Chai Ling - A heart for freedom: [the remarkable journey of a young dissident, her daring escape, and her quest to free Chinas daughters]

Praise for A Heart for Freedom

As a foremost student leader of the Chinese democracy movement, Chai Ling gives us a deeply touching firsthand account of what really happened in China that eventually led to the Tiananmen Square massacre on June 4, 1989. By preserving memories of this epoch-making event and its aftermath from oblivion, A Heart for Freedom not only makes an important contribution to history but also helps keep alive Chinas ever-increasing hope for freedom and democracy.

Yu Ying-shih

Professor emeritus, Princeton University, and recipient of the John W. Kluge Prize (2006), Library of Congress

Chai Ling is one of the most courageous women I know, and always has beenfrom her early days as a self-possessed student thrust suddenly onto the worldwide stage to her current role as a fierce defender of women and girls. Her conviction that every person should have a voice has informed her whole life and made her a powerful role model to Glamour s 12 million readers and to women worldwide of every political persuasion. Quite honestly, she awes me!

Cindi Leive

Editor in chief, Glamour magazine

I am delighted that Chai Ling, who has promoted and sought freedom all of her life, has found the greatest freedom of all in Christ. And I pray for Gods blessing on her in the coming years as she discovers new ways to serve and minister in the world in the power of the gospel.

Tim Keller

Senior pastor, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York City, and author of The Reason for God

Chai Ling bravely fought for democracy in China but found something even more transformationalgrace. This memoir is not just for people interested in a compelling first-person account of politics and history. It is for all of us seekers who search for true meaning and purpose while battling our private fears and regrets. It is about that liberating discovery when we learn that there is nothing we can do that will make God love us any more, and nothing we can do that will make God love us any less.

Micheal Flaherty

Cofounder and president of Walden Media

What was it like to be at the center of the Tiananmen democracy movement in Beijing in 1989? Chai Ling, who was the commander in chief of the students, tells the story in a gripping and moving way. She shares her insights into the student movement and the personal narrative of her dramatic escape from China and experience as an immigrant in the United States. If you want to read one book about Chinas student democracy movement and what happened to its activists, A Heart for Freedom will keep you completely engrossed.

David Aikman

Former TIME magazine Beijing bureau chief, eyewitness to the Tiananmen massacre, and author of Jesus in Beijing

Chai Ling has a dramatic story to tell of Gods transforming powerfrom radical dissident to radical Christ-follower, now changing China and the world in ways she never dreamed possible. Her book, A Heart for Freedom , will inspire you to pursue great things for a great God!

Dr. Bryan Wilkerson

Senior pastor, Grace Chapel, Lexington, Massachusetts

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A Heart for Freedom: The Remarkable Journey of a Young Dissident, Her Daring Escape, and Her Quest to Free Chinas Daughters

Copyright 2011 by Chai Ling. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of author copyright Michael Abramson/TIME & LIFE/Getty Images. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of tanks copyright Jeff Widener/AP. All rights reserved.

Text of Confession pamphlet quoted on page 308 is copyright Peter Dupre. All rights reserved.

Designed by Erik M. Peterson

Edited by Dave Lindstedt

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible , English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Ling, Chai.

A heart for freedom : the remarkable journey of a young dissident, her daring escape, and her quest to free Chinas daughters / Chai Ling.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. ).

ISBN 978-1-4143-6246-5 (hc)

1. Ling, Chai. 2. Christian convertsChinaBiography. 3. ChinaPolitics and government2002- 4. ChinaPolitics and government1976-2002. I. Title.

BV4935.L525A3 2011

248.246092dc23

[B] 2011024188

ISBN 978-1-4143-6485-8 (International Trade Paper Edition)

To all the people who courageously sacrificed and fought for a freer China, including the Tiananmen generation. May the day of eternal freedom come soon!

* * *

When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.

Psalm 84:6, NLT

Table of Contents

Preface

As early as May 27, 1989, I felt the need to bear witness to the events unfolding in Tiananmen Square and to record my experience there for posterity. Ive long felt there was a much deeper meaning and reason for what happened at Tiananmen, but for twenty-two years I had been unable to articulate it. In 1995 and early 1996, I wrote more than two hundred pages of an initial draft but could not finish it. I sensed there was a precious story and truth to be told, but for the past two decades, I could not capture the essence of it. It was like a free birdI could hear it singing and feel its presence and heartbeat, but I could not quite grab hold of it. Like the sparkle of sunlight on a river, I could not capture it and put it down on paper. But for all these years, I have never given up my pursuit of this truth.

I searched in many places: in democracy work on Capitol Hill and at the UN; in a Princeton and Harvard education; in the fast-paced, high-pressure investment banking and consulting industries; in self-help books and leadership seminars; even in founding an Internet company and starting a foundation. But I couldnt find the answer that would quench my thirst.

Then, on December 4, 2009, my heart was profoundly changed and my eyes were opened to all the dramatic events of my life. For the first time, everything started to make sense. I now see that the thirst I had is the longing for freedom placed in our hearts by God. Only when I came to know God could I truly begin to comprehend his unique purpose for my life. Ive since been given renewed strength, healing, and insight to explain my perspective on Chinas past, the meaning of the Tiananmen movement, and Gods future plan. Ive come to realize this is not a book I could write on my own; rather, its a book that could only be written through me.

By May 2011, I finally was able to write about the events of my life in their entirety. I used to feel hurt and betrayed by so many; now Ive been healed from most of the pain, and God has given me the strength to finish the story.

Over the past twenty-two years, many reports have been written about Tiananmen Square, and no doubt most have mentioned my role there. I have not read them all, nor would I be able to even if I wanted. This book is my story, a story of youth, passion, sacrifice, and triumph in the search for freedom and justice against great evil. And it is a story of the ultimate truth that sets us free.