Brother Andrews: “God’s Smuggler” – At the moment’s Christian Dwelling

Whereas his countryman, Corrie ten Increase, was enduring the hardships of a German focus camp, Andy van der Bijl was nonetheless a young person., pulling pranks on the German troops that occupied his village. These world occasions led to Communism’s stronghold on Jap Europe – a spot that may play a key position on this younger man’s life and ministry.

Andy was born within the village of Witte, Netherlands, in 1928. Their household of eight lived within the smallest residence within the village. His father was deaf and his mom handicapped however the household’s circumstances didn’t hamper Andy’s goals of journey.

When he was 18, Andy joined the Dutch military. Haunted by what he had seen and performed, he tried to flee the guilt he was carrying by ingesting, brawling and writing. It wasn’t till he was, two years later, that he started in search of God. Whereas recuperating, conviction about his sinful life drove him to learn the Bible and ask many questions of Thile, the love of his life, who was corresponding with Andy. When he returned residence, he lastly surrendered his life to Christ.

Quickly afterward, Andrew responded to God’s prompting to develop into a missionary. Regardless of the actual fact he had by no means completed highschool, Andrew obeyed God’s lead and utilized (and was accepted) for Bible school in Glasgow. Throughout his school years, Andrew’s religion continued to develop. As he obediently adopted the place God was main, his noticed God’s miraculous provision, time and time once more.

In 1955, this younger Dutch missionary attended a Communist youth convention in Poland. He took his garments, private objects, a Bible and “The Strategy to Salvation” tracts to offer away. He visited a Baptist church in Warsaw and found the church buildings behind the Iron Curtain thought they’d been forgotten by the remainder of the world. They wanted encouragement and prayer. They wanted Bibles. This journey modified his life.

Andrew started praying about what he might do. By Revelation 3:2 God directed him to “strengthen what stays.” So, he started with probably the most instant want he noticed.

It was the peak of the Chilly Conflict between the Communist Block and the free world. Communism was striving to wipe out all remnants of Christianity inside their regime. Into this atmosphere, Brother Andrew (as he got here to be recognized) started smuggling Bibles behind the Iron Curtain in his blue VW Beetle. Every time he made a harmful border crossing he prayed, “Lord, in my baggage I’ve Scripture I wish to take to Your kids. When You had been on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, I pray, make seeing eyes blind. Don’t let the guards see these issues You don’t want them to see.”

His work in Communist block international locations was so intensive, the KGB had a 150-page file on him. Though they’d compiled a substantial amount of details about God’s Smuggler, they had been by no means capable of cease his ministry.

As others joined Brother Andrew’s work, the ministry grew and expanded into different international locations the place Christians had been remoted, persecuted and feeling deserted. When Communisms stronghold on Jap Europe crumbled, the ministry expanded its attain into different international locations the place Christians are persecuted and want assist. Brother Andrew not solely preached in church buildings all through the Center East, he met with the leaders of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah as Christ’s ambassador.

God referred to as Brother Andrew residence in 2022 however his work continues via Open Doorways Worldwide, a ministry dedicated to the continuing assist of the non secular, academic, and sensible wants of the persecuted church worldwide. You possibly can study extra about this ministry by visiting their web site.

“The true calling [to serve Christ] will not be a sure place or profession however to on a regular basis obedience. And that decision is prolonged to each Christian, not jut a choose few.”   -Brother Andrew

*Info taken from Inspirational Christians (www.inspirationalchristians.org) and Open Doorways Worldwide (www.opendoors.org).