By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – Nobody would blame 83-year-old Pastor Morris St. Angelo for quietly fading into retirement after decades of serving the community through his church and as president of the Slidell Ministerial Alliance (SMA).
St. Angelo took one step in that direction two weeks ago when he preached his final Sunday sermon at New Beginnings Church, a congregation he started in 1999, as he officially resigned as head pastor, closing the small church on Robert Boulevard.
However, if you think the smiling, always-friendly St. Angelo is ready to disappear from the spotlight, you can think again.
St. Angelo was surprised on Tuesday morning at the monthly meeting of the SMA when Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer and Councilman Bill Borchert showed up and presented him with a Certificate of Appreciation from the city for his numerous contributions.
But St. Angelo said the decision to resign as pastor at New Beginnings was only because he felt the Lord nudge him to do so, leaving him available to devote more time to the growing SMA that has become such a positive force for good in the Slidell community.
“Yes, I’m getting older, and I won’t say that wasn’t a factor since I had a small health issue last year,” he said. “But it really was last year when I had been praying about whether it was time to step away from the church, and finally felt the Lord impress upon me that ‘it was time.’”
Thankfully, St. Angelo said he is in excellent health, despite the recent issue, and he is now looking forward to having more time for the work of the SMA, as well as a host of other issues the organization has taken on.
“Now I will have time to visit with other pastors, and attend their churches to encourage them,” he stated. “When Pat and I found Jesus in 1972 I could never have imagined where it would lead and looking back at the second half of my life, it has been beyond my wildest expectations for a boy who grew up in poverty in the Ninth Ward.”
St. Angelo was among the local leaders who started the Slidell Ministerial Alliance and changed it to something other than a pastors group. The organization is open to membership to anyone who has “any kind of Christian ministry,” which has led to growth in membership over 300.
The group joined with Coroner Dr. Charles Preston to start a Chaplain’s group that sends a spiritual advisor to every suicide attempt, every suicide and many deaths. They also have a weekly prayer team at the Justice Center for anyone coming to court who needs prayer before going inside.
The SMA was a leading force in the fight that halted a casino from coming to Slidell, and now is focusing on the fight to move pornographic books out of the public libraries and into a restricted area.
Cromer spoke briefly at the SMA meeting and said St. Angelo has done much for Slidell, not to mention their personal friendship that has been a great benefit for him.
“In life there are some people you meet who are very influential and help mold you to be the person you are,” Cromer said. “My father was that man early in my life, and from the time I met Morris, he helped me walk like a Christian in a better way than before.”
Cromer said that St. Angelo, “lifts people up wherever he meets them. Your service for Slidell has been so appreciated, and I love you brother.”
St. Angelo preached his final sermon on January 1, although many church members already knew of his decision.
“I used a Scripture when Jesus said, ‘it is better for you that I go away,’ and then ended with a General Douglas McArthur quote about ‘old soldiers never die, they just fade away.’ I have tried my best to do what God has put before me and now I think it is best for our small congregation to find a new, younger pastor and get connected to a different church with other people,” he explained.
“My calling from God was to reach people, not allow denominations or color to separate us, and bring people together. And I think I have done that,” he said.