Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son's Journey to God. A Broken Mother's Search for Hope.

Published testimonies from Christians who have same-sex attractions are nothing too unusual. However, "Out of a Far Country" has a big difference, it consists of TWO people's testimonies - one of the prodigal son and one of the always-welcoming mother. What makes this approach interesting is that every chapter alternates between the testimony and point of view of the son (Christopher Yuan) and his mother (Angela Yuan). So you're literally seeing the story unfold from 2 people's point of view - each coming from their own perspective, giving us essentially 2 sides of the same story. Layered on top of that, you get to see the unique personal struggles of both Christopher and Angela - both of them struggled with very different things, and how God worked on Christopher through his journey with same sex attractions, addictions, high-flying LGBT lifestyle and drugs, while Angela struggled with her son's rejection of her love, her son's homosexuality, her strained marriage and her broken past. It's a book filled with the full range of human emotions and God's work in turning them both from unbelief to belief, from hopelessness to hope and from death to life.What really struck me about this book is how well-written and well-articulated it is. The writing is refined, it's not crass, it flows extremely well chapter-to-chapter. When reading it, I felt the pain, desperation, turning points and joy that both Christopher and Angela experienced. The descriptions were so vivid that it felt as if I was present at the dining table with Angela, at the dining table with Chris and family, at the train station with Angela, at the parties then in jail with Chris, and at the prayer room with Angela, and so on. Because Christopher and Angela Yuan have both gone through so much in their lives, there is so much to follow in the book and it kept me reading literally non-stop. Every chapter spurred me on to read "just one more chapter" because I was keen to find out what happened to them next. Furthermore, because each chapter is quite short, I end up reading a good number of chapters on each sitting! And every chapter feels different and interesting. Because it comes from two angles, it made this book twice as touching and impactful for me. I found myself cheering for Angela, for Leon (Christopher's father) and of course, Chris himself. It is a modern real-life tale of the prodigal son and long-suffering parents... and a long-suffering God, who loved them all so much that He gave His Son for them all, and saved the Yuan's entire family.I said there was a sting in the end and the sting is this: I felt a bit sad at the end because Christopher indicated that he continues to live with the reality of HIV, and so he must continue to monitor himself - and there may come a point in time he may have to actually start taking medication to treat it. That said, it is so good to see how God had completely turned the Yuan family's lives around - especially Christopher, when he could've been dead countless times! Highly recommended.

I'd like to mention together four "conversion stories." The first I'd read was that of C. S. Lewis, "Surprised By Joy." He describes the sensation of being hounded by God as he was a naturalist/atheist professor in England. Gradually, all of his objections against Christianity fell, and Lewis concludes with his classic line, "In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England." Lewis' conversion was especially significant because his field of expertise was literature, and he had a sharp eye for distinguishing myth from historical factuality. He came to side with Christianity.Next, I will mention "Muscle and a Shovel" by Michael Shank. This conversion was from a faulty denominational conversion ("just say the prayer and believe") to an authentic Biblical conversion and entrance into non-denominational Christianity. The idea of the title is that a person who will put forth effort and do the "spade work" of digging into the Scriptures can find true conversion to Christ after the Scriptures show the teachings of many popular churches to be fraudulent. Especially, evangelical groups have traded Biblical baptism (for remission of sins and reception of Spirit) for the "sinner's prayer."Next, "Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus" by Nabeel Qureshi. Nabeel was a Muslim with an open and honest heart who followed Islam because he thought it led to God, but veered off into Christianity when the stock objections against the crucified Jesus gave way. The insights into Muslim culture and family life gave me a sense of privilege. Curiously, dreams of significance played a powerful role in accomplishing this conversion. I might look askance at such claims of experience within my culture, but it seemed to make sense that God would work this way (as well as by the Gospel) to give special guidance to someone who had to bridge from such far place to Jesus.Finally, there is "Out Of A Far Country" by Christopher Yuan and his mother, Angela Yuan. Christopher engaged full-blown homosexual identity and also deep drug abuse. Yuan fairly revels in describing his slide into depravity. I struggled with this, and mention of gay men grooving to Abba's "Dancing Queen." But God reached him through the love and grace of Jesus, and the unfailing love and grace of a mother who refused to give up on him. I found Yuan in his review of a new book the maintains that the Bible supports homosexuality. Yuan deftly refuted the book and maintained God's requirement for sanctified sexuality.Each of these was an engaging and pleasant read--truly "page-turners" compared to the thick theological books I usually occupy myself with. They each serve as reminders that, for whatever numbers of atheists, denominationals, Muslims, and gays resist Jesus and never convert, there is a real power for those who truly seek and are willing to find and walk the "narrow path." Each is a testimony to the love and power of God, made manifest in the crucifixion of Jesus and the outpoured Spirit. From moral irregularity to anti-God thought-systems, there is a tremendously personal force waiting to break through to any willing heart.

