I am grateful for the ministry of Open Doors. I am thankful for the resources they provide about the persecuted church and for the persecuted church around the world. However, even though I have been familiar with the ministry for a time, I was foreign to the story behind its founder, a man known as Brother Andrew. God’s Smuggler, Young Reader’s Edition changed that for me.
Written with John and Elizabeth Sherrill, Brother Andrew, whose real name is Andrew van der Bijl, aims to reach the young person with his story. The book takes the reader on a journey from Andrew’s call to ministry through his time in ministry distributing Bibles behind the Iron Curtain during the time of the Cold War, a time faced with persecution against Christians and the Word of God. The book’s style is captivating and leaves the reader wanting to find out what happens next in the missionary life of Andrew.
The purpose of God’s Smuggler, Young Reader’s Edition is not merely meant to give a record of Open Doors founder. It is meant to make a present-day impact upon the reader. Particularly for the young person, the book causes them to not take the Bible for granted but to see owning a copy of the Word of God as the treasure it is. Stories in the book recount and reveal the power of prayer and serve as a testimony to young people of the power of God. The book ends with Andrew and his wife, Corry, saying, “Together, the two of us. Twelve of us. Thousands of us. None of us knows where the road will lead. We only know it is the most exciting journey of them all” (Sherrill 216). In essence, they invite others to join this journey of sharing Christ with all and sharing with other Christians in their suffering and persecution.
I recommend God’s Smuggler, Young Reader’s Edition by Brother Andrew with John and Elizabeth Sherrill to parents and their youth alike. I encourage this book to parents who desire their children to see the treasure the Bible truly is, and for youth to see the commitment of their Christian faith, as Brother Andrew has modeled, even in the midst of persecution and suffering. Join the journey!
I received this book for free from Chosen Books via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own and are my honest review of the book.
