Bob Yoder

Bob Yoder joined the Advancement Team in January 2018. Bob is responsible for overseeing fundraising activities, including supervision of Development Associates, that result in deepening relationships with current and new donors as well as increasing overall financial support. In addition to annual fund giving, Bob also gives attention to event planning, planned giving, endowment funds and scholarships. 

Bob grew up on a dairy farm near Meyersdale, Pennsylvania. He worked for Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania; served as a pastor at New Life Mennonite Church near Somerset, Pennsylvania; and served as Conference Minister of Youth and Young Adults for Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (2001–06) and Central District Conference (2001–04). He was hired part-time by Goshen College (Ind.) in 2003 as Assistant Professor of Youth Ministry before ministering as the Campus Pastor there (2006–17).

Bob has authored and edited numerous articles and books, including Helping Youth Grieve: The Good News of Biblical Lament (Resource Publications, 2015); A History of Mennonite Youth Ministry, 1885–2005 (Institute of Mennonite Studies, 2013); and Youth Ministry at a Crossroads: Tending to the Faith Formation of Mennonite Youth (Herald Press, 2011) (with Andy Brubacher Kaethler).

Bob’s wife, Pamela Yoder (MDiv 2001), currently serves as a pastor at College Mennonite Church in Goshen, where they reside with their two children. Bob enjoys reading, running, biking and attending his children’s various activities.

Degrees and certificates

• CFRM (Certificate in Fund Raising Management), Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) Lilly School of Philanthropy, The Fund Raising School, 2020
• DMin, Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Michigan, 2007
• MDiv, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana, 2001
• BS, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 1994