Brother Andrew

“There is really no Iron Curtain for the brave.” — Brother Andrew

Andrew van der Bijl, also known as Brother Andrew or “God’s Smuggler,” spent his entire life ministering the gospel to hard-to-reach people in countries where being a Christian often meant persecution or even death. On September 27, Brother Andrew died and went home to be with the Lord at the age of 94.

In light of his passing, we thought this would be a good time to go deep into our archives and share the interview Andrew did with Charles Morris in 2004. For many years, Andrew took the Good News into the Soviet Union, China, and Czechoslovakia — this interview takes place long after that when he turned his attention to the Middle East and North Africa.

It’s our prayer that this conversation will minister to you and inspire you to be a bold ambassador for Christ with your own life.

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There is really no Iron Curtain for the brave. ~ Brother Andrew

Andrew van der Bijl, endearingly known as Brother Andrew, may be the boldest man to have shared the gospel in the 20th century. And to say his story is unbelievable would be an understatement

His passion was to reach people in places where being a Christian meant stark persecution and even death.

He earned the name “God’s Smuggler” after decades of crossing international borders to bring Bibles and the love of Christ to people trapped in closed countries with no access to the gospel. Often risking his own life, Brother Andrew took the Good News into the Soviet Union, China, and Czechoslovakia. And after the Iron Curtain fell, he turned his attention to the Middle East and North Africa.

Charles Morris, speaker of HAVEN Today, interviewed Brother Andrew about his time witnessing to Islamic terrorists in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Gaza.

This is just a short glimpse into what Brother Andrew has been doing in closed countries for so many years. Later in the interview Charles asked Brother Andrew one more question: “Is there a story that you could share with us today about how the Lord used boldness to work in someone’s heart as you’ve been in the Middle East the last 30 years?”

Brother Andrew answered with a powerful story of how he was compelled to offer himself to the executioner in place of his friend who was sentenced to death.

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. ~ Ephesians 6:19

Corum Hughes works on the production team for Haven Today. Drawing from his experiences in managing a McDonald’s, working in mental health, and watching lots and lots of movies—Corum seeks to find Jesus in places he is seldom sought.