Pastor Al and Tina Hoskinson

Pastor Al Hoskinson, born in Hazel Park and raised in Ferndale, Michigan, met and married his wife of over 40 years now while in Korea serving his country in the US Army. They became engaged just before he left for Thailand and then married at the US Embassy on May 20, 1970. Tina was born and raised in Pyung-Tag, Korea and came to Michigan with Pastor when he was later discharged from his military duty.

The couple lived with his parents for a time and then moved into their own home in Sterling Heights and then to Romeo, MI in 1971. They moved back to Sterling Heights in 1980 and finally to Troy, Michigan in 1985 into a home in which Tina thought she would retire. During this time, they owned a restaurant and then an upholstery business. Tina found work with Ford Motor Co. as a seamstress sewing seat coverings and, by 1994, Pastor settled there doing the same type of work.

In December 1980, two events occurred that affected Pastor Al's life and became a turning point for him. The first was the death of John Lennon and the second was the death of a man known as "Uncle Nick". Pastor realized that one day it would be him in a coffin and where would his soul be for all eternity? He told God that if He wanted him, He would have to make Himself known or He couldn't sentence him to hell. Pastor figured that the best place to hear from God was in church so he began attending regularly and was actively involved. He continued to look for answers and, months later, in the summer of 1981 as he was immobilized in a traffic jam he heard Oliver B. Green on the radio speaking about salvation. When Mr. Green said that it didn't matter if you were Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran……that caught Pastor's attention because he was a Lutheran. The more he learned about God and read the Bible, the more differences became apparent between the church and what he was reading. So Pastor left the Lutheran church and began attending a Baptist church in Warren. Soon he was evangelizing with the men on Saturday mornings, teaching a Sunday School class of 7th - 8th grade boys, visiting those boys on Thursdays, singing with the choir and occupying a position as Trustee.

During this time, Tina was watching and listening and wondering what was happening to her husband. He was going to church all the time and taking their two children, Lynda and Matt. Her father-in-law advised Tina to go with them and she did, occasionally. She heard the plan of salvation and came under conviction, but it wasn't until the end of 1983 before she gave her life to Jesus Christ as a result of watching a Billy Graham message on TV. Seeing how the Holy Spirit was moving on so many people convicted her of her need for a Saviour.

It was at a revival conference by John Hamlin in March of 1995 that Pastor surrendered to God's call. He took his wife's hand and they went forward to commit themselves and whatever that meant for their lives. The next step was education. Pastor Al had been attending Midwestern Baptist Bible College for learning in general, but suddenly there was a new purpose and a goal to reach. He graduated Midwestern in May of 1999, was ordained by Emmanuel Baptist Church in Pontiac and left his home church to begin Romans Road Baptist Church in Chesterfield, Michigan. They had their first meeting on February 4, 2001 with five attendees.

On March 27, 1995, the day after the John Hamlin meeting, Pastor was standing at his work station talking with God about His calling. As Pastor asked the questions, God gave the answers and it was all falling into place. Pastor had to take his shoes off for he knew he was standing on "holy ground" by the conversation taking place right there at work. When he asked what God would have him name the church, Romans Road Baptist came to mind for that would be the purpose of the church - to win the lost for Jesus with the "Romans Road" salvation message. He had asked God for a "mountain top" and he had been shown one.

Pastor Al and Tina love the Lord and are faithfully climbing that mountain with enthusiasm as God moves and directs their path. Their desire is to be a blessing for the Lord in the Chesterfield area and we know God is with them.