In 1960, Chen, a faithful young Seventh-day Adventist, was imprisoned and thrown into "the cage" for refusing to work on the Sabbath. Despite having to live in abject filth and survive on a starvation diet, Chen always sought opportunities to tell his fellow prisoners and prison officials about the loving God he served.

Chains in China illustrates the nightmare of tribulation that God's people have often had to face for Christ's sake. It is a chronicle of unwavering devotion and a tribute to the faithfulness of a God who never abandons us. Chen knows this from personal experience because, had it not been for the miracle God performed to save his life, he would have died in Wu Xi Prison.