At the age of thirteen, during a Baptist revival held at his school in Valley Head, Alabama, Finster was born again; three years later, he dedicated himself to a life of preaching. He pastored dozens of congregations before settling his family in Trion, Georgia, where he served Chelsea Baptist Church in nearby Menlo for fifteen years. Finster’s experience as a preacher—marrying, burying, and performing rituals such as the river baptism seen here—cultivated his flair for charismatic showmanship that would later characterize his career as an artist.