Open Doors is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the
persecuted Christian church around the world. It was the result of a one man
crusade, that began in 1955, to support the local persecuted church in Iron Curtain countries. That
man was Dutch Christian, Andrew van der Bijl, better known as Brother Andrew.
Brother Andrew turned 80 this summer (pictured left), and he is still going strong.
Today, his Open Doors organization works worldwide to
supply Bibles to countries closed to Christianity and help oppressed Christians there. This
particular Muslim challenge involves sending Bibles to Christians in Islamic countries:
Open Doors has been offered a $100,000 Challenge Grant to provide Bibles to
Muslim converts.
...There is an amazing miracle that is taking place in Muslim countries like
Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Muslims… even some
radical Muslims… are coming to know Christ as their Savior!
These new believers often risk everything when they turn from Islam to
follow Christ. And the one thing they pray and plead for most… to give
them the courage to stand strong… is a copy of the Bible!
Today, you can be an answer to their prayers when you send them the precious gift of
God’s Word.(Donate link)
I first learned about Brother Andrew through homeschooling. One of the most
enjoyable things my son and I did during our homeschool years was to start our
day by reading missionary biographies aloud.
They all were good, but God's
Smuggler was one of the more memorable ones.
Reading about Andrew's adventures in his blue VW bug not only made us appreciate our religious freedoms but also strengthened our faith. We saw how the God of the Bible, who closed the mouths of the lions for Daniel, was still miraculously intervening in lives today. Synopsis:
As a boy, Brother Andrew dreamed of being an undercover spy
working behind enemy lines. As a man be found himself working undercover for
God. His was a mission filled with danger, financed by faith, supported by
miracles. Told it was impossible to minister behind the Iron Curtain, Andrew
knew that nothing was too hard for God. Crossing "closed" borders, he
prayed, "Lord, in my luggage I have Scripture I want to take to Your
children. When You were on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, I pray, make
seeing eyes blind. Do not let the guards see those things You do not want them
to see."
And they never did. For 35 years, Brother Andrew's life story
has inspired millions to step out on their own journeys of faith. This young
Dutch factory worker's near-incredible adventures testify of God's step-by-step
guidance and hour-by-hour provision -- available to all who follow His call.
Far from being over, Brother Andrew's current adventures are his most
challenging yet. In a new prologue and epilogue, the Sherrills [authors] carry his story
into the new millennium with an account of Andrew's work in the
"closed" societies of Islam.
Andrew continued to work, risking his personal safety to bring Bibles to people in oppressed countries. His personal mission brought him to China and Islamic countries too. You can read more about Brother Andrew van der Bijl's adventures and conversion on his website or read his books. (Truth sometimes is more amazing than fiction!)
Today, other people* are risking their lives to bring Bibles to Muslim converts, and converts still risk all for their beliefs. If you are a person of faith, pray for those converts, Open Doors ministry, and help with the Muslim challenge financially if you can.
*I know of a family from Brookfield who left their very comfortable life here to become missionaries in the Middle East. Because of the risk to their safety, details are not available.
Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.
Links:
Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Jay Weber, Mark Levin, Vicki Mckenna 
