Image: Only now, almost 40 years later, is Bente speaking out publicly about her experiences.
However, Bente Dyssegaard experienced a strong call from God to smuggle Bibles to the persecuted Christians. We asked Bente to tell us about her calling and work. It is only now, almost 40 years later, that Bente has come forward publicly to talk about her experiences.
Bente has written the following: Over a period of almost 3 years and a total of 53 trips, I brought somewhere between 40,000 and 50,000 Bibles into Eastern Europe, behind the Iron Curtain, in the years 1977-80. It was a time when I saw God's greatness again and again, and in my powerlessness I was deeply dependent on Him.
Prayer before the border
The key to this success is the sovereignty of God alone, that He takes full responsibility when He has called us. Fifty to twenty kilometers before every border crossing, we stopped the car and prayed: "God you have called us to this, so it is your responsibility. Blind the eyes of the customs officers and lead us through. And should we be caught, our lives are still in your hands, whether we go to jail and ultimately end must die, then You are with us. "
Image: Bente often crossed the border between Romania and the former Yugoslavia on the bridge at the Iron Gate hydropower plant.
Before every border crossing, we stopped the car and prayed: "Blind the eyes of the customs officers and lead us through. And should we be caught, our lives are still in your hands, whether we go to jail and in the end end must die, then You are with us. "
It is not possible to smuggle Bibles 3 years in a row, unless it is God who is in control. That you have God's call to do it. I knew that this was God's work. I knew that God had called me to this, and that it was therefore also His responsibility.
Bente heard about the persecuted Christians
When I first heard the founder of the Danish European Mission, Hans Kristian Neerskov, talk about the Christians behind the Iron Curtain, I felt a strong need for them and began to pray a lot for those who suffered.
Incidentally, I was very fascinated by the Bible couriers who secretly brought Bibles into Eastern Europe. Imagine having such great faith! It could hardly be for ordinary people. God built my calling through His Word to me over a whole year. It took me a long time to say yes, because I couldn't do this, I didn't have the faith for it and I didn't think I was any good at it.
I must also add that during that year I did not speak to any human being about what was stirring in my heart. Everywhere I went, God spoke to me. Through sermons, phone calls, letters, etc. It was as if God pulled the Word out on a light board for me so that I could not get around it.
The word "We've been beaten, we've been in jail...." From 2. Corinthians 6:3-11, a church council chairman opened a meeting with... "They were not too fond of life to die", from Revelation 12:11 I received in a letter from some friends. The same day I also read this word in the Danish European Mission magazine.
"The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?" from Psalm 27:1 a friend shared with me in a phone conversation. Another friend gave me the floor: "My grace is enough for you, for my power is exercised in powerlessness" (my emphasis) from 2. Corinthians 12:9. The Word "The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to guide them on the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to shine before them" From 2. Exodus 13:21 I got from distant friends.
"Fear not (...) If you walk through water, I am with you (...) if you walk through fire, you will not be burned" from Isaiah 43:1-2 was given to me by an 80-year-old woman."Fear not those who kill the body..." from Luke 12:4 I got from personal Bible reading.The Word: "Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him, suffers no shortage" from Psalm 34:10 I received in a letter from friends abroad.
After a year of God speaking to me in this way, I thought - no, I'd better obey and get going! I got many more words than these. I learned to take God's Word literally and act on it as it says. And it sticks..., Bente concludes her story.
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Reflection
Bente and the other Bible smugglers didn't see the results of their work, but if we assume that each Bible may have been read by at least five people, perhaps 250,000 people may have gained access to God's Word. Many persecuted Christians have been comforted and strengthened, and other people to whom they have given the Bibles may have come to faith in Jesus and experienced the life God has called us to.
