Ivana Norris was born in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Coming from a Catholic background, she knew nothing of the Pentecostal experience. Rev. Robert Norris, a missionary to Brazil, preached the gospel to her family. She is a fruit of a missionary work. She studied at the Bible school in Rio, was baptized in Jesus name and received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. After three years, she moved to Rio de Janeiro and got her degree as a bi-lingual translator. At that time Rev. Robert Norris invited her to teach in the Bible School.
She married Jeffrey Norris, a missionary kid. They were appointed as missionaries to Brazil in 1987. After her husband’s death in 2015, she continued on the field and has held several positions such as: National Ladies’ Leader, Rio District Vice-President, Rio District Ladies Leader for twenty-eight years, Rio District Secretary and National Leader of Prayer for three years. She teaches, preaches and translates in seminars in different states of Brazil. She is also one of the teachers and is the director of the Bible school. This was the first Bible school founded in Brazil by Rev. Robert Norris in 1971. Many ministers from all over Brazil have graduated from this Bible school and Ivana Norris has kept the Bible school going.
She has been pastoring a church for fifteen years in Costa Barros, one of the most dangerous slums in Rio. God has protected her and given her favor and many souls have been saved and even drug dealers have repented of their sins and changed their lives. She has continued to do the task that the Lord has entrusted her and she wants to do more for His kingdom.