Robert Berendt was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He grew up in a small coal-mining town on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies. Sports and the outdoors are a large part of his background.
Mr. Berendt was hired into the Canadian ministry in 1970. His wife Joan died in 1983 of breast cancer.
He has pastored a number of churches in eastern and western Canada and then, upon marrying Valerie in 1987, they were asked to serve in Germany for five years. He was the Feast coordinator at three different sites and has conducted many youth campouts, hiking trips and hockey tournaments. He is still active in sports.