Norm’s Resume
Education: East Tennessee School of Preaching and Missions (ETSOPM)
Profile: I have been preaching the gospel of Christ since 1996, almost from the time I was baptized in April of that year. Three months after being baptized into Christ I entered preaching school.
I met my wife, Mary, while preaching in India. I had relocated to the town of Jamshedpur to assist brother C. J. Guria in building up the congregation that was meeting in his house. Brother Guria’s oldest daughter, Mary, became my wife in January of 2000. We were married in New Delhi by brother Sunny David. We have one daughter, Donna.
From the time of my conversion, my goal has been to grow in the knowledge of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is my sincere desire to be of the greatest service possible in the kingdom. To seek and save the lost, as Christ gave example (Lk. 19:10), is my great joy and privilege.
Experience
India, Nepal Missions, Duluth church of Christ; Duluth, GA — 1998-2000
Working under the oversight of the Duluth elders, I assisted brother Jim Waldron in conducting the preacher training schools throughout India. My responsibilities included teaching classes, administering entrance exams and conducting graduation ceremonies in several of the schools in South India. Classes were held from 8 AM to 4 PM daily.
After classes, I also had the privilege of preaching in the villages throughout the surrounding areas of the schools. I had the joy of seeing very many added to the kingdom during these nightly visits to the villages to preach the gospel.
The opportunity to work with brother Waldron, who had been establishing preacher training schools for many years in India, Pakistan and Ukraine, was a tremendous learning experience. I worked closely with brother Waldron in establishing the Himalaya Bible Institute in Nepal. The experience of conducting student interviews, administering entrance exams, overseeing construction of student quarters and teacher housing, working on curriculum and training translators taught me a great deal about setting up and running a preacher training program. I taught the first batch of classes in English to train the translators for future teachers. Many of those in my first classes still serve on the faculty of the school. The Himalaya Bible Institute has had a tremendous impact on the state of the church in Nepal and I am greatly honored and privileged to continue working with those fine brethren.
Preacher/Evangelist, West Point church of Christ; West Point, VA — 2000-2001
I returned earlier than planned from Nepal and India due to my mother’s being diagnosed with a terminal illness. I was able to return with my newlywed wife in time for her to meet my mother before her death in July of 2000. While home visiting my mother before her death, it was mutually agreed that I would not be returning to India under the oversight of the Duluth eldership. I preached and taught classes for the Winder church of Christ, where my mother was attending at the time of her death, while seeking another opportunity to serve the kingdom of Christ.
I was invited to assist the West Point church of Christ in their plans to relocate to Quinton, VA in an effort of recover from the loss of many members. Due to the laying off of many by the local paper mill, most of the members of the congregation had relocated, leaving the congregation with only two families remaining. Unfortunately, the two men remaining were very week in their faith and were not willing to do the necessary work to grow the congregation. I was forced to leave over a disagreement with how the congregation should seek numerical growth. The men believed that we should present the congregation as a denomination and my preaching was very antidenominational. With their insistence that I not preach against denominationalism and my unwillingness to compromise the doctrine of Christ we were unable to continue working together. I relocated to Jasper, GA in March of 2001.
Preacher/Evangelist, Northside church of Christ; Jasper, GA — 2001-2007
As the minister for the Northside church of Christ in Jasper, GA I was responsible for teaching all adult classes and pulpit preaching. As part of the evangelistic outreach I wrote articles for the local newspaper and other mass mailings. I also started a live call-in radio program named Bible Q-n-A. I later started a weekly TV broadcast on the local cable network.
The congregation nearly tripled in number during my time as the minister. After six years of service to the Northside congregation, I resigned to pursue the opportunity to make Bible Q-n-A a live call-in TV program and to evangelize the Southern Virginia area.
Evangelist, Danville church of Christ; Danville, VA — 2007-2008
In March of 2007 my family relocated to Danville, VA to work with the Danville church of Christ. As part of my work with the congregation in Danville I started a live call-in TV program named Bible Q-n-A. Bible Q-n-A has a potential local viewing audience of more than 400,000. Many have been converted as a direct result of this evangelistic outreach effort.
Over the year and half at Danville, the Bible Q-n-A program grew exponentially. Starting out as a live radio program in Japser, GA, Bible Q-n-A became a live TV program, live netcast, monthly magazine and very popular web site. It is my goal to continue to grow the outreach potential of the Bible Q-n-A program.
