“Taming The Tiger” was written by Tony Anthony.
A few days ago, Tony Anthony talked to an attentive audience of convicts, staff, and Prison Fellowship visitors during Chaplain’s Hour at Inverness Prison. Tony Anthony is the author of “Taming The Tiger,” which is essentially his life story but written with page-turning detail.
At a young age, he was taken from England to China, where his grandfather trained and taught him Kung Fu. His description of these eight years is graphic and at times gruesome. Upon his return to England, he continued training and teaching in the area of Kung Fu, becoming World Champion three times. This gave him a degree of confidence. He became physically powerful, and was not a man to be trifled with or ignored.
As a result of his physical prowess, he became a bodyguard for various important people, eventually guarding the extremely wealthy and those attached to embassies. Following his involvement in criminal activity in Cyprus, he ended up serving time in Nicosia’s infamous Central Prison. He had no interest in anything Christian or remotely religious. He believed that he was the only thing in existence.
With no letters and no visitors, one day he received a letter from a Christian missionary who had read his terrible story in the press. He agreed to see this man named Michael Wright for the most bizarre reason, but after weeks of talking with him, he came to understand the reality of God’s forgiveness and love. He describes Michael Wright as loving him like a father, and he began to love Michael as one of his sons.
Tony is not embarrassed or ashamed to speak about tears. Most guys cry, but not everyone is willing to confess it. Having been treated like an animal, it was so different to be treated with respect and love as a human.
On his release, he flew to Heathrow, where he was met by concerned Christians, and over the next few months, various mature disciples of Jesus Christ kept an eye on this young believer. What had happened was real, but Tony did not always find it easy in various challenging walks of life.
This is a compelling and important book, illustrating not just the background, plot, and very interesting character, but also how difficult it may be when the living God completely transforms and alters a person’s life.
Sandy Shaw
Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children’s Panel in Scotland. He has traveled extensively over the past few years, teaching and speaking in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars in the impoverished areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisu
His M.A. and B.D. are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain physical health.