Brother Andrew

Brother Andrew

Andrew van der Bijl (1928-2022), better known as "Brother Andrew," was a Dutchman who began smuggling Bibles into Communist eastern Europe (photo) during the height of the Cold War. Brother Andrew founded Open Doors in 1955, and in 1981 was behind the legendary Project Pearl that smuggled one million Bibles into Communist China in one night.

After Brother Andrew retired, Open Doors declined. Brother Andrew's de facto farewell address to Open Doors and its supporters was the Open Doors 60th anniversary event in 2015. Below are some of his quotes, and further below is the video from the event.

"I think we in the West, and this is a personal confession, I think we are cowards. We want our personal profit to come first. And if that is at risk, we don't do anything. We ought to become people of guts and courage and strong convictions, and don't count our lives dear unto ourselves if only we can fulfill the high calling of God on our lives." - Brother Andrew, Open Doors 60th Anniversary Event, March 23, 2015.

"If we have no eye for the lost around us, how can we then ever have God's love for the people far away. Nobody ever becomes a missionary by crossing the ocean. You are here a missionary or you're not a missionary." - Brother Andrew, Open Doors 60th Anniversary Event, March 23, 2015.

"Until the end of the Second World War, 7/8 of the entire Muslim world was colonized by Christian nations, and we didn't make a dent in the situation, not politically, not religiously. We just let them go to hell. And now, we are reaping the results." - Brother Andrew, Open Doors 60th Anniversary Event, March 23, 2015.

"The more radical the Muslims are, the more receptive they are to the seed - the Word of God." - Brother Andrew, Open Doors 60th Anniversary Event, March 23, 2015.

"Death is not the end; martyrdom is an honor... Don't volunteer for martyrdom, but don't avoid it either when you can." - Brother Andrew, Open Doors 60th Anniversary Event, March 23, 2015.