Andrés David

Andrés lives in Acacias, Colombia. He grew up in a Catholic family, and from an early age he got into the habit of going to church, but Andrés never felt any real interest. However, he did have a great love and passion for sports. During his teenage years he was in a high-performance club, striving to become a professional soccer player, but along came the pandemic, which affected his big dream, and everything changed for him. He sums it up by sharing, “I felt I had lost my purpose.”

Consequentially, it was during this difficult time when Andrés learned about Young Life thanks to his brother's invitation. "I was impressed with the way they presented Jesus. They made the new people feel welcome just the way they are." Thanks to his area director, “I discovered that God had an even greater purpose for me." Andrés not only experienced a growth in his faith, but also in his communication skills. “Before I was ashamed to speak in public, I was afraid of being rejected. Today I give talks at club, and I can speak in public without any problem. I owe it all to my process and growth in the ministry which has made me the person I am today."

Now, thanks to the Developing Global Leaders program, Andrés is starting his first year at University to earn a bachelor's degree in physical education, recreation and sports. His dream is to be able to serve and help young people who, like him, want to be professional athletes. At the same time, he wants to use his profession to interact and reach more people who need Jesus and continue to grow in his work in the ministry. Andres will be the first in his family to graduate from college.