Book Review: Daughter of China Trilogy by C. Hope Flinchbaugh

I started reading this set of books well over 2 years ago.  It took me a really long time to read this book, not because it wasn't good, it was phenomenal, but more so because of when I read.  I only seem to be able to read at night, when I am tired which requires a lot more energy to stay awake to finish a chapter.  Once I made myself go to bed earlier I was able to start reading a chapter every night and I read more in one month than I did in the previous years.

These are historical Christian fiction. The author did a lot of research, including interviewing real persecuted Christians and their stories in order the write these.

The first book is about the persecuted Christian church in China.  I learned things about the culture there that I never knew before. It is a very graphic book about the torture of the main character in the book and what happens to her as she grabs hold of her faith and evangelizes in her own town.   

I always knew there was persecution in the world and over in China, but until I read this book I didn't know any of the specifics.  One of the reason I like historical fiction is that I get to make a connection to the character and really empathize with their situation.  I might not fully understand what they went through, but it allows me to understand better and pushes me to think about what others go through in countries like these.  It helps move me to pray for others around the world who go through this on a daily basis.

The 2nd book, Across the China Sky is a continuation of the main characters in the story.  Again, it brings you into their world to help you understand their lives and the consequences that happen in their world from being a Christian. This book moves the character to another stage in her life where she is looking for her calling, she meets new people and finds out a lot more about herself and her faith.  While she is doing all that, you learn about the other people in her story while she isn't with them. They go on a journey where they are deceived by a cult called Eastern Lightning.  Again, another cultural thing I new nothing about until I read this book.  This book read as easily and as fast as the first one, but wasn't as deep for me.

The 3rd of the trilogy continues the same story of this young woman but in a different calling for her and her friend.  They take a journey to evangelize their country going on very little other than their faith.  There are miracles and visions in this one.  It seemed a bit strange to me at first, but then I realized that I hear about dreams happening all over the world where non believers see Jesus in their dreams and they come to know him through those dreams and the evangelists around them. This story interweaves the story of North Korea into it as well and how the Christian church in China helped and continues to help those in North Korea trying to escape. It hones in on a specific family and their struggle, how they come to know Jesus and how they make their way to China.

What did I take away from reading these books?

It made me want to read and study the book of James again.  I've always had a love-hate relationship with that book in the bible.  It is hardcore heart stuff.  If you've never read it, I encourage you to read it again and really ponder what your faith is and what it is producing for the Lord.  I struggle with this all the time and these books made me realize how much we have and how little we do in His name.

Right now I am using RightNow Media, a source of bible studies and videos that our church has just signed up for.  I am working through a video series from Fancis Chan on the book of James and it is eye opening and heart tearing.

I look forward to reading more from her in the future.  I just ordered her book from 2011 called Out of North Korea - A Korean Boy Tells His Rescue Story in Pictures.

I highly recommend these books.

Wrapping things up. 

I was trying to find a song that worked for this post like I usually do, but I was struggling with this one.  I went to my You Version Bible on my iPad and did my devotional this morning.   Philippians 4:13 says: I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.

Ephesians 1:18-20 
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,  and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 

In countries where they are persecuted they rely on their faith and His power and strength because often they can not do these things by themselves.  In the United States and other "Free" countries we rely on ourselves too much, we pride ourselves in what "We" can do.  When we look to Jesus first and rely on Him, His power is shown and I think that is often why "we" don't see his works and miracles and others in persecuted countries do.

Something to think on.  How's my faith, how's yours, Whose power are you leaning on in your life?