Brother Andrew

Brother Andrew (1928–)

seEking adVenturE

Do you like adventure? If so, you would probably get along very well with Andrew van der Bijl. Most people call him “Brother Andrew” because it’s much easier to say.

Andrew was born in the Netherlands. His dad was nearly deaf, and his mom was disabled. All Andrew could dream about was a future that was active and fi lled with adventure. In the 1940s Andrew joined the military. When he was hurt in battle, he discovered a new future when he became a Christian during his hospital stay.

Andrew trained to be a missionary and then traveled to countries that didn’t want Christians to visit. Because God was leading, Andrew could say to God, “Whenever, wherever, however You want me, I’ll go. . . . I’ll begin this very minute. Lord, as I stand up from this place, and as I take my fi rst step forward, will You consider this a step toward complete obedience to You?”

Andrew was also known as “God’s Smuggler” because he successfully took Bibles into countries where it was hard to get them. Government leaders didn’t want them, yet the people needed them. Andrew would say that God did it. Andrew would be right.

Brother Andrew’s story is a story of God’s adventurer. He did what few other people felt brave enough to do. Andrew knew that the Bible is God’s Word. He knew that if people could read it for themselves, they could meet God. He knew that if people met God, the world would change.

All the Holy Writings are God-given and are made alive by Him. Man is helped when he is taught God’s Word. It shows what is wrong. It changes the way of a man’s life. It shows him how to be right with God.