William P. Young (Paul) was born a Canadian and along with three younger siblings was raised among a stone-age tribe by his missionary parents in the highlands of what was New Guinea (West Papua). The family returned to Canada where his father pastured a number of churches for various denominations. By the time he entered Canadian Bible College, Paul had attended a dozen schools. He completed his undergraduate degree in religion at Warner Pacific College in Portland, Oregon. While in Oregon, Paul attended seminary and met and married Kim. Together they celebrate "the wastefulness of grace" with their six children, two daughters-in-law, and now two grandchildren.