Apostle Matthew Norwood overseas the following regions:
- Alabama
- Alabama-Central
- Alabama-Northern
- Georgia-Central
- Georgia-Northern
- Georgia-Southern
- Germany
- Ghana
- Ivory Coast
Apostle Matthew Norwood served as Pastor of Bible Way Ministries International in Atlanta, Georgia for forty-four years. In October 2006 in planned Ministry Transition, Dr. Monte Norwood, eldest son of Apostle Norwood, was elevated to Senior Pastor and Apostle Norwood transitioned to Bishop-of-the-House, permitting him to serve the wider realm of believers.
In the 88th International Holy Convocation convening in Columbia, South Carolina in July 2007, Apostle Norwood was elevated to the esteemed position of Presiding Apostle of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The organization was founded in 1919 by the late Bishop R.C. Lawson, a pioneer in Pentecost, and continues to grow today under the visionary leadership of Chief Apostle William L. Bonner. Apostle Norwood served the as Vice Presider for the past six years.
His duties as the Presider encompass the oversight of over five hundred churches in the United States and twenty countries abroad; administrative leader of Twelve Apostles, the ruling board of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and leader of international department heads that form the Presider’s Cabinet. His term of office is three years with eligibility to serve a second term. He is Apostle of Global Missions and oversees ministry in West Germany, England, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, South America, Africa and Guyana.
He leads the Seventh Region comprising states of Georgia and Alabama. Apostle Norwood is a graduate of Morehouse College with a B.A. degree, an M.A. degree from Atlanta University; Master of Theology and Th. D. from Emmanuel Bible College, Atlanta, Georgia. He has a passion for reaching pastors and aspiring ministers to assist them in developing their ministry to meet the demands of the 21st century. He is the author of The Call of God to the Christian Ministry, a book of practical principles for Christian workers.