Meet the new Area Representative for UPPER LOWCOUNTRY FCA

Coach Randy Burns

I prayed to receive Christ as my Savior in 1974, just months before my college graduation

and marriage. I was brought up in a Christian home and enjoyed being active in many aspects of the
church. I knew how “to do” church and look like a Christian, but, had never given my heart to Christ
until I reached the age of 21.

The Lord blessed me with Karen, my wife of almost 35 years. She has stood beside me in my
career and has held me up in prayer. She has been an excellent wife and mother of our two
daughters. I have also, been blessed to have coached in South Carolina for 35 years. I have coached
at each level, from 1‐A up to 4‐A, and from the mountains to the sea. Of those years, 19 were as a
head football coach and 17 years as an athletic director. I have met many people in my profession
and formed many close friendships. The Lord has given me a passion for ministering to and
alongside coaches to encourage them and equip them to minister to their athletes.
I began my involvement with FCA in 1990 when I became the athletic director and head
football coach at Chapman High School in Inman, SC. I began in our team meeting room with myself
and 3 football players. When I left 22 years later, we were meeting with an average of 125 students,
6 to 8 coaches and teachers and 5 to 6 parent volunteers. We had many players pray to receive
Christ as the result of their involvement in FCA, but one sticks out. His name is Cory. He was one of
my football players. Though a starter, Cory mysteriously quit the team 2 games into our season.
When he was about to graduate months later he walked up to me a handed me a letter. He
apologized for quitting the team and especially not coming to talk to me about it. He was
experiencing some horrific family problems, but Cory was always a very private person and rarely
shared information. He thanked me for all I had done for him, and concluded by saying it was
because of our FCA program that he had received Christ as his Savior. Cory is a fine family man now
and very involved in his church.

Two years ago the Lord led my wife Karen and I to the Summerville area. I have been
coaching at the new Ashley Ridge High School but was assigned to teach at Oakbrook Middle. I
began an FCA huddle at OMS. In those 2 years I have given away about 6 dozen Bibles. We had an
8th grade boy the 1st year, who prayed to receive Christ. The summer before he was to attend and
play for Fort Dorchester he drowned while on a family vacation. FCA was there for him his 8th grade
year.

Karen started a Bench Backers group for coaches’ wives in the upstate a few years ago. She
has done the same here and continues this ministry today.