Fincher retires from church he helped plant

Larry Fincher, who helped plant Pleasant Springs Baptist Church, Huntsville, in his own home in 1974 before it was even established as a church, retired Aug. 31 after serving as the Madison Baptist Association’s bivocational and full-time pastor for a total of 34 years.

Fincher attended Athens State College and served a term in the United States Air Force. After his military term ended he attended the University of Alabama in Huntsville before serving as the minister of music for Central Baptist Church, Huntsville, where his father was pastor.

Fincher also served as minister of music for Locust Grove Baptist Church, New Market, and Westlawn Baptist Church, Huntsville. He served as pastor of then First Baptist Church, Toney (now Harmony Baptist Church, Toney), before serving as the minister of music, then bivocational pastor and finally full-time pastor of Pleasant Springs Baptist.

“I believe ministry is a calling, not a vocation,” Fincher said of his time serving churches in the state. 

Fincher led Pleasant Springs through three building projects and helped them organize their funds to become debt free by the end of this year. 

He also served as moderator for Madison Association and currently serves on the association’s personnel committee.

Fincher and his wife, Sherry, have one son. They are moving to Louisville, Ga., and Fincher said he plans to continue ministry in Georgia and is “looking forward to reaching different cultures in that area.”