When Dorene Carruth-Norris was only one month old, it was prophesied that she would carry the gospel across the country. Her first vocal experience was at the age of 5, as a member of the Deliverance Evangelistic Church Sunbeam Choir, a children’s choir with a membership of 50. Shortly thereafter, her father obeyed God’s ordinance to pastor Holy Light Church of Deliverance in Portsmouth, Virginia, and a new choir was formed, the Junior Choir. This choir had approximately 25 members and, at only 9 years old, and before a congregation of 500 people, Evangelist Norris sang her first solo.

As the hand of God rested upon her, continual confirmation of the prophecy given to her at infancy unfolded. By age 16, the Holy Spirit began manifesting Himself so vividly that nothing could contain it. She graduated for High School and went on to attend Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. She began her Christian education and later received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology from Jamison Bible University in Pennsylvania. Currently, she is continuing her studies and intends to receive a degree in Christian Counseling.

Accompanied by Holy Light Church Crusade Choir, Evangelist Norris sang in arenas with some of the great gospel legends of our time: Pastor Shirley Caesar, Pastor Richard “Mr. Clean” White, Pastor Marvin Winans, Douglas Miller, Vickie Winans, Evangelist Beverly Crawford, and many, many more. She was a featured soloist on the live recording of the Holy Light Crusade Choir recording of 1985. In the year 2000, she completed her first recording entitled, “I Owe Him Everything” and is presently working on her next CD release.

Evangelist Norris, an accomplished and multi-talented woman of God, has been in ministry for a number of years. In July 1995, she retired from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard after 15 years of service to answer God’s call into full-time Evangelism. She has preached services and revivals and conducted workshop classes in many churches here and abroad. Through her many experiences, God inspired her to write a book called Right Where You Are! which shares principles of unwavering faith in the midst of God’s divine purpose. Evangelist Norris’s heart is tender toward hurting people and she does all she can to encourage those low in spirit, lift the down-trodden, loose those that are bound, and win souls for the Kingdom of God. For this we say, “To God be the Glory!”

Evangelist Norris married her best friend and armorbearer, Robert A. Norris, over twenty years ago and they have been blessed with one son, Raynard A. Norris. The whole family diligently supports her ministry and are thankful to experience what God is doing in her life.