EDUCATION:

Howard Norton graduated from Abilene Christian University with the Bachelor of Arts degree, from the University of Houston with the Master of Arts degree, and from the University of Sao Paulo with the Doctor of Human Sciences degree.

EXPERIENCE:

From 1961 to 1977, Howard Norton and his family worked as missionaries in Sao Paulo, Brazil. While there he did local church work, taught in the Sao Paulo Preacher Training School, and served for several years as the director of that school.

Mission work continues to be a major emphasis of Norton’s life. He and Jane usually work several weeks each year in Brazil. He serves on the board of the Continent of Great Cities, Missions Resource Network and World Bible School. He is one of the directors of both the Pan American and Pan European Lectureships. He has served as a local minister of the word for churches in Brazil, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. His first full-time preaching assignment was in Lingleville, TX. He was associated with Memorial Road Church of Christ in Oklahoma City and with Oklahoma Christian University for about 25 years.

He is a member of the board of trustees of Southern Christian Home in Morrilton, Arkansas, and is on the corporate board of The Restoration Quarterly. Norton was editor of The Christian Chronicle, an international newspaper of churches of Christ, from 1981 to 1996.

Norton was an associate editor of the Bible correspondence course entitled What the Bible Says, which circulates today in several different languages. He co-edited the book entitled Steps into the Mission Field: Group Evangelism, From First Concepts to First Converts, which was written by the Sao Paulo Mission Team. Norton wrote The Eldership and the Missionary: A Manual for Independent Missions and has contributed chapters to numerous books including The Discipling Dilemma and Directions for the Road Ahead.

PERSONAL:

Howard W. Norton grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, and has been preaching since he was a teenager. He is married to the former Jane Pearce. They have three children and eight grandchildren.

The Nortons have lived in Searcy, Arkansas, since 1997. Howard is a professor of Bible and Assistant Dean for Church Relations at Harding University. He is editor of The Arkansas Christian Herald and directs Harding’s annual Bible lectureship. He is an elder of the College Church of Christ in Searcy.