​James Arthur Finney (affectionately known as “Preacher”) was born on January 1, 1932, under the leadership of Bishop Sibley of the Church of the Living God in Albany, GA. He was saved as a young boy and was always different. Bishop Finney served as a soldier in the U.S. Army in the 1950s. During this time he strayed away from God. It was in Korea that he was caught in an explosion that left him paralyzed and unable to do anything but lay flat on his back for one year. Bishop Finney’s mother, Rena Mae Finney, came to his bedside to give him a word from the Lord. She reminded him of his state as a backslider and compelled him to come back to God. He did and the Lord gave him a miracle; he was able to walk again. It was because of this miracle that his late brother John Solomon gave his life to Christ. Seven specialists said that he would never walk again, medically unexplainable, he still received partial disability from the government. After he renewed his walk with Christ he served as a Deacon under the leadership of Pastor Raymond Gordon, Rosenhayen, NJ. At this time he formed and sang with “The Gospel Lights” of Glassboro, NJ, and traveled with them until he had to answer his call to ministry. As his ministry grew and developed he was led by the Lord to connect himself with the ministry of Elder Koonce – Bridgeton, NJ. He and another evangelist, now Bishop Darrell Wiggs. They connected like brothers and teamed up to do the work of the Lord. In 1960 he was ordained Elder and in 1968 he was ordained as Bishop. Also in the 1960’s he was led by the Lord to venture to Detroit MI, where he was associated with the ministry of Pastor Churck. He then met another Man of God, Bishop Alfonail Hale, a dear friend and brother in Christ. In 1970, Bishop Finney started his own church, Faith Tabernacle Church of Deliverance in Philadelphia, PA. He continued to do the work of an Evangelist until he had to answer another call. In 1973/1974, gang violence was prevalent in the North Philadelphia area where he lived with his wife and children. Coming home from a Revival one evening he was appalled to come home and find young men in the streets met with weapons trying to kill each other. It was that he literally took the ministry to the street. He came off of the evangelistic field and began preaching in the street to those young men. Risking his own life, and praying until the gang wars stopped and people were no longer afraid to go out at night. City officials were glad of the results, and then Mayor, Honorable Frank Rizzo, gave him full support. He began to implement a plan he had to maintain peace. The city gave him all the funds he needed to support his program for jobs, sports, karate classes, counseling, etc. Anything to keep idle hands and minds busy. He called the program “Hand to Hand Workshop”. The city provided a building to house these offices which created jobs for neighborhood teens, adults, and some members of his church. Bishop Finney personally coached two baseball teams of former gang members through this same program, one the Giants and the other of course The Saints. He would leave the pulpit and head to the ballpark on Sunday afternoons where he coached these young men to victory and to citywide championships. They were undefeated under his leadership. He created quite a trophy collection that he maintained until his passing. In 1976 the U.S. Senate of Pennsylvania honored him for his work in a formal ceremony at the Lorraine Hotel in Philadelphia. By now the devil was really angry and tried to disrupt the ceremony with a bomb threat, but did not prevail. In 1978/79 he turned his attention back to the church and began reorganizing “Faith Tabernacle Church of Deliverance Incorporated”.In the late 70’s he was blessed to meet another Man of God Bishop James O’Hannon, who co-presides with him over Faith Tabernacle Church of Deliverance Incorporated. In 1984/85 Bishop Finney was led by the Lord to Pastor in Bridgeton, NJ where he pastored until God called him home. During his ministry he was blessed to meet many people, even affluent people such as Dr. Bernard from England who performed the first heart transplant. He traveled to the Islands of Jamaica. Many people have been healed and saved under the ministry of Bishop Finney. Some have gone on to their own work, pastoring, and having dynamic ministries of their own. The Lord has blessed this man’s ministry to no boundaries. As effective on the street corner as from the pulpit. As effective at City Hall, the Courtroom, the hospital room, and the prison. It is clear to see that he has made full proof of this vision that God has placed in him. Bishop Finney maintains that without the support of his wife, Arneta Finney, through the years, he would not have been able to travel and achieve the things that he has. He recalls the time when she kept boxes packed because she never knew when the Lord would send her husband elsewhere. Bishop & Mother Finney have eight children five girls and three boys, seventeen grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Some have entered into the ministry to carry on the legacy left by Bishop Finney. After the passing of Bishop Finney, the vision stands firm being carried on by those affected greatly by his friendship as well as his leadership. According to the program from the 19th annual Convocation, it was written that there was so much more that could have been said about this servant of God, that this reading only scratches the surface of his accomplishments. But of his character, I say that he is a man of integrity, compassion, and great faith. He is a true leader. In a nutshell, he is a man of God. All praises go to our heavenly Father. For only we have come THIS FAR BY FAITH and THE UNITY OF OUR BROTHERS WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE BUILDING OF THE KINGDOM.