The remarkable story of Andrew van der Bijl, who became internationally known as “Brother Andrew,” stands as a testament to unwavering faith and daring commitment to spreading Christianity behind the Iron Curtain. His courageous work smuggling Bibles into nations where religious persecution was rampant has left an enduring legacy that continues to impact believers worldwide.
Van der Bijl established Open Doors U.S.A. and became famous for his covert operations delivering Bibles to communist territories where such materials were strictly forbidden. His extraordinary exploits were chronicled in the 1967 bestseller God’s Smuggler, which he co-authored with John and Elizabeth Sherrill.
Miraculous border crossings
The Dutch evangelist’s autobiography detailed numerous instances of seemingly divine intervention during his dangerous missions. Among the most striking accounts was his experience crossing into Romania with his Volkswagen Beetle loaded with contraband Bibles.
Facing an intensive checkpoint where border guards were conducting thorough vehicle inspections, Brother Andrew made an audacious decision based on faith. “I know that no amount of cleverness on my part can get me through this border search. Dare I ask for a miracle? Let me take some of the Bibles out and leave them in the open where they will be seen,” he recalled.
Rather than hiding the forbidden books more carefully, he positioned them where they could easily be spotted. When his turn came at the checkpoint, the guard merely glanced at his documents and permitted him to pass.
“I coasted forward, my foot poised above the brake. Nothing happened. I looked out the rear mirror. The guard was waving the next car to a stop,” Brother Andrew recounted, describing how his prayer had been answered in that critical moment.
A philosophy of ordinary obedience
Open Doors, the ministry he created, characterized its founder as someone who willingly embraced danger for the advancement of the Gospel. His approach to faith emphasized that extraordinary service to God was available to all believers, not reserved for an elite few.
“The Bible is full of ordinary people who went to impossible places and did wondrous things simply because they decided to follow Jesus,” Brother Andrew once said. He maintained that “the real calling is not a certain place or career but to everyday obedience. And that call is extended to every Christian, not just a select few.“
His singular focus remained clear throughout his ministry: making Scripture accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of political barriers or personal risk.
An enduring impact
The organization Brother Andrew founded has significantly expanded its reach since his initial Bible-smuggling missions. Open Doors now distributes 300,000 Bibles annually, along with 1.5 million additional Christian publications, training resources, and discipleship materials.
Beyond literature distribution, the ministry has broadened its scope to include humanitarian relief efforts, community development programs, trauma counseling services, and advocacy work on behalf of Christians facing persecution globally.
Andrew van der Bijl passed away in September 2022 at age 94, leaving behind a legacy that continues to motivate believers to embrace the Great Commission with boldness and conviction.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20, NKJV)
