Title: God’s Smuggler
Author: Brother Andrew
Major Themes: Bibles, Brother Andrew, Communism
Synopsis: Brother Andrew’s life work seemed to be to encourage the persecuted church and supply them with Bibles—how could he do that?
God’s Smuggler is one of those books I remember reading before I was 10 years old, and have read several times. I just reread it, for the first time in over 20 years, and found myself as engrossed in this story as the first time! This is a great story, as well as being inspiring and challenging.
Andrew grew up in a small town in Holland with a deaf blacksmith for a father and a very hospitable, loving mother who suffered ill health. He was only around 10 years old when World War II began, changing their lives forever. You’ll chuckle at some of the pranks he pulled on the Nazis—but life was very serious at the same time. And then, after the war, he was old enough to decide what to do with his life. Joining the Dutch army and fighting in Indonesia nearly destroyed him, but because of it he started reading the Bible. After returning to Holland, Andrew met the Lord personally, and then started searching for what God wanted him to do with his life.
As a first step, Andrew was led to a missions school in England. From there, he found himself going into Communist Poland, and then Czechoslovakia, and learning about the persecuted church in the Iron Curtain countries. Could God be asking him to help those people? Their greatest needs were for encouragement and for Bibles—how could he meet those needs?
This is an amazing story of God’s leading and protection. You’ll be amazed as you read it, of how, over and over again, God protected His word and hid it, though Bibles were in plain sight sometimes, from border guards who wanted to prevent Christian literature of any sort from entering their country. You will marvel at God’s provision and the way He supplied every need. If you haven’t yet read this incredible story, you need to!
WARNING: Chapter 2 describes some of Andrew’s experiences in Indonesia during the war; one is pretty gruesome, when the Dutch soldiers massacred a village. Also in that chapter, a monkey is nearly killed.
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 12 – 15, 15 and Above, Adults
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged) | Audio CD (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
Book Depository: Paperback
I loved that book as a girl as well! I need to buy it. I’d forgotten about it! EEEP!