Virginia Finley

Virginia Finley

Virginia Finley

By Leigh Pritchett, Correspondent, The Alabama Baptist

Beulah Baptist Church, Boaz
Marshall Baptist Association

Favorite Verse: Phil. 4:13

Favorite Hymn: “It Is Well with My Soul”

Hobbies: Reading and camping

Family Status: Married 62 years to husband, Henry; daughters, Vicki Welch, Sherree Foxx and Glenda Brasher; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren

Virginia Finley, of Boaz, has been the pianist at Beulah Baptist Church for 65 years. She also has been part-time secretary there for 53 years with no plans to retire. In addition she is a Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) member, Vacation Bible School worker and organist when needed. Finley, 80, also commits to being a frequent visitor in various nursing homes. She took piano and organ lessons at Snead State Community College in Boaz and has taught and encouraged young people to be involved in church music. In fact, her musical legacy is in its third generation in her own family.

Q: What influences in your life pointed you to Christ at the beginning of your faith journey?
A: My parents. They always took us to church even though when we were small we had to walk to church. I was saved when I was 12 years old. Vola Painter was my Sunday School teacher. She also was an influence on my wanting to study music because she was pianist at that time. I got to tell her that before she passed away.

Q: When and how were you led into your ministry work?
A: My dad played all sorts of musical instruments. And Vola (encouraged me). I’d say both of them helped lead me into my music ministry.

Q: What does your ministry work demand?
A: First and foremost, I always try to be prepared with music in the worship service. Being prepared is very important.

Q: What do you get from your ministry work?
A: I call it a joy being able to be part of the worship service. It has been a joy and a blessing to me all these years.

Q: How do family members support you?
A: They’ve always — every one of them — been supportive and encouraging in my music.

Q: How do you see yourself involved in this in the future?
A: As long as I can be useful, as long as I am able, I still want to be a servant. I feel like I’m doing what God wants me to do.

Q: What difference will this ministry work make for you in the future?
A: I hope that maybe I’ve been an encouragement to someone to be in church music. It has been a big part of my life all my life, one that has been a blessing to me. I hope I can continue as long as I’m able.

Q: What difference has Jesus Christ made in your life?
A: All the difference in the world. I can’t imagine a life without Him. Life would not be complete without Jesus.

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