Preacher, Bawcomville church of Christ; West Monroe, LA – 2008 – 2011
I would like to be able to include “Evangelist” in the description of my work at the Bawcomville church of Christ, however, I was not afforded the opportunities for evangelism by the leadership of that congregation that I had expected when relocating there. While I was assured that I would be able to continue the Bible Q-n-A work when I relocated to West Monroe, after I got there I was hindered and blocked from utilizing that proven resource for outreach in the community. I am thankful that the congregation did experience some growth while I was there but I believe it was nothing near what would have been possible with an evangelistic and zealous leadership in support of my efforts.
Preacher/Evangelist, Jerseyville church of Christ; Jerseyville, IL – 2011 – Present
Skills
I am proficient in both Apple and PC operating systems. I have a very strong knowledge of MS Office and Apple iWork. I have used both platforms to publish written, print and digital, media as well as multimedia productions. I have produced my own TV programs, radio program, netcasts, web sites, etc. I have a good working knowledge of web design and other web based services.
All of my preaching and teaching is done using visual aids via a multimedia projector. If the congregation considering me does not have a projector then I would strongly encourage the obtaining of such.
I designed this web site and produced all the included content (written, video, audio).
Doctrinal Statement
Following is a doctrinal statement as might address the questionnaires in use at faithful congregations. It is not the purpose of such a statement, and certainly not my purpose for posting this one, to set forth a “Statement Of Faith.” If I were to set forth a “Statement Of Faith” I would simply post the New Testament word for word and say this is my “Statement Of Faith” (Rom. 10:17). The purpose for this doctrinal statement, rather, is to simply express my position on specific points of doctrine. Typically, the specific points of doctrine under question are those that have been compromised by “gainsayers” (Tit. 1:9). By addressing these “current issues” in the brotherhood, faithful congregations can do their due diligence to “stop the mouths” of those who would contradict the pattern of sound words (Tit. 1:10). Another purpose, and the primary reason for my posting this doctrinal statement, is for those considering me for support to determine if we can have fellowship in this work (Phil. 1:17; 2 Cor. 8:4). If you do see that we have definite doctrinal differences I would certainly appreciate the opportunity to discuss such with you. It is my prayer that any such differences could be worked out to the glory of God and the upholding of his pure and undefiled Gospel. However, if such differences cannot be worked out then you probably would not want to support me and I most likely would not accept support if it were offered.
I greatly appreciate your taking the time to read this doctrinal statement and your consideration of me for support in my service to Christ. I have tried to keep the answers brief yet clear. Please feel free to contact me for further clarification of any stated position. If you do not believe an answer is biblical then I would greatly appreciate your sharing with me why you believe it is not biblical. Above all, I want to stand in the truth of God’s word!
The Fellowship Issue:
This may be redundant after the above statement, but I will state more clearly and succinctly what the Bible teaches about fellowship as it pertains to current issues affecting the church.
The Bible teaches very clearly that it is an expression of fellowship to offer and accept support from a congregation. In Philippians 1:17, Paul told the Philippian brethren that their support of his work was bearing fruit to their account. This is a very clear indication of their having fellowship with Paul in his work by means of their support. In 2 Corinthians 8:4, the support being sent to the Jerusalem congregation from the Macedonian brethren is explicitly stated to be an expression of fellowship – “…and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.”
If it is the case, and it clearly is, that the giving and receiving of support is an expression of fellowship then it would be wrong for me to accept support from a congregation I knew to be in error concerning the doctrine of Christ (1 Jn. 1:3; 2 Jn. 9-11; Eph. 5:11). It would, likewise, be wrong for me to continue taking support from a current supporter that I learned to be in error. It would be my biblical obligation to follow the pattern of Titus 3:10. After admonitions are made for correction and such admonitions are rejected I would be biblically bound to refuse continuing support from that congregation and to mark them as being unfaithful to Christ.
To the question of how the fellowship issue pertains to speaking at congregations and/or programs with known false teachers, there are several biblical admonitions that would effect such participation. Based on the admonitions to rebuke false doctrine (2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:14; Titus 1:13;2:15; Jude 3; et. al.) I could not, in good conscience, speak at a congregation and/or program where I knew false teachers were present and not rebuke their false teaching. In other words, if the program director was agreeable to allowing me to speak on the errors taking place then I would, but if I was expected to be “tied to my assigned topic” then I could not accept such an invitation, as I believe such an acceptance would be tantamount to an expression of fellowship with error.
