God's Smuggler

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In 1967, van der Bijl published the first edition of God's Smuggler, written with John and Elizabeth Sherrill. [9] An autobiography, God's Smuggler tells the story of his early childhood, conversion to Christianity, and adventures as a Bible-smuggler behind the Iron Curtain. Due to the press exposure following the book, van der Bijl stopped personally smuggling Bibles and Christian literature to other countries, and shifted to evangelism and fundraising campaigns in North America and Europe to support Open Doors. [7] [2] By 2022, it had sold over 10 million copies and was published in thirty-five languages. [10] A comic book adaptation of God's Smuggler was published in 1972 by Spire Christian Comics. [11] Later life [ edit ] After receiving missionary training in Scotland, Brother Andrew travelled to Poland in 1955 to participate in a Communist youth rally. He travelled there with a suitcase full of Christian tracts. Arriving there, he discovered that churches behind the Iron Curtain were isolated and in need of encouragement. God's Smuggler Brother Andrew's story remains as inspiring today as it was thirty-five years ago, and with these new releases it will motivate a whole new generation to risk everything to follow God's call.” This is the story of an ordinary Dutch man who went undercover for God. He smuggled Bibles into the most closed and dangerous countries of the world, risking his life over and over again. His life of faith and surrender is such a testimony and inspiration. Do we love and see God’s Word as precious as he did? The people receiving these Bibles sure did. As the work grew he was joined by others and began smuggling Bibles to Christians in communist countries. And today, that small Dutch mission has become an international ministry at work in more than 60 nations to strengthen the persecuted church.

Lord, in my luggage I have Scripture I want to take to Your children. When You were on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, I pray, make seeing eyes blind. Do not let the guards see those things You do not want them to see.” More than Bibles The real calling,” he has said, “is not a certain place or career but to everyday obedience. And that call is extended to every Christian, not just a select few.” Within a year, Mao Zedong had died and most of the conference participants were able to start working once again in the People’s Republic of China. There’s no specific accounting of how many Bibles van der Bijl smuggled across the Iron Curtain — even he wasn’t concerned with numbers — he and his friends brought so many Bibles to people in Communist countries that a Brother Andrew joke made the rounds in the ’60s: “What will the Russians find if they arrive first at the moon? Brother Andrew with a load of Bibles.” Sixty years ago a young Dutchman was inspired to smuggle Bibles into Communist Eastern Europe. It was the start of a great adventure.His suitcase contained his Bible, a change of clothes and hundreds of leaflets entitled The Way of Salvation, which he planned to give away. In 1955, Brother Andrew risked it all. Today, will you commit to pray, give and speak out to support your persecuted family?

In 1958, he married his wife Corry and they had five children together. Corry often accompanied him on his trips, especially in the early years. As time went on, Andrew began to grow a small team around him that helped him distribute Bibles and literature more efficiently. During the Second World War he became involved with the Dutch Resistance, undertaking acts of sabotage against the occupying Germans such as adding his mother’s precious sugar ration to the petrol tank of a general’s car. Andrew, Brother; Janssen, Al (1 July 2007). Secret Believers: What Happens When Muslims Believe in Christ. Baker Books. ISBN 978-1-4412-3891-7. Andrew spent the first few months in England painting the WEC headquarters building (Bulstrode). While living at Bulstrode, Andrew began spending time with God at the beginning of everyday – a Quiet Time. This was something that Andrew found helpful and endeavoured to do every day of his life. Once Andrew had finished painting Bulstrode, he then moved in with Mr and Mrs Hopkins. Living with Mr and Mrs Hopkins, they developed a wonderful relationship. Andy learnt so much from the couple because they were utterly without self-consciousness and opened up their home to drunks and beggars. He was shot in the ankle and started reading a Bible his mother had given him during his convalescence. After he returned to the Netherlands, he started compulsively going to church, and in early 1950, he surrendered himself to God.

A remarkable legacy

He spent two years studying to be a missionary at the Worldwide Evangelization Crusade school in Glasgow, Scotland. I also enjoyed the special features at the end of the book, especially the interview in which Andrew talked about his recent ministry in the Middle East. The number of adventures and close calls he has had is astounding. (You'll have to read the book to find out!) But his fearlessness and unquestioning obedience is certainly inspiring. I do not often say that something has changed my life, but the nonfiction book God's Smuggler has changed my life. The man called Brother Andrew (name changed for safety) who lived in Holland before and during the Iron Curtain years, impacted Europe with his faithfulness like no other person I'm aware of.