Hanegraaff was born in the Netherlands and raised in the United States in the Christian Reformed Church. He came to faith by examining the scientific evidence for creation, the resurrection of Christ, and the inspiration of Scripture, and was later discipled under the ministry of Dr. D. James Kennedy, holding significant positions in major church programs. He was eventually ordained by Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel in California. In 1989, he succeeded Walter Martin as president of the Christian Research Institute and assumed the role of anchorman on The Bible Answer Man radio program.