Rev. Cubie Finley III

Rev. Cubie Finley III is the youngest and only son of the late Cubie Finley Jr. and Maxine Finley. He is happily married to his wife, Kim, and together they are the parents of four daughters. Their oldest child and only son passed away on January 13, 2024, a loss that forever changed their lives.

A native of El Dorado, Arkansas, Rev. Finley was raised in Richmond, California, where he attended public schools and spent his formative years in the Bay Area. As a teenager in the 1980s, he witnessed the crack epidemic firsthand and lost several close friends. Although exposed to the surrounding lifestyle, he attributes his decision to avoid destructive paths to being raised by a God-fearing mother and grounded in a loving Baptist church.

Rev. Finley entered college but lacked focus at the time. After receiving advice to slow down and prioritize his education, he instead chose to work full-time and raise his family, placing his education on hold. His mother often recalls him declaring that he would one day be a preacher—a calling he eventually answered. In 1996, he accepted his call to ministry and began his journey in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was ordained an Itinerant Elder in 2002 and, in 2005, founded Genesis A.M.E. Church in Fairfield, California. He currently serves as Pastor of Murph-Emmanuel A.M.E. Church in North Highlands, California.

After many years, Rev. Finley is now pursuing the education he once set aside. His journey has included seasons of discouragement, questions of faith, and personal challenges, including being teased for his complexion and navigating a speech impediment. These experiences shaped his resilience and love of learning, with reading becoming a refuge and lifelong source of growth. He has a deep passion for young people and, together with his wife, founded the 501(c)(3) organization 4UHEAVY in honor of their son. His ministry places a strong emphasis on youth engagement and mentorship, rooted in his belief that nurturing the next generation secures the future.

Rev. Finley describes himself as a sinner saved by grace and reflects on I Timothy 1:15 before every sermon, reminding himself and others that God’s grace extends to all.