Greg Waybright Appointed President Emeritus

DEERFIELD, IL, June 28, 2024 – Trinity International University (TIU) is proud to announce that Greg Waybright (MDiv ’80) has been appointed President Emeritus.

Waybright served as Trinity’s thirteenth president from 1995 to 2007. He went on to serve as senior pastor of Lake Avenue Church, a 4,000+ member congregational church in Pasadena, California, for twelve years before serving as Wheaton’s Interim Chaplain for two years from 2020–2022.

“I am excited for Greg to step into this new role and for him to be formally representing Trinity again. He has a heart for both the Free Church and Trinity, as well as for the church across America and around the world,” said TIU President Kevin Kompelien.

“I’m both grateful and thrilled to be more closely connected to Trinity in this way,” said Waybright, “My love for the school and its students has never waned. Trinity’s mission to educate those who will lead the church and deliver the gospel to our world is as important as it has ever been.”

In the Book Great Is Thy Faithfulness: The Trinity Story, TEDS Professor David Gustafson described Waybright’s presidency as being “deeply appreciated for his pastoral approach, heart for global mission, and spirited chapel sermons. Students and faculty valued his personable, relational approach while respecting his commitment to the Scriptures and scholarship.”

During his tenure as president of Trinity, Dr. Waybright lead the addition and accreditation of Trinity Law School to the university family (1997), the founding of our sister institution, Torch-Trinity Graduate University in South Korea (1998), the establishment of Mosaic Ministries, and the launch of the Carl F.H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding (2006).

“We are honored to have Dr. Waybright’s continued involvement with Trinity,” said TEDS Dean David Pao. “It is especially important for TEDS today as we are renewing our commitment to Kenneth Katzer’s original vision to combine academic excellence with a gospel-centered commitment to various forms of Christian ministry in the service of both the Church and the society at large, a vision that Dr. Waybright upheld throughout his presidency.”

“Dr. Waybright is recognized as a gifted preacher, a skilled musician, and a dynamic worship leader,” said Wheaton College President Philip Ryken. “He also has a well-earned reputation for fostering unity and laying a foundation for effective ministry everywhere he has served.”

Waybright graduated from Wheaton College with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Biblical Studies and then went on to earn his Master’s in Communications from the Wheaton College Graduate School. He holds a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament Theology from Marquette University. He has also studied and researched at Tyndale House and Cambridge University in England.

Waybright’s current ministries include speaking at conferences, college and seminary chapels, and local churches, consulting with Christian college and seminary boards and leadership teams, and instructing in student and pastoral leadership development. Waybright is currently on the board of Wheaton College as well as the board vice-chair of its Billy Graham Center. Waybright and his wife, Chris, live in Colorado Springs and have two children and four grandchildren.