Five awesome quotes from Brother Andrew…

If you didn’t know, Open Doors can trace its history back to 1955, when a young dutch chap called Andrew stepped off of a train in Warsaw, Poland. He was there to attend a communist festival for young people. But he wasn’t a communist.

Andrew was a risk-taking, follow-Jesus-with-everything-he-had kind of Christian. As he stepped off that train he carried a suitcase filled with Christian literature to give out. He figured if they were going to shout about the benefits of communism, he’d shout about the love of Jesus.

On that trip, Andrew first met Christians who were persecuted for their faith. It changed his life. God spoke to him with a passage from the book of Revelation – ‘Awake, and strengthen what remains and is about to die’ (Rev 3:2). From that point, Brother Andrew (as he’s now known) decided to dedicate his life to support and strengthen persecuted Christians. He started off in communist Europe, then China, North Korea, the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia, India and many more.

Today, Open Doors (that’s us), continues his work, serving in over 60 countries around the world. But Brother Andrew is still very much with us. He’s not as young as he once was, but his words, actions and history still have the power to inspire us to be more like Jesus.

Here’s five of our favourite quotes from Brother Andrew over the years. Read them, and if you want to give your all to follow Jesus, pray his words too:

1. The first step

“Whenever, wherever, however you want me, I’ll go… I’ll begin this very minute. Lord as I stand up from this place, and as I take my first step forward, will you consider this a step towards complete obedience to you? I’ll call it the step of yes”.
Brother Andrew said these words back in 1952, when he responded to God’s call to serve him.

2. Don’t fear the darkness

“The bigger the darkness, the easier it is to spot your little light.”
From Brother Andrew’s book, God’s Smuggler… well worth the read.

3. The church

“Of course it’s dangerous. But it’s a lot more dangerous for all of us if we don’t do it. Even in a conquering army there are casualties. Safety is not the issue when we look at the Great Commission. The purpose of the church cannot be to survive, or even to thrive, but to serve.”
From Brother Andrew’s book, Secret Believers

4. Love

“Christians need a new filling of the Holy Spirit to love those who disagree with them. And the greatest expression of love is to share with them the most precious thing a Christian has, which is the good news of the salvation of Jesus Christ.”
From Brother Andrew’s book, Secret Believers

5. Are you available?

“God does not choose people because of their ability, but because of their availability.”

More to share

Brother Andrew has written loads of books, and said many things – if you want to share ways that he has inspired you to better follow Jesus – and your persecuted family – then email us at youth@opendoorsuk.org or tweet us @opendoorsyouth.