It was a surprise to me when I was a senior at Brown High School in Sturgis that I experienced the leading of the Lord to attend a Bible College in central Montana. I had not ever visited there and was unaware of any acquaintances that attended as well. However, a gentleman that I met from Billings, suggested that at least one year of Bible School would be a good move. He suggested Montana Institute of the Bible. It made sense to me because I could never picture myself in Omaha or Chicago or any big city for that matter. MIB was located in country that was more my style and it was sixteen miles from town to boot.
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It proved to be a wonderful and rewarding experience. I had some great professors and some roommates and friends that remain dear friends to this day. One of the instructors was to my intrigue and delight, a rancher as well. He told of his "Thousand Hills Ranch" at Decker, MT north of the Bighorns and Sheridan, WY. I had him for a class as we studied the book of Romans. Mr. Porter was an educated individual spending much of his life teaching and encouraging children and young adults. Oh yes... however in that class on the New Testament book of Romans... I recognized the man that was also a rancher... a livestock man.. a man that had spent countless hours on the range. And I loved it. His terminology was not the product of a Masters Degree, but rather a life lived. I was really impressed that he knew cattle and sheep... he knew what gumbo was and how difficult it could be. (Gumbo in this case is heavy clay soil like we have... ) Later, I had a class with him as he taught History of the Northwest. We learned of the first Sunday school in Jackson Hole led by mountain man, Jedidiah Smith. We learned of the early circuit riding preacher Marcus Whitman and his wife Narcissa and the impact they had upon the some of the northern tribes and the mountain men and fur trappers and traders. What was so cool about this class... I loved and still do enjoy the history of this region and the American West. We went on a field trap to some of the early day battle fields in Montana and Wyoming. Of course those trips were not just as tourists, however. He set me up to preach at a little church in the beautiful town of Story, WY. I also was able to speak at the Decker Bible Church because of Mr. Porter.
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You see... God was using Mr. Porter to continue to bring out in me that presence in front of people, which little did I know then how much of my life that would be. In my sophomore year at MIB, he asked me to be the Christian Service Director which allowed for me to conduct occasional chapel services in front of the entire student body as well as faculty and administration. Add to that emcee privileges at the Christmas banquet... Oh... the time frame on this... Less than a year ahead, I along with my family would be starting a ministry called Rainbow Bible Ranch after the death of my two brothers.
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God used a teacher that loved ranching to encourage me... a rancher to realize the ministry opportunity on the ranch.
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My dear friend, Mr. Porter went to be with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ this past week. What was he doing? He died in an accident at the age of 94 checking water for the cows on his beloved ranch. His daughter Amy who also worked with us a team leader one summer at RBR and son Bruce continue on as their dear mother passed a few years back.
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I am sure I could come up with more fond memories as well. I am honored as the Porter family has asked that memorial gifts go to Rainbow Bible Ranch along with another ministry that is near and dear to my heart, Steer, Inc.. Another ministry that is listed is a church at Belgrade under the leadership of some former MIB Students that would certainly convey a message of appreciation to Mr. Porter.