Eugene H. Peterson

Eugene H. Peterson was a highly respected American religion and spirituality author, known for his extensive writings on faith and spirituality. He was born in Stanwood, Washington, and grew up in Kalispell, Montana. Peterson pursued higher education at Seattle Pacific University, where he earned a degree in philosophy. He furthered his studies at New York Theological Seminary, obtaining a theology degree, and later acquired a master's degree in Semitic languages from Johns Hopkins University.

Peterson was not only an accomplished author but also a pastor, scholar, and poet. For many years, he served as the James M. Houston Professor of Spiritual Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. In addition to his academic pursuits, Peterson was also the founding pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland. His writing career spanned several decades, during which he authored over thirty books, including the Gold Medallion Book Award winner, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language, a contemporary translation of the Bible.

In his later years, Peterson retired from public life and settled in the Big Sky Country of rural Montana with his wife, Jan. He continued to write and publish books, including his last book, As Kingfishers Catch Fire, published in 2017. Peterson's contributions to the field of religious and spiritual literature were significant, and his works remain widely acclaimed for their insight and accessibility. He passed away in October 2018 due to complications related to congestive heart failure.