Lennise Morris teaching others to follow God’s direction
By Marjorie Moore
For the St. Louis American
“God is in control of our destiny, and if we surrender or submit to God and obey His voice, there will be a blessing awaiting for us,” Lennise Morris said, and she would know. A recently ordained deacon in the African Methodist Church, Morris is a licentiate at St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church.
A native of New Orleans, Morris said she was directed by God one year ago to relocate to St. Louis. Had she not obeyed the call, Morris said she would have lost everything to Hurricane Katrina.
“My family is dispersed all over,” she said. “My parents are in Texas now. They basically came out of New Orleans with the clothes on their backs, which was really hard for me.”
Saturday, November 5, Morris was ordained as a deacon of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which now allows her to use the title of Reverend. During the ceremony, Bishop John R. Bryant of the Fifth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church ordained Morris. She will continue to serve under the direction of St. Paul AME pastor the Reverend Alvin Smith.
Morris has expanded her spiritual work to include writing books. She has traveled extensively promoting her first release, God Speaks Through Trials.
She has completed book signings in a variety of venues, including Scott Air Force base. Morris said military bases are sometimes overlooked by ministers, but that soldiers and their spouses are in need of prayer and guidance.
“The Bible supports the need for the military,” Morris said, “and these military wives are in need for prayer and for the protection of their spouses.”
Upon her arrival in St. Louis, Morris took a position with the St. Louis Public School System where she is still employed. For over 10 years, Morris worked in the corporate arena with Fortune 500 companies such as Columbia Pictures, Northrop Aerospace and Lanier Worldwide Inc. Although her vocational work is essential, Morris spends time working in the ministry to fulfill the call of God.
Currently, Morris ministers primarily at St. Paul AME and is the founder of
Youth Achieving Positives Purposes, which she said is a ministry that involves contemporary Christian music and gospel hip-hop.
“The lyrics mean the same,” she said, “but the beat may be different from the traditional blood songs.” Morris said she developed the ministry because the youth are the future and they will be responsible for carrying the gospel to the next generation.
To book Lennise Morris for a speaking engagement, book signing or to obtain a copy of her book, contact St. Paul AME Church at (314) 385-8900.
