Safely Home by Randy Alcorn

This was an amazing book and a Gold Medallion Book Award winner!  If you missed it the first time around like I did, pick it up now. You won't regret it. Most of the book takes place in China, where Ben Fielding has gone to visit his old college roommate Quan. Ben is a successful businessman who's lost sight of the important things in life, such as his family and faith. He goes to China to look into business opportunities and figures Quan can help him navigate the country.  However, instead of the college professor he expects to see, it's a poor locksmith who's a devoted Christian no matter the consequences.  Quan's father and grandfather were martyred for their faith and Quan wonders each day if this is the day he, and his wife and child, dies.

Ben thinks he knows the true China, but his eyes are opened to the persecution Christians there face every day.  At first he's very skeptical and thinks Quan is exaggerating, but he can't deny the things he sees with his own eyes.  He also can't believe Quan would choose to be a Christian and choose to live the difficult life he leads instead of taking an easier path.  He asks him hard questions and Quan explains about what Christians there go through and some of the history of China, which is all fascinating.  Their journeys throughout this book are amazing.

Quan goes through some really hard things in this book, but it actually felt encouraging.  It was very informative about China, past and present, and really opened my eyes to what persecuted Christians there and in other countries go through. It also encouraged me to pray for the persecuted church more often. I think this book needs to be on everyone's must-read list!