Pastor Clifton Norwood

Reverend Clifton Norwood has served as Senior Pastor and Visionary Leader of Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Akron, Ohio since 1991. He and his wife, Minister Theresa Y. Norwood, have 4 blessed children: Chris, Tiah, Amber, and Ryann. Pastor Norwood’s vision of Reaching People, Teaching People, and Making Disciples for Christ is enrooted in God’s vision for the Church as found in Matthew 28:19-20. His personal preaching philosophy is to “let the Bible say what it says.”

He attended elementary school in Prestwick and McIntosh, Alabama. At the age of 10, he moved to Medina, Ohio with his family. He graduated from Buckeye High School where he served as class president for 2 years.  He continued his education at Kent State University where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. He moved on to religious studies at Moody Bible Institute.

Prior to his call to the Pastorate, he served as an ordained Deacon; Assistant Pastor of the Second Baptist Church in Medina, Ohio; Christian Education Director; Dean of the Akron Sub-District of the N.O.B.D.A.; and President of the W.O.W.M. Alliance of Churches in Wooster, Orrville, Wadsworth, and Medina. After his calling to the preaching ministry, he served as Vic-Chancellor of the Tri-State Bible College North location in Akron, Ohio. Pastor Norwood has preached over 4,000 sermons in over 75 pulpits across several states and 2 countries. Pastor Norwood is a man who loves the Lord and ministering to God’s people.

First Lady Minister Theresa Norwood

Theresa Y. Norwood is a child of God. She is the daughter of Josephine and the late Rev. Willie Robertson, and the second eldest of 4 siblings. She and her husband of 40 years, Rev. Clifton Norwood, are the proud parents of 3 daughters and sons-in-law and 1 son and daughter-in-law. They also have precious grandchildren whom she absolutely loves and adores. She is grateful to God that all their children have personal relationships with Jesus Christ.

Theresa, along with her husband who is also her pastor, has served in ministry at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in several capacities for over 28 years. She is currently the Director of Christian Education and the Dean of the Academy of Christian Education. In 2005, she answered the call of God on her life to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and was licensed as a Minister in 2007.

Upon graduating from Walnut Hills College Preparatory High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, she attended Kent State University and earned a Bachelor's Degree. She then earned her Master’s Degree at The University of Akron. She also attended the Moody Bible Institute extension.

She has spoken at several women's conferences and is actively involved in mentoring women. She is a former board member of Love, INC of Medina County. Theresa is a former Early Childhood Education Teacher, Preschool Director, and Operations Manager for Medina and Wayne County Head Start. She recently retired from the University of Akron and Wayne College as a Senior Lecturer, after a tenure of 17 years.

During her years of teaching, she was awarded The Richard L. Hanford Chapter Certificate of Recognition for "Outstanding and Distinguished Faculty and Staff Member of the University of Akron" (2013). In 2015, she was awarded "The Employee Service Milestone Award" for inspiring her students.

Theresa is also the recipient of the following awards: Honoree of "Mothers on a Mission Award" (2016) and "Certificate of Recognition Honoring the Place and Legacy of the Help Meet" (2017) from the Stark Co. Association of Ministers' Wives and Widows of Ohio.

She loves reading, studying the Bible, spending time with family, vacationing, and shopping. She is blessed to sit under the anointed preaching and teaching of God's Word, both of which have been tremendous sources of her spiritual growth. The joy of the Lord is her strength! To God be the glory for the things He has done!