Paul Petersen is a native of Lexington, Massachusetts, growing up one mile from the Battle Green where the first shots of American Revolution were fired.  The church of his youth is the historic Park Street Church on the Boston Common. Paul received his education from Wheaton College, Illinois (B.S.), Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Massachusetts (M.Div) and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Pennsylvania (D.Min.)  He was ordained into the Presbyterian Church on September 30, 1984.  Paul and Jane were married August 5, 1978.  They have two daughters, Emily and Lauren. Emily, who is married to Michael Allen, lives in Wheaton, Illinois.  Emily is the Director of Abstinence Education for CareNet Pregnancy Center and Michael is working on a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology. Lauren is married to Ryan Issakainen and they also live in Wheaton, Illinois.  Lauren is an Elementary School Teacher and Ryan is pursuing a Masters In Exegesis degree.  Paul has served Presbyterian churches in Moline, Illinois, Dallas, Texas, and Aurora, Illinois, and moved to Spartanburg in 2001.