Ralph Rittenhouse was born in Miami, Florida, son of Pastor Ralph and Frances Rittenhouse. He graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in music. In 1968 he was ordained to preach by Olympia Baptist Church. In 1969 he joined Campus Crusade for Christ and served as City Director for High School Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1974 he and his wife and children moved to Southern California and served as Director of Campus Crusade’s Music Ministry. Then after receiving a Master’s in Biblical Studies in 1983 from Grace Graduate School of Theology, he pastored Camarillo Community Church in Southern California for the next 32 years. With Dr. Greg Ogden, he launched the Global Discipleship Initiative in 2015 and currently serves as its president.