Two Widows Carrying On The Call of God In Their Respective Nations
Ivana Norris (Brazil)
In Oklahoma, March 31 - April 12
Ivana Norris was born in the country of Brazil and is the fruit of a missionary work. She went to a Bible school where missionary Robert Norris was the Director. She was baptized in Jesus’ name, received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and became an Associate In Missions, teaching in the Bible school in 1979. Four years later, she married Pastor Norris’ son, Jeffrey Norris, and they were appointed Missionaries to Brazil for the United Pentecostal Church International in 1987.
Jeffrey and Ivana served as Directors and taught at the Bible school for eighteen years. They pastored a church in the community together for twenty years. Her husband passed away ten years ago, in 2015.
Ivana continued on the field and has served as District Secretary for ten years, Vice President for seven years, and the National Ladies’ Leader for six years. She travels throughout Brazil preaching at conferences and seminars.
When she returns to Brazil, she will continue to work in the slum area where she has a church, winning souls and teaching seminars in several states of Brazil.
Ivana speaks English and Portuguese.
Her missionary involvement includes:
• preaching
• teaching
• evangelism
• leadership seminars
• marriage seminars
• ladies seminars
• leading worship
• translation
• administration
Karen Poole (Lesotho)
In Oklahoma, August 25 - September 6
Early in her walk with God, Karen Poole was convinced that Bible school was the way to build a successful work overseas, teaching and training Apostolics for ministry. Her foray into global missions began in 1991 and spanned twelve years, which included teaching in the Bible schools of Nigeria and Cameroon alongside her husband, Robert. In 2018, they answered the call to go to Lesotho, serving as Associate Missionaries from 2019-2020, again with a focus on teaching and training.
They were appointed as Career Missionaries in 2020, but while on deputation, Brother Poole contracted COVID-19 and passed away in 2021.
Despite this great loss, Sister Poole was determined to fulfill the calling she and her husband had embraced. Within four months, she received her own missionary appointment, returning to Lesotho in 2022. In this single term she secured land for and facilitated the building of a Bible school.
She is actively involved in teaching and training future leaders: teaching in the Bible school, conducting seminars, and leading Bible studies, equipping believers with a deeper understanding of God’s Word. She has witnessed many receive the Holy Ghost and has baptized and assisted in the baptism of numerous others throughout the country
Her missionary involvement includes:
• teaching
• Bible school teaching
• music ministry
• leadership development
• teaching series on financial stewardship
• seminars
• Bible studies
2026 Missionaries in OK
A great lineup of UPCI Global Missionaries who are part of the PENTECOST EVERYDAY lineup will be in services in our churches in 2026. Contact the Oklahoma District Global Missions Director for information.
* ACN designates Access Challenged Nation.
For information about this missionary call the district director.
To help give a good schedule to all missionaries, it is requested that at least 2 services per year be scheduled per church.
To schedule missionaries for services in Oklahoma contact the District Global Missions Director through email OKDGMD@AOL.COM