rolf mcpherson was born on march 23, 1913 in providence, rhode island. he was the son of harold stewart mcpherson and aimee semple mcpherson, founder of the international church of the foursquare gospel. he was the half-brother of roberta star semple, the daughter of aimee and her first husband robert james semple, who had died of malaria one month before the birth of his daughter. rolf and his sister roberta were part of many services and revivals when young. mcpherson attended college, first studying engineering. he switched to religion in 1930 after his mother became ill, and also completed divinity school, earning a doctorate.