Eugene Peterson was an American pastor, theologian, and author, best known for his paraphrase of the Bible called The Message. Born on November 6, 1932, he served as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church for over 30 years and was a professor of spiritual theology at Regent College in Vancouver, Canada. His work emphasized the importance of spiritual formation and the everyday application of faith. Peterson wrote numerous books on spirituality, including A Long Obedience in the Same Direction and Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places. His writings often focused on the intersection of faith and daily life, encouraging readers to engage deeply with their spiritual journeys. He passed away on October 22, 2021.