P. Gerard Damsteegt was born in The Netherlands. He was an aeronautical engineer when he became a Christian, joined the Adventist Church, and God called him to prepare people to be ready for Christ's return. He served as pastor-evangelist, missionary, chaplain, health educator, editor, writer, and teacher. He authored Foundations of the Seventh-day Adventist Message and Mission, The Great Controversy Experience multimedia DVD-ROM, and was principle author of Seventh-day Adventist Believe…. He is a retired professor from the Church History department of the SDA Theological Seminary of Andrews University. He is married to Laurel Nelson Damsteegt and has a daughter, Joelle, and a son, Pieter.