Bobby Porter is a man who wears many hats. He’s a law enforcement officer, a pastor, and the founder/leader of the Boys2 Men Mentoring Group.
Robert “Bobby” Porter, Jr. was born January 26, 1978, in Marion County to the late Robert L. Porter, Sr., and Betty Porter. He has one brother, Darrel Porter. He is married to his beautiful wife of 22 years, Mrs. Kimberly Porter. They have two beautiful daughters together, Zikera and Zymiya Porter, two handsome sons, Tyquan and Tyree Porter, and three grandchildren, Kaison, Kindler, and Kingston.
Bobby is the pastor of Community House of Prayer, also known as the CHOP church. At the age of 23, he began his career in law enforcement at the Dillon County Detention Center under the leadership of Captain Johnny Sapp and Sheriff Harold Grice. It was during his tenure there that he began to notice that the inmate population was beginning to change. The population was a great deal younger compared to when he first started. In 2010, under the leadership of Sheriff Major Hulon, Bobby was promoted to the position of School Resource Officer for the Latta School District. He had the opportunity to see first had that there was a problem in the community, and he wanted to do something about it.
Bobby began spending a great deal of time in the communities that had issues in them. He went to people’s houses and had conversations with people who live in the neighborhoods to see what he could do to make it better
It was with the blessing of Sheriff Douglas Pernell that he began the Boys2Men mentoring group, where he could put his dreams and plans into action. He and Sheriff Pernell agreed that something also needed to be in place for the young ladies, and the idea for Girls With Purpose also came about.
Bobby said he has always been a big fan of the late Sheriff Pernell. “I watched him during my whole career and how he helped so many people along the way. I knew right then that this was what I wanted to do…Help people better themselves, give them the opportunity that everyone deserves and showing them love at the same time regardless of race, sex, or wherever they live,” Bobby said.
“I have learned that if you really want to make in a difference in someone’s life, you must meet them where they are at in their lives and make yourself available for them because they are depending on you to pull them out of whatever situation he or she may be in, “ Bobby said. “Most importantly, you have got to give and show love,” he said,
Bobby encourages everyone to get involved if they want to see a change in the community. He said the only thing that it costs to volunteer is your time. “If we all do something little today, it will make a big difference tomorrow.”
BLACK HISTORY MONTH DIFFERENCE MAKER: Bobby Porter–Doing Something Little Today Will Make A Big Difference Tomorrow
