b'OBITUARYBishop Phillip Henry Porter, Jr. ,April 4, 1937Oct 10, 2020generation Church of God in Christ (COGIC) minis- asking the Lord to send someone who would work ters. His maternal grandmother helped to begin andandlendahelpinghand.MinisterPorterworked work out several churches in Oklahoma.in that church and was ordained as an Elder. He Phillips mother was a praying woman who believedmoved his family to Northeast Denver and attended in winning souls for the Lord, especially her children.SuperintendentF.H.Kellyschurch.Whilethere, Severaltimes,whenhewouldcomehomelate,Elder Porter began to hear the call to pastor.Phillip could hear his mother praying, Save Phillip,DuringtheSpringof1964,AllNationsChurch Lord. The world has got him in a go along. Save himofGodinChrist(alsoknownasWestDenver Lord.Ifyouhavetokillhimafterwards,savemyCommunityChurchofGodinChrist)manifested. son.Elder Porter started going door-to-door in the West His father was a pastor and had churches in Perry,Denver area, meeting and ministering to people. He Pawhuska, and Crescent, OK. He was a faithful mantold them that he was going to have Sunday School of God and followed the leadership of the church.in the park on Saturday. Pastor Porter held his first service under the big oak tree next to the library, Phillipalwaysenjoyedgoingtochurch.Hewasacross the street from the Las Casitas city housing taught early in his life to do everything and anythingcommunity.Attendeesincludedhisfamily,which to prepare for worship. When he was a young man,had grown to six, his brothers Thomas and Russell, he and his siblings would go early, sweep the floors,andhisfirstmember,ateenagernamedAloma light the stove, and make sure everything was pre- Wallace. sentable. Then, when it was time to open the doorsTheministrybegantogrow,andwithcolder for service, Phillip would worship, praise God, andweather approaching, Pastor Porter knew he had to listen to the word of God very intently. He gave hisfind an indoor place to worship. He went to a gentle-life to Christ at an early age but walked away as amannamedRubenValdez,whowasthedirector teenager.of the housing projects in West Denver. Mr. Valdez One night, he attended a revival run by Evangelistagreed to Pastor Porter holding services in one of his Owen Boyd. He said the evangelist preached as ifbuildings as long as he kept the noise down. In a he was preaching directly to him. While he spoke,powerful worship service one night, that agreement Train up a child in the way he should go: and whenPhillipsaid,itfeltlikealassohadbeenthrownwasbreached,andlawenforcementintervened. he is old, he will not depart from it.around him, and it was as though the lasso was pull- Pastor Porter surrendered the keys, and the congre- Proverbs 22:6 ing him toward the altar. When he got to the altar,gation disbursed.he remembered, the evangelist touched his head, he hit the floor, and began speaking in tongues. He hadPastorPortersdeterminationandbeliefinwhat P hillipHenryPorter,Jr.wasborninPerry,been reclaimed and was determined, from that dayGod called him to do urged him along the journey OklahomaonApril4,1937toPhillipHenry,forward, to walk with the Lord all the days of his life. from that location to 1st and Federal, from there to Sr.andThelmaEdithNuckolsPorter.HewastheWest Holden Place, and then to the back of a build-second of ten children. While at home, he began toOne summer, Phillip went to work with his uncleing on 13th and Decatur. By faith, after two years, learn from his father how to recite poetry. This wasRussellonhisfarminNowata,OK.AfterPhillipPastor Porter asked for more space in that location, the origin of his oratory skills. When he was abouthad finished his work one Friday, Uncle Russell, aand it was granted to him to use the whole building. three years old, after his family had moved to Enid,Baptist pastor, came to him and told him to preparePastor and Sister Porter, along with the congrega-OK, his oldest sister Geraldine went to school for theto preach that coming Sunday. Phillip preached histion,purchasedbondsthatappreciatedover10 first time. Phillip cried because he wanted to go toinitial sermon that Sunday, and many were blessed.years. From that revenue, they were able to secure school also.Hepreachedinnumerablesermonsincountlessand own a building for worship at 668 Inca. As he stood in their yard crying and watching hisplaces since then, different denominations and inter- Theyearsat668Incaproducedabundantly, big sis walk away, he began to wave goodbye. Peoplenationally, as well as his own