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Bishop Norman Odell Harper was born in Atlanta, Georgia but grew up in Lithonia, Georgia. He accepted the Lord as his personal savior at the early age of sixteen. Shortly after that life changing experience, he received the baptism of the Holy Ghost according to Acts 2:4. In 1961, he was led of the Lord to the Druid Hills Church of God in Christ, under the pastorate of Superintendent Odell Barnwell, Sr. In 1962 he was called by the Lord to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and was a licensed as a minister. While under the leadership of his “father” in the gospel, Pastor Barnwell, he was faithful and dedicated to his local church working diligently as Youth Pastor, Choir President, and Choir Director. He graduated from the Bruce Street High School in 1963. He then entered Durham College in North Carolina on an academic scholarship. He 0successfully completed his studies there, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting.

On October 28, 1967, he was united in holy matrimony to his “wife for life”, the lovely Arabella Stanford. Their union produced two children, Rodney Lenard Harper, and Bridgette Deneese Harper. They have been blessed with one grandchild, Deunta Jamal Harper.

He served the United States Army from 1967 to 1969, which included an overseas tour of duty for thirteen months in the Republic of Korea. While in the Armed Forces, he attended the US Army School of Administration. Having completed his assignment, he was honorably discharged.

On August 20, 1972, he was ordained an Elder in the Church of God in Christ by the late Bishop John Dell Husband. In March of 1974, he was appointed pastor of the Fairburn Church of God in Christ. In 1982, he felt the leading of the Lord to move the membership to Decatur, GA where the church was renamed the Kelly Lake Church of God in Christ.

As a pastor he served faithfully in several positions in the Central Georgia Jurisdiction. In 1982, he was appointed as the State YPWW (Young People Willing Workers) President. In 1986 he was appointed Executive Secretary of the Central Georgia Jurisdiction by the late Bishop J.D. Husband. In addition to his appointment as secretary of the Jurisdiction, he was also appointed as Superintendent of the Fellowship District in January 1992. Because of his continued loyalty to leadership, his humble spirit and willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty, on September 4, 1994, he was elevated to the position of Administrative Assistant by the late Bishop Chandler David Owens, Central Georgia Jurisdictional Prelate and Former Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ worldwide.

Bishop Harper has always been ministry focused, sensitive to the spirit of God and has always had a heart for the people of God. After the demise of Bishop Chandler David Owens on March 6, 2011, he was elevated to the office of Bishop in the Church of God in Christ in November 2011. With this elevation, he received an appointment as Jurisdictional Prelate of the South Central Georgia Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.

Bishop Harper has received several commendations. He most recently received the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Men’s Ministry of the Church of God in Christ. He received a proclamation from the Atlanta City Council in 2023 for his work in the Atlanta community. He also received commendation from the Governor of the State of Georgia for civic activities. As a bishop, he is the Regional Coordinator for the Southeast Region 1 churches for the Church of God in Christ. He holds an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from St. Thomas College, 2006. As a man who has accomplished much in this life, his greatest testimony is his love for God, his family, and the people of God!