Friends For The Journey

This book is dedicated to missionary, Graham Staines and his two young sons, Philip and Timothy who were martyred in India. Also, to his wife, Gladys, who still serves there and their daughter, Esther. And, to the hundreds of men, women and children killed for Christ each day. It is an incredible story about the persecuted church in China. Although the story is fiction, it is based on true-life experiences of real people.

Safely Home is the story of a young man, Li Quan, who grows up poor, but is miraculously given the opportunity to travel to the USA to attend Harvard University. While there, he and his room mate, Ben Fielding, become friends and eventually attend some Christian meetings on campus, which leads to Quan making a deep commitment to Christ. After graduating, the two young men go there separate ways: Quan back to China with dreams of being a professor and writing books and Ben, into the business world, seeking all that life can give him.

Ben Fielding, although professing to be a Christian, puts all of his time and energy into succeeding in the business world, leaving behind a broken marriage and two daughters he rarely sees because he is too busy “making it to the top.” Through circumstances, Ben’s company, Getz International, sends him to a small town in China to do PR work and he begins to see behind the image that China projects to the world.

During Ben’s stay in China, he reconnects with his old roommate and stays in their home. He meets Quan’s wife and son, attends underground church meetings with them and begins to ask questions. At first he is not ready to hear the answers and doesn’t believe Quan, but as the PSB breaks into their meetings demanding the people to deny Christ or die and bibles are confiscated, he begins to see a different side of the story presented by the media.

Quan is eventually imprisoned, as were his father, grandfather and great-grandfather before him, and in spite of all the power Ben had in the US, he is unable to get his friend out of prison. He sees evidence of torture on Quan’s body during his weekly visits to his friend. He takes water and clothing to Quan by bribing the guards and each visit there are more questions, discussion, scriptures and more Ben learns more about Quan’s life and faith. He is challenged to be a “true” believer, one willing to lay down his life.

As Quan’s forefathers watch from the portals of heaven, they cheer him on, pray for him, cry for him and ask the King… “How long, Oh Lord?” The reader watches the events of earth unfold as the end draws near and the King reaches for his sword and yet still wanting to extend grace to those who would turn to him; even the evil persecutors.

I have prayed for the persecuted church before, but never have I been so moved by what our brothers and sisters are going through as they stand strong in their faith. Never have I thought about what our Lord feels as his watches his children being tortured and killed and yet how proud of them he is as they willingly give their lives for him. I was moved to tears many times as the forefathers begged the Lord to move on behalf of those being tortured and their families and yet because he wanted to give everyone a chance to experience his grace, he held back.

Throughout the book Quan makes statements such as, “Suffering reminds us we are in a spiritual war.” “Death is not a wall; it is a doorway.” And finally, “Pray that the beatings and torture will not weaken us, but strengthen us in our faith. And that the enemy will not overcome us and our families with despair and discouragement.” I find that this book has changed my perspective on this life and its purpose. I understand more fully the scripture, JAMES 1:2 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,” and other scriptures that talk about trials and tribulations and what they produce in us. There is even one verse that says, “Don’t run away from difficult trials, but embrace them, allow them to have their perfect work in you (my paraphrase).”

I would highly recommend this book as a way of getting behind the scenes to see what is actually taking place in other countries. Randy Alcorn’s research has yielded some incredible information that will help us pray more effectively for our brothers and sisters and cause us to be grateful for what we have in our own lives. May God help us to be more grateful for his many blessings and embrace his dealings in our lives, realizing that he is a good Father and gives only good gifts and that heaven is our home.