Jim Pellegrini grew up in northern New Jersey. After graduating high school, he attended East Stroudsburg University, where he was converted to Christianity through the witness of a friend on the ESU football team. After earning a degree in history and political science in 2003, he attended the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After graduating from seminary in the Spring of 2007, he served as an intern at the Ridgefield Park Reformed Presbyterian Church in New Jersey for a one year internship. He is now serving as a Resident Intern at the Ridgefield Park RPC.