I Lost An Amazing Friend Today!

July 15, 2026

“I thank my God every time I remember you.”

– Philippians 1:3

This week, I lost an amazing friend, one of the finest people I have had the privilege of knowing on my journey. Without question, he ranks among the top ten people I have met along the way. His name was Dickie Porter.

I met Dickie when I was appointed pastor of the Rock Hall, Maryland, a town of 1500 people. I was to serve three small churches: Raum Chapel, Wesley Chapel, and Rock Hall UMC. Dickie was a faithful leader at Rock Hall UMC, serving the church with dedication and humility.

We first met about a month before I was scheduled to begin serving at the church. We met at a restaurant to discuss the ministries of Rock Hall UMC, its vision, and to get to know one another. I shared that God had already laid on my heart a vision of "Three Churches, One Mission" for the Rock Hall Charge.

I remember Dickie's face lighting up as he became excited about that vision for the community. I can still see his smile, hear his laugh, and picture his eyes sparkling. From that very first conversation, he made me feel completely at home. It felt as though I had known him for years.

In my first few months at Rock Hall, Dickie was incredibly encouraging and generous. We began meeting once a week, early in the morning, to study Scripture and pray together. He immediately embraced my family, especially my boys. He recruited my oldest son, Nate, to play in the praise band and began mentoring him.

Dickie took our family out to dinner, sat with me when I was discouraged, supported me through church meetings and seasons of disagreement, and one day even showed up at my door with a gift, a beautiful over/under shotgun, so we could hunt ducks and geese together. Dickie was one of the most generous, encouraging, and genuine people I have ever known.

He worked right alongside me to build collaboration between the three churches. When two of the three churches fought the change, wanting to remain autonomous, Dickie never wavered. Dickie, along with many others, helped me start countless collaborative ministries including youth ministry, food pantry, clothing closet, small group ministry, missions, joint worship services, a monthly feeding ministry, and evangelistic outreach.

Dickie was by my side every step of the way, during the good days and the not-so-good days, encouraging and supporting me.

We laughed together often. We laughed about the unforgettable day we went duck hunting, when the birds were flying in by the dozens. We laughed about our trip to Black Rock Retreat and how I somehow managed to eat three dozen chicken wings. We celebrated our children, the Ravens' Super Bowl victory, and the deep friendships we shared with so many others across the Charge.

Dickie had the opportunity to read my first book, Three Years: Making a Difference in the Time You Have Left. He recognized many of the stories because they flowed directly from my years at Rock Hall. He recognized them because he had lived them with me, always by my side, always having my back, and always just a phone call away.

After I moved from Rock Hall, we still talked several times each year, and I never missed calling him on his birthday. Dickie and Bettie called at Christmas and when my wife and I picked up the phone immediately began singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” to us. I loved Dickie. He was a friend, a confidant, and another father to me.

Most importantly, Dickie and I worshipped together. He was not only one of the most generous people I have ever known, but also one of the most faithful. Dickie loved Jesus, and he was eager to talk to anyone about Him.

He introduced me to the evangelist, John Hobbs, who had a profound impact on my life. He also introduced me to The Gideons International, where I heard miraculous stories of how God was working around the world through the pages of His Word.

He prayed with me and with my sons, and I know that he, along with his amazing wife, Bettie, faithfully prayed for my family and me throughout the years.

My faith grew, and my relationship with Jesus became even more personal because of Dickie's influence. My ministry also grew, as did my willingness to step out in faith and stand up for what I believed was right. Dickie walked beside me every step.

I remember feeling called to travel to Peru with my son, Nate, and another member of our congregation, my good friend Don. When the leader of one of the other churches sought me out and told me I was not going, Dickie was unwavering. He was so excited about the mission that he refused to let us back away from our commitment.

That mission trip to Peru changed us. The Rock Hall churches went on to sponsor two dozen children. Not only was the faith of those of us who traveled deepened, but all three congregations experienced God's hand at work through what grew out of that mission.

Another time, I felt God calling me to return to school to pursue my Doctorate in Leadership. Several people questioned the decision and spoke against it. Dickie, however, stepped in and encouraged me to take the leap. He provided financial support and stood firmly with me in the face of the naysayers.

I went on to receive my Doctorate from Bethel Seminary, where my dissertation focused on building collaborative ministries between churches, something Dickie and many others across the Charge had helped me accomplish.

I cannot thank God enough for allowing my life, and the lives of my wife and boys, to intersect with Dickie Porter's. Knowing him, serving alongside him, worshipping with him, praying with him, studying Scripture together, sharing my hurts and fears with him, and even sliding down the giant waterslide in his backyard with him were among the greatest blessings of my life.

One of the greatest gifts God gives us on this journey of life is the people He places in our path. At just the right moments, God brings people into our lives who encourage us, challenge us, strengthen our faith, and remind us that we were never meant to walk alone. Scripture tells us, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

God often works through the relationships He creates, using ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things in our lives and to remind us of His love and faithfulness. Some people become blessings we never expected and gifts we could never have earned.

But God’s work in our relationships is not only about the people He places in our lives; it is also about the people He calls us to become for others. We are not simply recipients of His grace. We are also vessels through which His grace is shared. God invites each of us to be an encouragement, a source of strength, and a reflection of His love to those around us. Jesus reminds us, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Dickie was a gift God placed in my life, and his example challenges me to become that kind of gift for someone else. My prayer is that I would live with the same generosity, faithfulness, and love that he modeled, not so that others would remember me, but so that through my life they would see more clearly the goodness and grace of God like so many saw when they were in Dickie’s presence.

I will “thank my God every time I remember” Dickie Porter (Philippians 1:3), and I will miss him more than words can express. I will never forget his laugh, nor will I ever forget the warmth and joy reflected in his smile.

I am forever grateful that God allowed our paths to cross. And I know where Dickie is today! His love for Jesus was not merely spoken. His love for Jesus was lived out through his actions. Because of that faith, I know he is now experiencing the presence of Jesus in a way that is beyond anything we can imagine, a joy and glory that “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has conceived” (1 Corinthians 2:9).