In the fall of 1988, Andy Heen was starting his final year of nearly three decades as an educator, most spent as a counselor and coach. But at a time associated with winding down, he was just winding up.
The beneficiaries of his career in education were hundreds of coaches, athletes and others associated with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, particularly in the Carolinas.
“I was at lunch one day and another coach asked me if I’d be interested in starting an FCA Huddle,” said Heen of a conversation that took place in October 1988. “I had been an FCA volunteer [before] and was interested in doing that.” 
A member of the Navy during the Korean War, Heen became a Christian through time spent reading the Bible and hearing stories of battlefield deaths. His career in education gave him a large ministry field, which grew upon retiring at 57.
“I kept getting invited to FCA events, and the Lord kept expanding my territory like in the prayer of Jabez,” he said.
Heen’s “interest” in FCA soon became “passion.” If there was talk of starting a new Huddle at a school, Heen was there. If a coach needed prayer, Heen jumped on it. If anyone desired encouragement, Heen delivered perspective that only comes from a deep well dug from a long life.
“My heart was on fire for the Lord and it never went out,” he said.
As Heen kept sharing his passion for the Gospel with others, he met incredible coaches and formed strong connections with them, like his relationship with FCA Carolinas Region Vice President Kim Williams. They became acquainted in the late 1990s when Wiliams was the volleyball coach for the University of South Carolina.
“Andy would meet with me and talk to the team,” Williams remembered. “I professed to be a believer, but I wasn’t walking with the Lord.”
After she retired, Williams lost touch with Heen, but she and her husband saw him again many years later at an FCA board retreat. In the years that had passed, Williams got saved and joined FCA staff.
As they reconnected, Heen shared that he had never stopped praying for her. It touched her heart deeply. He soon joined her prayer team.
Over the years, Heen has gone above and beyond representing Christ, whether by maintaining a consistent prayer ministry for coaches and other leaders or delivering cold watermelons to football teams during preseason practice. He even currently serves on FCA as the Northern Midlands Ambassador in S.C.
The description Williams gives of her friend and colleague Heen is “humble servant,” and many others would agree.
“He does more ministry at age 92 than most of us did in our younger years,” Williams said. “That comes from spending a lot of time praying for people, texting encouragement and verses, and doing virtual meetings. He loves pouring into coaches.”
At 93, his body isn’t as vigorous as it once was. But that’s not where his strength comes from, anyway.
“Andy has exemplified what it is to be a prayer warrior,” said Williams. “That can be in praying for people over a week, a month, or for years. Many times, I’ve gotten messages that he spent a good part of his evening hours and in the middle of the night praying. He sacrifices his time as a prayer warrior. There are times he is up into the morning hours, praying for others the Lord has laid on his heart.
“I don’t know anyone with that kind of commitment to others. Andy is a great inspiration.”
To learn more about how to get involved like Andy, visit here.