Robert Sungenis was raised in a Catholic family, but became a Protestant in 1975, aged 19. He held various posts (e.g., elder, preacher, adult Sunday school director) in several Protestant Churches including a two-year employment under Harold Camping of Family Radio. He obtained his B.A. in Religion from George Washington University in 1979, and an M.A. in theology from Westminster Theological Seminary. Sungenis reverted to Catholicism in 1992 at the age of 37.