Andes, who lives in Bettendorf, Iowa, has worked in donor relations, major gift fundraising, and estate planning for nonprofit organizations that include a community foundation, a food bank, and most recently, Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. Colbie currently volunteers for Young Life in Bettendorf where his wife, Emily, serves as a Young Life staff associate.
Before he worked in development, Colbie served on Young Life staff during college and for two years after college. He said his new role in the Catholic Relations office will allow him to bring together his development experience, his passion for Young Life, and his commitment to the Catholic Church. Colbie said he’s eager to share how Young Life is working with the Catholic Church and help donors explore how this ecumenical ministry might intersect with their interests in mentoring youth and sharing the gospel with youth.
“Young Life did for me exactly what it says it does: It introduced me to Jesus Christ, and then it pushed me to find a church community,” Colbie said, adding that he encountered Jesus at Castaway Club, a Young Life camp in Minnesota, and went on to join the Catholic Church during his senior year of high school.
Adding a development director and raising additional funds will help Catholic Relations assist local Young Life areas in launching new ministries in Catholic settings, and the additional funds will help gather and equip more Catholic volunteers and staff. Our office exists to train Young Life staff and volunteers to minister to Catholic teens in ways that respect and renew their Catholic faith, and we help build Young Life leadership teams that reflect the larger body of Christ.
You can find more information about Young Life Catholic Relations at the link below. If you’d like to financially support any of the initiatives of our office, please contact Courtney Boulware, courtney@catholicrelations.younglife.org.
