05/12/2026
What a joy it was to honor TCJ's 2026 Alumnus of the Year: Mr. Dennis Riffle!
Mr. Riffle has a long history at Trinity Ministries. Beginning as a TCJ Student in 1987, he showed an aptitude and passion for Greek studies. After graduating from the college, he went on to teach in both the college and the academy for a time.
For many years, Dennis served Trinity Ministries through the role of Head of Personnel, and later as Facilities Director. While in those roles, he laid the foundation for what is now Trinity's HR Department and oversaw the main Trinity campus on Hammond Boulevard, the Trinity Rescue Mission, the Freedom Farm, the Women and Children’s Center, and the Trinity Camp and Retreat Center.
In addition to his leadership at Trinity, Dennis and his wife, Denise, have volunteered in student ministry since 1979 – this year makes 47 years working with youth! Since his retirement in 2021, they serve each summer at student camp, volunteering in the kitchen.
Throughout the years, Dennis has maintained a passion for Biblical Greek. In fact, he has translated a majority of the New Testament. He is currently mid-way through translating the book of Revelation. He also teaches Biblical Greek to inmates at the RMC prison in Lake Butler.
God has used Dennis in a variety of roles, each of which he has been careful to view as a means of ministry, year after year. We are honored to count him among the TCJ alumni family. We believe that his faithfulness and willingness to serve makes him a fitting role model for current and future TCJ alumni.
Having proved to be of high character and a model of our core values, and having exemplified faithful commitment to the Gospel, Trinity College of Jacksonville is proud to present the 2026 Alumnus of the Year Award to Mr. Dennis Riffle.
The award was presented publicly during the 2026 Commencement service held in the main auditorium of Trinity Baptist Church at 800 Hammond Blvd, Jacksonville, Florida on May 9, 2026.
Read Dennis' full story on our blog here: https://tcj.edu/blog/alumnus-of-the-year-2/
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