Dear Friends and Family...

Remember College?
As we sat studying at our desks, we could faintly hear the familiar rumble moving toward us. In a matter of moments, we saw the train lumbering down the tracks outside of our freshman dorm room – the tracks that carve our campus in half and isolate the dorms from the rest of the buildings when a long train intrudes. This could only mean one thing: if we wanted to eat dinner within the next half hour, we needed to get across the tracks before the train got to the crossing. No words were wasted – a fleeting look at one another confirmed it. To say we flew down the hall would hardly be speaking figuratively. Crashing through the dorm doors, we forewent the option to touch any of the six stairs leading down to the sidewalk. As we dashed, bystanders actually cheered on our cause (such endeavors were not an altogether uncommon sight on JMU’s campus – though our atypical enthusiasm was duly noted by our momentary fans). Throats were burning in the November air, but our lack of conditioning for this event would not trump our deeply embedded motivation: securing a turkey wrap and some Baked Lays from PC Dukes. The race was tight to the end as we gained on the locomotive and overtook her just in time to make a sharp cut to the right, leaping the tracks and barely clearing our opponent’s cattle-guard. It was a moment of glory, in all its inadvisability. We were victors. We were free. We were college students.

Isn’t that the definition of college? Half racing toward a goal, half merely basking in the thrill of being able to choose to do whatever we want – even if it’s ridiculous. But the reality is that, amid the smiles and music and memories made daily, the threat of the locomotive is far more real than the typical college student knows. Or, rather, than they show. On the outside many college students are having the time of their life. On the inside, they see the train, feel the train, smell the train bearing down. Cars of temptation, doubt, insecurity, loneliness, anxiety, and all sorts of other cargo loom steadily. The threat of not making it across the tracks is all too sobering. This is true. Underneath the laughter, many students are silently pleading for someone to tell them they can make it. For someone to show them that what they do matters. For someone to give them a reason to hope.

Hope’s name is Jesus.

I can’t believe it’s been over nine years since I entered college as a freshman (how long for you?!). But there are many students all over the country who are experiencing the joys and fears and freedoms and frustrations of college right now. Some of those students are at Lindenwood University, here in St. Louis where Anna and I currently live as I attend Covenant Theological Seminary. Remembering the value and the challenges of my own college years, I feel compelled to dispense hope to the young men and women of LU – and I have been doing so while in seminary through a ministry called RCF (Reformed Campus Fellowship; it is a cousin to RUF, the nationwide campus ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America).

Life in Apartment 8447
Meanwhile, over the past two and a half years Anna has worked as an administrative assistant in the Registrar’s office at Covenant. Through her consistent hard work she has enabled me to concentrate on my studies as a full time student, and then multiply my education by putting it into practice at LU. However, the life we have known as a couple is about to change forever!

Anna and I are anxiously awaiting the birth of our sweet baby girl in early February. It is our hope and plan at this point to enable Anna to follow her life long dream of being a full-time mom. She was born to be a mom and I long to see her finally be able to use the gifts the Lord has given her at home with our daughter. You can imagine our trepidation, however: we are gaining the expenses of a newborn, and losing our only substantial income!

“I think I know where you’re going with this…”
As a result of this new chapter in our lives, we are left to trust in God’s faithfulness to us and to believe that He is going to provide for our every need. When our daughter arrives we will officially have sixteen months left here in St. Louis – and this is where you come in. The beauty of RCF is that it allows seminary students who are undertaking full-time course loads to gain campus ministry experience. An additional benefit is that RCF interns may raise support to help out with personal finances. Being fully convinced that the Lord will provide all that we need, I would humbly like to ask you to partner with me as I labor on behalf of the Gospel at LU.

So how would this all work? There are two ways to give. One way is to simply give a single donation. The second is by giving on a monthly basis. Every financial gift should be sent to The Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church. All financial gifts will be documented for you so that your gift counts as a tax deduction. We aim to raise $1500/mo. (before taxes) to cover our monthly expenses. We have enclosed a response form and stamped envelope for you to annotate how you can support us. Regardless of your ability to support at this time, please send the response form back. If you are unable to financially support us right now, please pray about our family and the changes we have ahead of us. If you should choose to support us, we will send back 16 fully addressed envelopes (one for each month in seminary, or as many as you request). This should help simplify the support process.

It seems that the work of the Kingdom of God never ends, doesn’t it?! That must be why there are so many people out there asking for support on behalf of one ministry or another! We do not presume to be the only worthy cause for financial gifts. There are lots of great ministries worth your money. If you have never been on the asking end of a support letter, believe me when I say that it is not very easy to invite others to give away their money. But this is our privilege as Christians – to share and work together, each in his own way, for the advancement of that ever-coming Kingdom! I long for the day of that Kingdom to come, where we will stand in glory with Christ forever. I also long, as you do, for as many to join us there as possible… including many college students from Lindenwood University. Thank you for taking up this cause with us, in whatever way you are able, for the honor of our gracious God. We love each of you.

With deep gratitude,
Ben and Anna

Porter Family Budget

Here is how our financial situation breaks down over the next 16 months, on a per month basis:

Income
400 – support from our home church
1500 – RCF support after tax
240 – Yard Work (5 hr per week)
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$2140


Expenses
214 – Tithe
466 – Tuition (5600 = 14 credits x 400 per credit) starting in Aug for 1 yr
35 – Textbooks/Supplies (600 = 200 per semester for 3 semesters)
300?? – Med Insurance
50?? – Baby Supplies
117 – Auto Insurance (1400 per yr)
14 – Renters Insurance
500 – Rent
50 – Apt Gas
40 – Apt Electricity
80 – Cell
250 – Groceries
200 – Gas
200 – Expenses (vision, copays, AAA, gifts, auto repairs, property tax, haircuts, etc.)
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$2516

If you would be interested in supporting our family financially during this period, please contact Ben at cali328@hotmail.com. We would be deeply grateful for your generosity!

Also, please read the post containing our support letter, which explains our current situation and the ministerial work Ben is doing on the campus of Lindenwood University.

Thanks for stopping by!