Meet Pastor Norris

Pastor Dorene Norris is an anointed preacher, teacher, conference speaker, revivalist, Christian counsellor, author, psalmist and recording artist who has been in ministry for over 40 years. As the Founder and CEO of DCN Rejoice Ministries, and having spent 47 years singing and 32 years preaching, she has devoted her unique gifts to promoting the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ so that others may know, love and give Him praise.

The dynamic ministry of Pastor Norris is the manifestation of a prophecy spoken over her life at infancy through the anointed, renowned evangelist Rev. A. A. Allen. While ministering before thousands of people, he lifted her in his arms and declared that God had anointed her at birth to preach the gospel and evangelise across this nation and around the world.

Pastor Norris was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the third child of four siblings to Bishop Samuel L. and First Lady Mary C. Carruth. As a very young child accepting Christ as her Saviour, He began manifesting Himself vividly in her life. Her music ministry began as a member of the Deliverance Evangelistic Church Sunbeam Choir, a 50-voiced children’s choir. Later her family relocated to Portsmouth, Virginia, as a result of her father’s call of God to pastor Holy Light Church of Deliverance.

While yet troubled by the thought of preaching, she continued ministering in song, compelling thousands into a lather of victorious praise — singing in arenas alongside some of the gospel music industry’s notables, including Pastor Shirley Caesar, Bishop Marvin Winans and Evangelist Beverly Crawford. Within her music, God awakened the masses until she could no longer deny the call to preach.

Diligently preaching the gospel, in 1995 Pastor Norris retired from Norfolk Naval Shipyard and began full-time ministry. Later that same year she was ordained, and in 2003 she was elevated to Pastorship. She has released two recorded albums, I Owe Him Everything and Worthy, featuring her own original music, and has ministered for Dr. Bobby Jones’ Gospel Showcase in Las Vegas. She is the author of a forthcoming book, Right Where You Are, which shares principles of faithfulness for the fulfilment of God’s divine purpose.

Pastor Norris was educated in Portsmouth Public Schools and is a graduate of the historic I. C. Norcom High School. She continued her studies in Business and Psychology at Old Dominion University, and received formal Christian education earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology and, later, in Counselling under the American Association of Christian Counselors.

A devoted wife, she married her best friend and armour bearer, Robert Norris, over 40 years ago. They have a musically talented son, Raynard, a gifted organist. The whole family diligently supports her ministry and is thankful to experience what God is doing in her life.