Al is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, Dallas Theological Seminary, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. In 1975, he became a youth pastor at Skokie Valley Baptist Church in Wilmette, Illinois. In 1978, he became Senior Pastor of Grace Church in Erie, PA, where he spent 32 years in that post followed by three years on staff there as an associate. In 2013, Al went into interim pastoral ministry serving Old North Church in Canfield, OH, First Baptist Church in New Castle, PA, and Christ Community Church in Fredonia, NY.

 

It is his pleasure to currently be serving Bethel Baptist Church, where he experiences his three greatest pastoral joys – preaching the Word, leading the church, and helping people grow in their faith in Christ. Marie and Al were married 52 years last August, and they reside in Erie, PA. They have four children and eight grandchildren. He and Marie host annual trips to the Holy Land. One of Al's hobbies is collecting and reading old books. The earliest book in his collection is a Bible printed in 1599. He also enjoys taking his 1969 Camaro to car shows.