Passing of our Beloved Brother, Martin Porter

I am writing to inform you of the ascension of Dr. Martin Porter, one of the great elders of our church in the United States and around the world. Dr. Porter passed away at his home in New Paltz, NY on Sunday, March 24, 2013 (2.13 by the Heavenly Calendar in the 1st year of Cheon Il Guk) at 2:00 PM. He is survived by his sons, Tim and Lucas, and by his daughter, Hanida. Martin’s wife, Marion is already waiting for him in the spirit world.

The memorial service for Dr. Porter is being planned for Saturday morning on March 30. Details will be announced later.

Born in Hampshire, England on March 27, 1942, Martin met the Unification Church in Rome in 1965. He was blessed by our True Parents in Europe in 1969. One of the earliest members of the church in Europe, Dr. Porter served for many years as the first President of the Unification Church in Italy. In 1973, he moved to America to do evangelical work and later to run a shipbuilding enterprise in Alabama. Subsequently, Dr. Porter served as the President of the Canadian Church and as an international Itinerary Worker. After almost fifty years of dedication, never wavering from the path of filial piety, Martin has now taken on one final and glorious mission, working together with our beloved True Father so recently ascended to Heaven.

On behalf of our church and our entire family in the United States, I extend my condolences and encouragement to the Porter family, and wish Martin and Marion all blessings in their eternal life together with our eternal Heavenly Parent.

Dr. Michael Balcomb President Family Federation for World Peace and Unification Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity