholds his friend for the first time in over twenty years shocks him. On the one hand, he is amazed at the humble surroundings of his friend's one-room home, and yet full of admiration for their spiritual wealth, the love in the home and their strong solid faith in the Saviour Jesus Christ. Ben witnesses first hand persecution, the underground church, martyrdom, and the great faith of the believers. His life is eternally changed. Yours will be too as you follow Ben from the executive suite to the underground cave to the prison fence. If you're a Christian, you'll be inspired and convicted to obey the Lord in service. If you're not a Christian, you'll follow Ben's footsteps and come to the crossroad of the most important decision you'll ever need to make.
This book shows that it is always worthwhile to live for God, and not by the opinions of man. "Real gold fears no fire."
"And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God." (Zechariah 13:7)
Being Chinese myself, I found the little details about the culture and the conversation to be very true to life. The thought that this kind of story could really be happening was both inspiring and convicting, to me as I enjoy the seductive comforts of the USA.
There are a few times when Li Quan's parts of the dialogue come across as too much like a sermon rather than a natural conversation, but overall it is impossible not to be tremendously moved by Li Quan's and his family's story. Many times, I wept for his sufferings as if he were my real friend, and other moments also brought tears of joy.
This book is a real "wake-up call." While I have enjoyed many of the "Left Behind" series, there is something much more deeply personal, intimate, and real (this is about NOW!) in "Safely Home" that made it more effective in reaching my heart. I give Safely Home an unequivocal and enthusiastic recommendation!