God's Smuggler: Sharing the Gospel in Forbidden Places

I once asked one of my high school teachers for book recommendations. I told him I liked fiction, some fantasy, and a good, gripping plotline. Much to my surprise, he told me to read The Art of Power by Jon Meacham. After running a Google search on what it was, I was incredibly disappointed to find that it was a behemoth of a nonfiction novel concerning the life of Thomas Jefferson. Nevertheless, I rented it from the library, read the first five pages or so, and decided it was a title that belonged on my ‘did not finish’ list. Needless to say, I haven’t been too much of a nonfiction fan since!

Granted, I do have a few books that are nonfiction that I’ve really enjoyed—The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom is one of my all-time favorites—but in general, I hardly ever find myself browsing through nonfiction when I’m at Barnes and Noble.

When a dear friend of mine gave me a copy of God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew, a hole of guilt grew inside me. I didn’t know when I would find the time to read it, nor did I think I would enjoy it. I had school to do, two jobs to work, a book to write… When was I going to have time to read a book about some missionary? I hardly ever read outside of my go-to genre. I love Christian fiction, so why would I shift to nonfiction? If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it, right?

When I cracked open God’s Smuggler, I was expecting a story about a guy that kept miniature Bibles in his coat and walked around offering them like they were drugs, sneaking them from person to person. But, oh, I was wrong. So. Incredibly. Wrong.

Following Brother Andrew and his mission work worldwide, God's Smuggler is sure to move the hearts of readers of all ages. As readers, we get the privilege to follow Andrew from childhood well into his life as an adult. Called by God to be a missionary, he takes us along on the page-turning true story of his many travels across Europe and Asia as he spread the Gospel and brought Bibles to countries without them. Brother Andrew recalls the countless testimonies of God's faithfulness and kindness in his life, as well as memories of the body of Christ that grew rapidly because of God's appointed smuggler.

God’s Smuggler is a nonfiction book for the consistent fiction reader. It’s written completely as a story—a true tale that keeps the reader hooked from the first page to the last. It was like I was right alongside Andrew as he became a Christian, started missionary work, fell in love, became a father, trusted the Lord for provision, and expanded his work into a full-on organization. From little instances that make the reader giggle to times when I found myself gasping in shock, the book is easily one of my new favorites.

Brother Andrew goes in-depth on his faith, which was one of my favorite aspects of the story. While he has one of the most intense callings on his life, he still bears the childlike faith. He relays so many beautiful instances of God’s provision down to the penny. He also gets open and vulnerable about his trust (and distrust) in God. Andrew most definitely doesn’t make Christianity appear as cupcakes and rainbows, but rather shows the reader the harder parts of faith.

Having been on a mission trip to a Communist country, I was able to relate to many of the fears Brother Andrew talked about in God’s Smuggler. No matter what country you go to—especially a closed one—there is always hesitance when it comes to police and higher authority. Here in America, we are so blessed to be able to freely pursue religion. However, other countries forbid the mere thought of Christianity. Brother Andrew, however, went boldly into these countries, Bibles hidden and tucked into every nook and cranny of his car. Even when he had to smuggle them across borders, he always kept in mind Who he was working for.

I also loved how vulnerable he was in the book. Millions of readers worldwide have access to the things he prayed, his doubts, his highs and lows as a missionary. I loved how real he was with every little aspect of the book.

Likewise, I found myself rejoicing with Andrew throughout the story—when God provided in full just in the nick of time, when He allowed Andrew to cross into a country he wasn’t initially allowed into, or when God taught him a lesson in His faithfulness. The entire book was so inspiring and beneficial to any Christian’s walk with the Lord.

Even though I wasn’t a fan of nonfiction, God’s Smuggler made me see the genre in a new light. Not only did I enjoy the read, but I was inspired to also live out my faith rather than just live in it. God’s fingerprints are evident in the story, and I would highly recommend it to anyone, Christians and nonbelievers alike.

From beginning to end, I loved Brother Andrew’s book, God’s Smuggler, and I know you will, too!

All my love,

L. Taylor