Brother Andrew, Holland, to Yugoslavia

March 13. Andrew van der Bijl: Brother Andrew. Some people call him “God’s Smuggler,” but Andrew prefers the simple appellation “brother,” a term that applies to all who believe. He thinks of himself as an ordinary person who has done extraordinary things simply because he follows Jesus.

Brother Andrew’s early ministry was to take and other evangelical literature to communist countries. In the 1950s, he founded —an international, non-denominational organization of Christians committed to support persecuted believers around the world.

With the fall of Soviet in 1991, Brother Andrew shifted his attention to the Muslim world, building bridges and friendships with Muslims, so he could share the good news about Jesus with them.

Brother Andrew has written 21 books, the first of which, God’s Smuggler (published in 1964), describes his early efforts at “unofficial delivery” of Bibles, books, and tracts to Soviet bloc countries. On this date in 1955, Brother Andrew made his first trip behind the , a trip that set the scene for many more trips, including the one in today’s story.

Given to God, even fear can lead to victory.

The light streamed through the windshield of Andrew van der Bijl’s blue Volkswagen, as he drove towards the shade of the Iron Curtain. He had taken a mission upon himself to bring Bibles and tracts to Christians in Yugoslavia. Problem was—his cargo was illegal.

Two years earlier, in 1955, Andrew had first gone behind the Iron Curtain. In and , he had seen Christians pressured to teach only what their governments allowed. Bibles were restricted and rare in these countries.

Andrew knew he could help, so he purchased as many Bibles and tracts as he could and hid them in his car.

As he approached the Yugoslav border, Andrew feared that if the guards chose to search his car, they would find the illegal Bibles and tracts in the Slavic language. A search would end his mission and his freedom. So Andrew prayed: “Lord, in my luggage I have Scripture that I want to take to Your children across this border. 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.”

Two Yugoslav guards stopped Andrew’s car. They seemed happy to see him, as Andrew was likely the first person to attempt a border crossing that day.

Speaking in German, a language that Andrew and the guards could understand, he declared the legal items he was bringing. One of the guards inspected the car. If they looked too closely, Andrew would be arrested. While he had contacts behind the Iron Curtain, right now he was alone with no one to help him. A former military man himself, Andrew knew how to fight, but he was unarmed and outnumbered. Andrew relied on God.

The guard opened Andrew’s suitcase and sorted through the contents. The illegal Christian tracts lay in full view. Andrew kept chatting with the other guard, and he hoped that God would take care of the rest.

Miraculously, the inspecting guard didn’t even notice the tracts. The guards finished the inspection without finding anything suspicious, and Andrew was free to go. He successfully crossed the border and continued his mission to help his fellow Christians.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling” (Psalms 46:1–3 ESV).

Perhaps the guards weren’t paying attention. Perhaps they were sympathetic to Andrew’s cause. Perhaps the cargo had truly disappeared before their eyes. Andrew believed God had delivered him that day.

Where is fear robbing you of an opportunity? Given to God, even fear can lead to victory.

“Brother Andrew’s Story.” Accessed October 14, 2020. Open Doors. https://www.opendoorsusa.org/about-us/ history/brother-andrews-story/. “Our Story.” Accessed October 14, 2020. Open Doors. https://www.opendoorsusa.org/about-us. Rice, Jim. “Being There ‘God’s Smuggler’ Brother Andrew Has an Odd Way of Breaking Down Barriers Between Christians and Muslims. but Somehow It Works.” Sojourners Magazine, Vol. 37, No. 3. March 2008. Questia. https://www.questia.com/magazine/1G1-176374257/being-there-god-s-smuggler-brother-andrew-has-an. Van der Bijl, Andrew, et al. God’s Smuggler. Third ed. Ada, MI: Chosen Books, 1967. Benge, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Brother Andrew: God’s Secret Agent. Seattle: YWAM Pub., 2005.

Story read by Peter R Warren, https://www.peterwarrenministries.com/

Would You Like to Learn More About This Man?

Van der Bijl, Andrew, and Al Janssen. Light Force: A Stirring Account of the Church Caught in the Crossfire. Ada, MI: Revell, 2005.