What a story of Gods grace and redemption that covers three generations. A mother’s prayer for her son proves that mothers are heard if they love and follow the Lord. Not only for her marriage but for her son and Father. This is a book you will NOT be able to put down as it delves into areas of life very few talk about. This is a must read for every Christian, especially mothers and grandmothers in the power of prayer. Sy Rogers, an amazing Pastor whom God called out of homosexuality helped many break free from that lifestyle. Sadly, Sy passed away not long ago, but I can easily see God passing the torch to Christopher Yuan. A much needed message for today’s times!

A MUST READ if you have same sex attraction or if your son or daughter struggles with same sex attraction. Christopher doesn’t hold back at all about his past, his drugs and party life and SSA life pre Christianity. I just love Chris and Angela you become friends with them both by the end of the book. I am planning on purchasing more of these books to distribute when I can.I hope to meet both Chris and his mom some day. Chris is definitely a hero of the faith and I know that in heaven he will be GREATLY REWARDED one day by God for all he’s denied here on earth (his own flesh) since he’s spent a lifetime crucifying his fleshly desires and living for God. Absolutely incredible testimony by an incredible man of God and his loving mother who has beautiful faith.

This is a powerful book. It is the beautiful testimony of a mother, Angela Yuan, and her son, Christopher Yuan who both were atheistic and had strong opposition to Christian faith.First, it recounts a mother's despair that is so great that she decides to commit suicide. Through circumstances, and God, this is averted.From there, the book is about Angela trying to convince her song to depart from homosexuality. Chris is one person who probably nobody expected to turn from it.What makes it even more powerful is its unique two person format. Both Angela and Chris write alternating chapters.

So this book provided a lot of comfort. For a topic that feels like a taboo to discuss n the difficulty that goes with sharing your personal experience.I believe this book handles this issue with the openness it deserves, the grace needed for the journey, the strength of a loved one never giving on the Truth of God’s word n the love, joy n renewed hope of seeing a loved one restored by the power of the Holy SpiritJust want to add thank you for sharing your experience which provides strength n courage under immense pressure for those dealing with this realityOne of the reviews I read before I book this book noted ‘they could not put the book dosn’ I completely agree with this as I also found I could not put the book downHighly recommend this book

There is so much in this storyWhat a powerful journey for the entire family and a message of the transforming miraculous grace of Jesus ChristAmazing and wonderfully written

LGBTは生まれつきジェンダーなのかという疑問を持ってる人達に読んでみた方がいいと思う。

I have heard of the youtube and facebook speaking engagements of C. Yuan but the detailed account in this memoir is even more compelling. I love the interchanging format of accounts of both authors (mother and son).Many times I was caught crying and praising through the pages of this book. I was just in awe how God can see through everything. How His ways are higher than ours, his plan for us to have good future. To have not fear, to believe in His words and His timing.Christopher talk about the holy sexuality and talk about his struggle about his sexuality and his diagnosis of HIV. The mercy and love and faithfulness of God was elevated with every page of this book. I highly recommend it.