Marion, Ind. (Dec. 9, 2025) — Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) will host Bobby Gruenewald, pastor and innovation leader at Life.Church and founder and CEO of YouVersion, as the commencement speaker for its December graduation ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 13. During the ceremonies, Gruenewald will also receive an honorary Doctor of Theology and Technology degree in recognition of his work at the intersection of faith and innovation.
“We are honored to welcome Bobby as our commencement speaker,” said Jon Kulaga, Ph.D., president of IWU. “His creativity, humility, and courage in using technology to share the Gospel with the world align beautifully with IWU’s mission to develop students in character, scholarship, and leadership. Bobby’s visionary work through YouVersion has impacted hundreds of millions, and his message will inspire our graduates to live out their faith with both purpose and innovation.”
Gruenewald leads innovation efforts at Life.Church, one of the largest multisite churches in the United States. He also founded YouVersion, a Bible app that has reached more than one billion installations worldwide and has become one of the most influential digital tools for Scripture engagement.
As one of the leading voices in the Church on innovation and the use of technology, Gruenewald has been featured in The New York Times, TechCrunch, CNN, and other major media outlets. He has been named one of Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business.”
Before joining the Life.Church team in 2001, Gruenewald started and sold two technology companies, served in advisory roles for several startups and venture capital funds, and founded the Christian rap group Christ B4 Everything. Through YouVersion and his leadership at Life.Church, he has helped transform how millions of people around the world engage with Scripture daily.
Gruenewald and his wife, Melissa, live in Oklahoma with their four children.
IWU invites graduates, students, faculty, families, and friends to attend this special occasion. Gruenewald will speak at both December commencement ceremonies, held on Saturday, December 14, 2025, at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Eastern time.
