Biography of brother andrew
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Andrew van der Bijl
Dutch Christian missionary (1928–2022)
Anne van der Bijl | |
|---|---|
Brother Andrew in 2006 | |
| Born | (1928-05-11)11 May 1928 Alkmaar, North Holland, Netherlands |
| Died | 27 September 2022(2022-09-27) (aged 94) Harderwijk, Gelderland, Netherlands |
| Other names | Brother Andrew, "God's smuggler" |
| Occupation(s) | Christian missionary, author |
| Known for | Founding Open Doors |
| Spouse | Corry van der Bijl (m. 1958; died 2018) |
| Children | 5 |
Andrew "Anne" van der Bijl (Dutch:[ˈɑnəvɑndərˈbɛil]; 11 May 1928 – 27 September 2022), known in English-speaking countries as Brother Andrew, was a Dutch Christian missionary and founder of the Christian organization Open Doors. He was known for smuggling Bibles and other Christian literature into communist countries during the Cold War and, because of his activities, he was nicknamed "God's Smuggler".
Early life
[edit]Van d
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GOD’S SMUGGLER
Brother Andrew’s autobiography, God’s Smuggler, fryst vatten an international bestseller with more than 10 million copies distributed in at least 35 languages. The book has introduced countless numbers to the life of the man Anne van der Bijl, who changed his name to protect his identity as he smuggled Bibles through the Iron Curtain.
Millions have read of his hazardous border crossings, the KGB pursuits, and his courageous journey of living radically for Jesus. And many have been inspired to support the global mission that Brother Andrew founded.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Anne van der Bijl was born 11 May, 1928, in the village of Sint Pancras in the northern part of the Netherlands.
His formal education came to an abrupt end in the sixth grade with the invasion of the German army in 1940. The Wermacht occupied the Netherlands until its liberation in spring 1945.
Shortly after the end of World Wa
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Son of a blacksmith, Brother Andrew didn’t even finish high school. But God used this ordinary dutch man, with his bad back, limited education, without sponsorship and no funds to do things that many said were impossible. From Yugoslavia to North Korea, Brother Andrew penetrated countries hostile to the gospel to bring bibles and encouragement to believers.
Andrew’s early years
Brother Andrew
Andy van der Bijl, who became known as Brother Andrew, was born in 1928 the son of a deaf father and a semi-invalid mother. Andrew was the third of six children and they lived in the smallest house in the village of Witte in the Netherlands.
In the book God’s smuggler, Andrew describes the impact that the death of his oldest brother ‘Bas’ had upon him. Bas, who was severely handicapped died when Andrew was just 11 years old. Andrew had wanted to die with Bas, but God hadn’t let him.
Thirst for adventure
As a child, brother Andrew was mischie