ABWE - Association of Baptists for World Evangelism

Neil and Sandra Heim

Neil Samuel Heim

June 30, 1945 – November 10, 2011

Life-long ABWE missionary, Neil Heim suffered a major heart attack on Nov. 1, 2011, and went home to be with His Lord who he had so faithfully served these many years on Nov. 10 around 2 p.m. His family was there at the hospital when they received the news.

Neil and his wife, Sandra, were married Aug. 19, 1967, and appointed for missionary service with ABWE on Sept. 2, 1969. The Heims traveled to Lima, Peru on Sept. 2, 1971. Neil and Sandra have faithfully served in Lima their entire missionary career. Neil served as Legal Representative, Lima Seminary Director, Professor along with his wife Sandra, who was a church planter, wise counselor and beloved colleague. He was also Chairman of the Board of Horizon International Schools and also served as Chairman of the Board for La Molina Christian Schools. He was actively involved in evangelism and discipleship. He was very actively involved with the translation of the Good Soil materials into Spanish which have been greatly used of God for the salvation of many Spanish speaking people across the world. Neil had just recently been involved in a Good Soil training seminar in Santiago, Chile.

Neil was a faithful father to their 4 children:

• David Heim, Lima, Peru
• Jonathan Heim, Lima, Peru
• Karyn Velazco, Derry, NH
• Carla Heim Schoolar, Clementon, NJ

According to Bob Trout, ABWE Regional Administrator to Spanish South America:

"Neil served faithfully his entire missionary career until his passing this week. God gave Neil much fruit from his years of service; he will be remembered by many and loved by all. Neil was a very wise person. He was often quiet in a meeting but when he would say something, all would listen. I would often call Neil when I was looking for some wise counsel in a decision I was making as the Spanish South America Administrator. I could depend upon Neil to give wise and balanced counsel. As a matter of fact, I called Neil on Monday for some counsel, the day prior to his heart attack.

Neil taught the Word very clearly and concisely. He spent many hours daily in preparation for his seminary classes. His students loved him and would look forward to his classes. He was teaching four classes at the time of his death. Many national leaders have been trained through the years of Neil’s ministry at the seminary.

Neil loved the Lord, loved His Word and taught his students well. His greatest desire and vision was to construct a seminary building that would serve the years to come for the training of missionaries and pastors. His family is asking that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be given to the Lima Seminary Property fund. Through these gifts, Neil’s life will live on as students continue to prepare for the ministry. Neil was not thinking short term regarding training; he had a long term vision for training leadership that would go beyond his years here on earth.

Neil will be greatly missed, his absence from earth causes great sorrow for those of us who knew him, but his presence with the Lord brings real joy. He has the privilege of seeing face to face, the Savior that he faithfully served ever since his salvation experience. Although we have seen the fruit of his life and ministry, only heaven will tell the entire Heim story.

Please pray for the entire Heim family, their friends, the ABWE family of missionaries that knew and loved him, and the national partners who were impacted by the life and example that Neil provided them."

The Heim Family has requested that in lieu of flowers, gifts be given for the Lima Seminary Project. This project that was on Neil’s heart and a desire he had during these last years of his life.

Contribute toward the Heim memorial fund.

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