Our Church Mother

Born to Elder and Mrs. George Flagg, Mother Ida “Maddie” Flagg Porter is a powerful woman of God with a winning personality, often affectionately referred to as “Ms. Personality.” Simply put, to know her is to love her. A product of Memphis City Schools, Mother Porter is a graduate of Manassas High School in Memphis, Tennessee, and later continued her education at Shelby State Community College.

In 1954, Mother Porter married Bishop W. L. Porter, founder of Greater Community Temple Church Of God In Christ. Shortly thereafter, she accepted her call to the ministry as a licensed missionary and has served in that capacity faithfully for over 40 years within the Church Of God In Christ. She served as the First Lady of Greater Community Temple for 19 years. In 1982, she became the First Lady of the Tennessee Central Jurisdiction. Mother Porter has served as the District Missionary, and is currently the Jurisdictional Supervisor of Women of the Tennessee Central Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.

Bishop W. L. and Mother Porter founded Community Projects Daycare Center. Mother Porter’s love for children and the family inspired them to develop an affordable, well-rounded curriculum for the families of the community. The needs of the parents and children were enhanced because of the daycare center and summer camps.

Above all, Ida M. Porter is a woman whom God has equipped with knowledge, wisdom, understanding and compassion to minister to the needs of today’s society. She continues to impact, inspire, and motivate the lives of all who come in contact with her.