These are 3 lessons that I desperately needed in my life, and I’ll leave it to you to read Brother Andrew’s book to find out how the Lord used his words to teach me. Persecuted for their faith they wondered whether they had been forgotten by their fellow Christians around the world. Following the rise of Communism after the Second World War, Christians behind the Iron Curtain had never felt more alone. His childhood is so interesting and rather exciting (and I relate to having a half-deaf father who always needs you to yell things xD).

The first time though I must have been very young because she had to skip the hardest part about his military service. I've been fascinated with learning more about life behind the Iron Curtain and the totalitarian regimes that arose during and after the fall of the USSR and gained knowledge from this account, but ultimately the focus is always on God.

Enjoyed reading the story, from the author’s humble beginnings to a life of divinely inspired adventure. Funny stories throughout the book made me laugh and peoples poignant desire for God's word brought tears to my eyes on several occasions. Under persecution a man looks to his faith to see if it's worth fighting for, and this is a scrutiny Christianity can always withstand. In the 1940s he enlisted in the colonial army of the Dutch East Indies during the Indonesian National Revolution. I would reccomend it for ages 12+ because Brother Andrew, although unharmed, does get in many dangerous situations.

But he pressed on, believing the work was worth the risk, and seeing God do some pretty amazing things along the way. This incredible story combines heart–stopping adventure, broken lives transformed and the realities of spiritual warfare, all rolled together in a page–turning thriller set behind the Iron Curtain.Now I’m not saying that we shouldn’t minister to anyone in need, and we should certainly give everyone we can the Bible. This is the story of Brother Andrew, the famous Dutch missionary who smuggled Bibles to Christians behind the Iron Curtain during the 1950s and 60s. Just bringing one single Bible to such a fellowship would bring tears of gratitude and appreciation.

The last lines summarize the whole book: “I hope that my life demonstrates that there is no more exciting mission than following Jesus wherever He Leads us. Great book showing why obeying God is not a choice but an duty, so much in this book resonates with my life and several times I had tears for how God demonstrated His goodness in Brother Andrew's life. Andrew was often aware of state officials keeping an eye on him wherever he went in some of these countries. He began to see just how limited religious freedom was in many of the Communist countries, and his burden grew to get as many Bibles to as many people as possible. Van der Bijl died at age 94 on 27 September 2022; [7] [14] he had been married for 59 years to his wife, Corry (1931–2018).To see God move again and again in situations that would be impossible for man alone, and to see every need met in such a miraculous way is c r a z y cool. With the people who supported and taught him, as well as with those who opposed him—-Brother Andrew approached each day willing to be led by God regardless of the circumstances. An older couple, the Whetstras, had given him their new car because they had prayed about it and believed that van der Bijl would need the car. He said when we have more to say about certain evils than we have to say about the goodness of Christ, then we are ill equipped for faithful service. Suppose on the other hand that I were to discover God to be a Person, in the sense that He communicated and cared and loved and led.

His journey from a non-believer to a powerful force spreading the gospel was beautiful to read, as was seeing how God worked in his life to further His purpose. Eventually, he founded Open Doors, a mission that supports and spreads awareness about persecuted Christians. During that decade, he also made his first visits to Cuba, which was relatively easy for him to visit because the country did not require visas from Dutch citizens, to bring Bibles after the Cuban Revolution. I've known for some time that the phrase "my faith" is a misnomer in that we need "the faith of Christ" not "our own" faith. From the people who supported and inspired him in his early walk with the Lord, to those behind the Iron Curtain ready to receive the Bibles Brother Andrew was supplying, this book reminds me that GOD IS IN CONTROL and that God WILL provide and that God IS building His kingdom.

He went to Czechoslovakia when the suppression by Soviet troops of the Prague Spring had put an end to relative religious freedom there. For those of us in the west, especially Christians, it's not uncommon to have multiple Bibles in our home, so discovering there were whole churches who didn't even have one between them was astounding. He has worked tirelessly to strengthen the persecuted church all over the world, encouraging believers in their faith and sharing the gospel with some of the most unlikely people. Plus, a brand-new interview with Brother Andrew reveals behind-the-scenes information and fascinating insights into current events that are riveting the world. The Lord used this book in 3 ways in my life: 1) He reminded me of what a treasure His Word is and it should be honored as such in my life; 2) He showed me the power of prayer— more importantly, the power of God through prayer; 3) He reminded me that the cause of Christ is worth my full participation, whatever the cost.