Source: Open Doors, September 29, 2022
Andrew Van der Bijl, the founder of Open Doors, and known around the world as Brother Andrew, died on Tuesday, September 28 at the age of 94. He left this world much as he’d lived his life, with little fuss or fanfare. He died peacefully at his home in the Netherlands, according to a family spokesperson.
Although gone, his faithful life and legacy have impacted millions and will continue to impact millions to come, through Open Doors, the oldest worldwide ministry for persecuted Christians. He was “everyone’s brother,” a true servant of Jesus who washed the feet of persecuted believers for more than half a century.
Brother Andrew lived a life on fire for God along with a love for the persecuted church. With complete dependence on Jesus, he risked his life crossing the borders of these countries, illegally transporting thousands of Bibles to believers who had never seen the Word of God. He made hundreds of these dangerous trips, facing military checkpoints and car searches—earning the nickname “God’s Smuggler” for his daring Bible deliveries. Not once was he caught.
A tribute website includes more about his life, including a five-minute video.
See also an obituary published by Christianity Today.