ministry and churches.including but not limited to the radio ministry Its passing by thought he was waving at them, so theyOne of his greatest blessings was to have the oppor- PrayerTimeandW.O.R.T.H.Y.Withinnineyears, began to wave. Phillip was amazed. So, he smiledtunity to preach at the United National Auxiliariesthe congregation outgrew that location and moved that big smile and began to wave back. So beganConvention (UNAC) in Dallas, Texas.to a 700-seat edifice at 1000 Kalamath. Within three one of his first life missions. Every day, after he hadManyhavebeenblessed,delivered,saved,years of the congregational march to that location, waved goodbye to his big sister, he would stand inreclaimed,strengthened,andhealedbecauseof his yard, smile, and wave to those passing by. Hehis obedience to Gods will for his life. Serving as truly believed that he was reaching out to others,Deacon,Minister,Elder,AssistantPastor,Pastor, giving them some hope, and maybe even causing aandSuperintendent,BishopPorterdreamedof change in their day. reachingallnationsforGod.Heoftensharedhis Phillip was educated in the Enid, Oklahoma schooldream of seeing his choir standing at four different system. He was the salutatorian for his graduatingentrances singing 12 Gates to the City while people class from Booker T. Washington K-12 school. Whileof every nation, tongue, and skin color came throughAs he stood in their yard in school, he became a golden glove boxer and wonthe front doors rejoicing and praising God. From that all but one of his many fights. He was part of thedream, the church named All Nations Church of Godcrying and watching his big debateteam,becamealeaderinstudentgovern- in Christ was born. ment, played football, and even stole a kiss from hisAs Minister Porter, Phillip knew God had a specialsis walk away, he began future wife without her permission when he was inpurpose for his life. He also knew God had shown eighth grade. He was recruited by Phillips Universityhim many dreams of himself ministering, reachingto wave goodbye. People to integrate the school. There, Phillip pledged a fra- and changing lives for the Kingdom of God. He would ternitycalledCamelot,startedanewspaperalongcontinue to obey God, praying and listening to hearpassing by thought he was with his best friends, and developed and participatedwhat he was to do next in his life.in one of the first sit-ins in Enid and in the South.THE CALLING waving at them, so they When he was 12 years old, Phillip had a dream. He saw himself drive up to a church, let a tall, beautifulBut Jesus said, No man, having put his hand tobegan to wave. Phillip was caramel colored lady and a little girl out of the car tothe plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of walk into the building while he parked the car. WhenGod. Luke 9:62 amazed. So, he smiled that he was 18, he was at a burger and malt shop where many young people hung out. He saw Sister EdgarAfter graduating from Phillips University, Ministerbig smile and began to wave Lee Moye. As she stood up, he realized she was the girlinhistwelve-year-olddream.Hesaidtoher,Porter received a job offer in Walsenburg, CO. Whenback. Every day, after he Edgar Lee, Im taking you home tonight. To whichhe arrived for the interview, and the interviewer saw shereplied,Yourenottakingmeanywhere.He must have changed his approach because 63 yearsthe color of his skin, and told Phillip that he had nohad waved goodbye to his job for him. Determined to make it, Phillip returned later, they remained happily married and producedto Enid, gathered his wife and two children, packed eight children, grandchildren, and great grandchil- them up in a car that could not shift to reverse, andbig sister, he would stand in dren. headed to Denver. Minister Porter got a job working HIS DREAM as a cook at a restaurant called The White Spot.his yard, smile, and wave to HealsoworkedfortheYouthOpportunityCenter Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizingand the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. those passing by.them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, andUponarrivalinDenver,Phillipandhisfamily of the Holy Ghost stayedwithSisterPortersfamilyinWestDenver.Matthew 28:19 About three miles down the road was a Church of GodinChrist.ThePortersjoinedthechurchthe Phillips parents were strong in their faith. Theyvery first time they went to visit. Pastor and Sister loved the Lord and their church. They were secondLeon Kelly, Sr. said they had been just praying and 6 NOVEMBER 2020 BOCNEWS.com'