The author served as minister of music and Christian education in Virginia Baptist churches for 37 years. A veteran of World War II, he is a graduate of Carson-Newman College and the School of Church Music, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Continuing education included courses sponsored by the Virginia Baptist Religious Education Association, the Virginia Baptist Church Music Department, LifeWay Christian Resources (formerly the Sunday School Board), SBC and the Presbyterian School of Christian Education. He and his wife, Georgia Anderson Renfro, have two daughters and four grandchildren. The Renfros now live in Knoxville, Tennessee.