Freeing hostages is like putting up a stage set, which you do with the captors, agreeing on each piece as you slowly put it together; then you leave an exit through which both the captor and the captive can walk with sincerity and dignity.

Together with his wife and their four children Waite witnessed the Idi Amin coup in Uganda he and his wife narrowly escaping death on several occasions. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate by University of Chester in 2009 at Chester Cathedral. While he was held captive in the 1980s many Church Army officers wore a simple badge with the letter H on it to remind people that one of their members was still a hostage and was being supported in prayer daily by them and many others.

Waite was the Assistant for Anglican Communion Affairs for the then Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie in the 1980s. He is president of the charity Y Care International (the YMCA's international development and relief agency) and patron of AbleChildAfrica and Habitat for Humanity Great Britain. He was himself held captive between 1987 and 1991.