Pastor Norris and Family

Pastor Mike Norris was born in Evans, West Virginia. He grew up in a family of five and attended Ripley High School where he met his High School sweetheart, Mila Click (pronounced “My-la”).  They were married on June 3, 1978 and attended the Ripley Baptist Temple. They served there in many capacities including lay youth pastor.

In 1986, Dr. Norris felt God’s call on his life to preach the Gospel. He left his job at Appalachian Power Company in 1987 to attended Appalachian Bible College in Beckley, West Virginia. He went on to receive his Master of Arts from Louisiana Baptist University located in Shreveport, Louisiana and has received honorary doctorates from Midwestern Baptist College in Pontiac, Michigan, Northeast Baptist School of Theology in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and Shawnee Baptist College in Louisville, Kentucky.

In 1988, the Ripley Baptist Temple called him to be their Pastor. Shortly thereafter, God blessed Pastor Norris and Mila with a son, and Joel Hampton Norris was born on August 13, 1990. 

In 1998, God moved their family to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and Dr. Norris became the Pastor of the Franklin Road Baptist Church where he and his family have served faithfully. The Church is located on 39 acres of property just west of Murfreesboro and has a membership of over 2,000 with an average attendance of over 1,500 each Sunday. The church supports 167 missionaries, ministering in many foreign countries with an annual mission’s budget is in excess of $600,000. The Church also operates a Christian School with an annual enrollment of over 300 students, K-4 – 12th grade.  Pastor Norris serves as Vice President of the Tennessee Association of Christian Schools and is on the Executive Board of the Sword of the Lord, located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Pastor Norris is also the President of First Bible International.

In 2009, their son Joel graduated from Franklin Road Christian School and is currently attending college at West Coast Baptist College in Lancaster, California. 

Dr. and Mrs. Norris truly have a heart for Murfreesboro and they love the people of Franklin Road Baptist Church. They have a burden to reach Rutherford County and the world for Christ.