There is also a need to address the increasingly common practice of participation with denominations among congregations of the Lord’s church. How such an abomination can take place among those who are called to defend the truth and uphold the undefiled Gospel (Gal. 1:6-9), is a complete mystery to this preacher! Denominationalism is a most pernicious and hateful device of the devil and we are to have no fellowship with such darkness (Eph. 5:11). I have, and continue to, adamantly appose denominationalism in all its forms. In my presentation of the church I never refer to Christ’s glorious bride as “non-denominational” but as it is in truth, anti-denominational (1 Cor. 1:13). “Through thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way,” (Ps. 119:104), and be not deceived brethren – I hate denominationalism to its core. I think that pretty well expresses how I feel about having fellowship with denominations.
The Work Of The Holy Spirit:
The Bible is clear on the fact that the Holy Spirit operates on the mind, of believer and unbeliever alike, solely by means of the word of God. Please see my articles on this issue at the following links: “The Holy Spirit Today” “Born of Water and the Spirit,” “Q: Are People Still Baptized In The Holy Spirit.”
The Bible is likewise clear on the manner of indwelling. The Holy Spirit dwells in the believer by means of the word of God (cf. Eph. 5:18,19 with Col. 3:16; et. al.).
Marriage, Divorce & Remarriage:
The biblical teaching on MDR is as clear as any doctrine of Christ for which we must give account in the day of judgment (2 Cor. 5:10). Dealing with this issue in my work as a preacher I have always practiced simplicity. The question is very simple, “why did you get divorced?” If the answer is anything other than, “for reasons of fornication,” then the conclusion must be that the person answering thusly is not free to be remarried (Matt. 19:9). I find no doctrine concerning “mental divorce” or “waiting out” the departed spouse. I find only that there are those willing to consider themselves as eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake (Matt. 19:12). If a person finds themselves in the unfortunate position of being abandoned by a spouse for reasons other than fornication then they must make the choice of whose body they love more, their own or Christ’s (1 Cor. 6:20). It is sad, to say the least, but the doctrine of Christ cannot be compromised because something is hard (Jn. 6:60).
Elder Reaffirmation:
The New Testament gives us all the information we need for how to conduct ourselves as members of the Lord’s church. That being the case, we should expect to find in Scripture where it says how to deal with ineffective and/or disqualified elders. Not surprisingly, such instructions are found in the same book that gives the qualification of elders (1 Tim. 5:19, 20).
I find nowhere in Scripture that would indicate that elders should be reevaluated by popular vote of the congregation. If there are two or three witnesses as to why a particular elder is ineffective or disqualified let them make their case and let the other elders and/or men, with the evangelist, determine if the charge is valid or not. The very next verse (1 Tim. 5:21) warns of partiality in applying the doctrine. To remove an innocent and godly elder from his office simply due to partiality, including the whims of jelly-backed brethren, would be a very frightening thing to face at the judgment seat!
I listened to a recording of the proposal of a popular teacher in the brotherhood to institute an elder reevaluation program and I kept thinking that surely someone in the meeting would point out that the Bible tells us how to deal with this issue – and popular vote isn’t it! Sadly, no one did. After hearing, and reading, his arguments for the validity of such a plan I still find no Scriptural authority for having the congregation to vote on whether or not an elder should be removed. Such a plan strips any authority away from those who must be able to rule in the congregations for the spiritual protection of their flocks (Heb. 13:17). With the elder reevaluation plan, if the elders take a stand on an issue that the majority of the congregation doesn’t like, well, they can just vote them out and vote others in that will do what they want. Surely, this is not what Christ intended for the front line defenders of the faith! (cf. Titus 1:9-11).
These are some of the “pressing issues” in the brother hood at present. I have written several articles, at the request of the Bawcomville elders, expounding on their doctrinal statement. That statement can be found here with my series of articles here. I have also answered the questionnaire used by the World Video Bible School, adopted by many congregations. It can be downloaded here. It may be that you would like for me to answer additional questions or expound further on the answers given above. Again, please feel free to contact me with your questions and/or requests for further clarifications.
Thank you for taking the time to read this statement and consider supporting the work I am doing in the kingdom.
Click here to download a printable resume pack, including Resume, Doctrinal Questionnaire and Letters of Reference.
Here are links to some photo galleries of my work in India and Nepal.
Himalaya Bible Institute 2008 (Apologetics Class, The Naragath Church of Christ).
Connect With Norm