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Thursday, March 28, 2024

‘Saved, blessed and delivered’

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Katrina rushed ashore (in New Orleans, La.) as a Category 5 Hurricane in August of 2005. In her aftermath she left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands displaced. One of the costliest natural disasters in American history, there were countless victims. And, then there were the survivors, one of whom was Rev. Ernest L. Porter, who relocated to Indianapolis.

Rev. Porter was born in rural Mississippi on Dec 6, 1936. His late parents (the Rev. Wiley Henry Porter Jr., and Evelyn Jones Porter) were born again Christians and sharecroppers. As a young child, Porter was introduced to Christ; and, was baptized by the Rev. Charlie Armstrong in 1951. His primary and secondary education was in Woodville, Miss. Later, he attended classes at Southern University and Tulane University, both in New Orleans; as well as the University of New Orleans. He graduated from Christian Bible College in Kenner, La., with a doctorate in theology.

Porter has 41 years of pastoral leadership and president of the True Friendship Missionary Baptist and Education Association of New Orleans for 31 years. Many souls have accepted Christ as their personal savior under his ministry. Babies have been christened, couples have been united in holy wedlock, and ministers have been ordained, and gone on to pastor. Additionally, Pastor Porter has been listed in the magazine Who’s Who in American Professionals.

Author of the soon to be released book Saved, Blessed and Delivered (published by Marguerite Press), Porter speaks of the day the levees didn’t hold:

In Porter’s own words:

When I arrived in Indianapolis, I thought it would be for only a short while; then I’d return to New Orleans. After all, it had been my home for 45 years! 

Church folks from all across the city starting coming to my aid. They brought clothes, food and money. They didn’t call saying, if you need anything just call. They knew I needed everything, so they responded with love; not as a gift of charity but a gift of love.

I thank God for a wonderful Christian named Angelique Walker Smith, president of the Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis. It was she who put me in touch with some members of the local clergy.

Soon after settling in Indianapolis, the Lord spoke to my spirit and told me to organize the Hurricane Katrina Hope and Memorial Out-Reach Ministry. My church, Greater Galilee Institutional Missionary Baptist Church, hosts this each year on Aug. 29. We give away school supplies and recently we gave to the earthquake victims of Haiti. Our efforts have captured the attention of local media, who provide coverage of the program. My dear friend, Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker Smith has helped with this every year.

I was also blessed by other ministers of the gospel, who embraced me with brotherly love and kept me active in my ministry work. Dr. Fitzhugh L. Lyons and Dr. Melvin B. Girton (of the Ministers Alliance of Indianapolis) were two such individuals. I am indebted to them for their support of me, both spiritually and financially.

God has been with me as he promised in Matthew 28:20. “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” He has blessed me with tangible evidence as a witness of my relationship with him and his call on my life. And, so in my walk with the Lord, I have learned to never doubt God. But, always to wait patiently for him to hear and answer my prayers.

Truly, the LORD may not come when you want him, but he is never late, he is always on time. This is because he operates on Kairos, his own special time, which ushers in the fullness of time!

And, so now I hope everyone understands why I feel that I’ve been saved, blessed and delivered.

Saved – I’ve been washed in the Blood of Jesus. My sins have been forgiven and I am born again; saved from the fire of hell.

Blessed – Not only am I blessed with life, physical health, and a wonderful family, I also have a loving, loyal and trusted spouse. And, as in Malachi 3:10, he has blessed me with material substances as well.

Delivered – Not only did my God deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage, but He delivered me safely out of New Orleans, La., in the midst of the chaos and devastation of Hurricane Katrina, on August 29, 2005.

Rev. Porter married Pearley Mae Hayes in 1965; they have four children.

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