God's Smuggler

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Andrew, Brother (2004). Light Force. London: Hodder & Stoughton. pp.204/ Chapter 25. ISBN 9780340862711. Having read God's Smuggleras a child, I know that your story has inspired millions of people around the world to speak out on behalf of the voiceless and suffering.” Brother Andrew; Sherrill, John; Sherrill, Elizabeth (2001). God's Smuggler. Chosen Books. ISBN 0-8007-9301-3. The first part is a non-fiction novel which tells the story of the church in an unnamed Islamic country. Part two issues a challenge to the church in the West. The world first became aware of Brother Andrew’s ministry when his biography, God’s Smuggler, written with John and Elizabeth Sherrill, was published in 1967. It was translated into 35 languages and sold 10 million copies, becoming one of the best-selling Christian books of all time. A comic-book adaptation was published in 1972.

Brother Andrew; Janssen, Al (2007). Secret Believers: What Happens When Muslims Believe in Christ. Fleming H. Revell. ISBN 978-0-8007-3264-6. In 1955, van der Bijl founded Open Doors, a Christian persecution watchdog organization that is known for its annual World Watch List, which documents the nations that most severely persecute Christians. Giving up smoking, Andrew was able to start saving to buy books. Andrew bought dictionaries and commentaries and so began studying in his spare time. One day Andrew learnt about the bible college in Glasgow run by the WEC mission. At Glasgow bible college Christians could be trained up for mission in 2 years. In September 1953, Brother Andrew started his studies at the WEC Glasgow bible college. Over the entrance of the wooden archway of the college were the words‘have faith in God’. During the following two years whilst studying, Andrew learned about having faith in God and put his faith into practice in many ways. The Kings WayBrother Andrew's was married toCorry for 59 years, until her death in January 2018. He is survived by five children and eleven grandchildren. Soon after becoming a Christian, Brother Andrew attended a an evangelistic meeting taken by a Dutch evangelist Arne Donker. At this meeting Andrew responded to the call to become a missionary. This call to share the good news of salvation started at home, with Andrew and his friend Kees holding an evangelistic event with Pastor Donker in their home town of Witte. Each time he went, he encouraged the Christians that they were not forgotten by their brothers around the world. And once he returned home, he brought news to the Free World of what life was really like behind the Iron Curtain. 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. His first visit was to Warsaw in 1955, when he attended the World Youth Congress. In his suitcase was a Bible, a change of clothes and hundreds of leaflets entitled “The Way of Salvation” to be given away. In Poland he found isolated churches that not only needed literature, but also moral support. The following year he drove to Moscow in his blue Volkswagen Beetle, known as the “miracle car”, again laden with religious tracts.

I really appreciated that it was written from Andrew's perspective, which made it more of a story, instead of just a biography. His way of telling the story was conversational and easy to follow--simple, yet full of profound truth. There were so many wonderful quotes throughout the book that were so inspiring and insightful. His organization, Open Doors, continues his legacy. We know it best for its annual World Watch List of nations that persecute Christians. Open Doors’ tribute calls Brother Andrew “a fearless follower of Jesus [who committed] his life to strengthen the body of Christ in places where faith costs the most.” In my early days of walking with Christ, it seemed every Christian was recommending this book. Thirty years later, I've finally read it. All I can say is: What took me so long?

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After he graduated from the college in 1955, his first trip behind the Iron Curtain came when he had the opportunity to attend a Communist youth rally in Warsaw, Poland. He wasn't there to learn about Communism though. He was there to find out firsthand what religious freedom was really like there and spread the gospel wherever he went. After this trip, his interest in the Christians behind the Iron Curtain grew into a calling to serve them. Brother Andrew obituary". The Times. 29 September 2022. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022 . Retrieved 1 October 2022. 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. 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. I can’t recommend it strongly enough. Really, except for that one part of the story my mother censored, this book is acceptable for any age. The risks taken and the price paid for the faith are very delicately shown. Only as I grew up and learned more about the Soviet Union did the full implications of those hints start to gain their full force.