Ralph Shallis grew up in Spain speaking both French and English. He was born again at the age of 18 and sought greater depth of spiritual life throughout his 20s, eventually growing to devote a tenth of each day to Bible reading and prayer. After serving several years as a soldier in the Second World War, Shallis and his wife moved to North Africa as missionaries. Being forced to leave North Africa due to civil war, Shallis and his family returned to France where he continued to teach and disciple believers in the faith until his death in 1995.