Rev. Norman R. Paslay II

Norman Russell Paslay II was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 26, 1957, the only child of Norman and MaryAlice Paslay. Raised by godly Pentecostal pioneers, his early life was spent in tandem with their ministries. When Norman was eleven years old, his parents founded The Calvary Church in Cincinnati.

After surrendering to the call of God, Norman attended Apostolic Bible Institute (ABI) in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1977 he married Jeannie Simmons, whom he affectionately called “the brunette,” and they returned to Cincinnati that year to begin working with Norman’s parents at The Calvary Church. Norman was ordained by the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) in 1980.

Norman faithfully served The Calvary Church as youth pastor from 1977 to 1992, and as senior pastor from 1992 until his death on March 24, 2018. Humorous and transformational preaching and an unending love for people were hallmarks of his leadership. He spent countless hours connecting with the congregation and community through counseling, personal Bible studies, and by simply being present at their celebrations and in their difficulties. He impacted the Cincinnati region as a police chaplain, and he was the first UPCI minister to become an FBI chaplain.

Norman Paslay served the Ohio District as youth secretary for one year and as youth president for fourteen years. He preached over one hundred youth camps throughout the US. He discipled hundreds of young people for thousands of hours while serving as a Bible quiz coach from 1981 to 2018. During that time his teams won eleven national championships, and he was selected as coach of the year three times.

Reverend Norman Paslay II served the UPCI as director of Media Missions, helping to innovate ways of broadcasting the gospel and to establish My Hope Radio. Norman was a member of the Global Missions Board from 2006 to 2017; during that time he helped raised over $203,000 in monthly support for missionaries and participated in the creation and promotion of the I AM GLOBAL offering. He also served on the Ministers Appeal Council. Norman was on several church and educational boards, including ABI, Urshan Graduate School of Theology, and Purpose Institute.

Pastor Paslay facilitated Jonathan Ministries, designed to support young ministers with their practical financial needs. He wanted the next generation to know that he trusted them. “Trusted,” was the title of the message that Norman Paslay preached at the 2017 Ohio District Camp Meeting. It was the first and only message he would preach as the Ohio District UPCI Superintendent, but it would encapsulate the message of his life.

Norman and Jeannie had four beautiful daughters, and he applied the same principles of investment and intentionality seen elsewhere in his life and ministry with his family. “I want to be remembered for the way I did family,” he said. His daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren continue his legacy of investing in people and the kingdom of God. His son-in-law and daughter, Tom and Kristen Ellis, now serve as pastors of The Calvary Church.

He passed from this life on March 24, 2018.