BUTLER TWP — There’s a new minister in the rectory of Oak Hills Christian Church, 100 Township Line Road, these days. But he’s not taking over for interim pastor Kimberly Merrill.

For one thing, he’s a Baptist, and Oak Hills is a Disciples of Christ congregation. And while he claims to be a football fan, he’s really a follower of a soccer club, Manchester United.

And he’s also a follower of the promptings of the Lord, he says.

Since March, Oak Hills has played host to Ashley Stansfield, a missionary from England, according to Ben McCurdy, a church elder.

“I know he feels very pointed to Butler through our Lord,” said McCurdy.

“We had a block party at the church here two years ago,” said McCurdy, “and he and another pastor traveling the United States by chance contacted our former minister and asked to bunk with us.”

McCurdy said this year Stansfield felt called to travel to Western Pennsylvania, arriving in March and renting the vacant parsonage until June.

“We’re doing remodeling at the parsonage, and, God love him, he’s been jumping in and helping us as we need help,” McCurdy said.

Stansfield, 52, said, “I was in a pastoral ministry for 14 years at different churches in Manchester and Rossendale, when I sensed a call to come to America.”

Stansfield said he arrived March 15 and “so much has happened in three weeks. I must have walked 40 miles.”

“England has excellent rail and bus service. I can’t get anywhere here without a car,” he said.

“Different members of the church are running him around to where he needs to go,” said McCurdy, saying the lack of public transportation in Western Pennsylvania has proved a shock to Stansfield.

After getting the words “New Castle” in his mind, Stansfield said he recently spent the day in the city, eventually finding the rescue mission there.

“I spoke in the chapel in the afternoon. It was an excellent day there,” Stansfield said.

“Another set of words I’ve been hearing are ‘college,’ ‘theater,’ and ‘movie,’” he said.

After finding out the nearby Butler County Community College had an Audubon Society movie scheduled, he visited the campus.

“I had a few words with the guys in theater. I told them, ‘I just feel God’s telling me to get in touch with you,’” Stansfield said.

Asked how he can tell the difference between his own thoughts and promptings from God, Stansfield said, “I pray and meditate in an effort to learn to distinguish between my own thoughts.”

“This is like an exploratory visit. I’ve got 80 days to explore the area and go to different churches in Butler,” Stansfield said.

So far, he likes what his exploring has shown him.

“I’m from the countryside, but this is spectacular countryside around here,” he said, adding he’s getting used to the differences in food between the United States and England

Stansfield said he hopes to speak to church, school, and clubs as he did at the New Castle Rescue Mission.

“I use comedy mixed with the dramatic mixed with the serious to engage people with Jesus,” he said. “I’m walking around talking to people, engaging with them.

“I’m offering to preach at other services, talk to youth groups,” he said. He can be contacted at ashleystansfield321@gmail.com.

Stansfield will conduct a special Mother’s Day worship service at 10:45 a.m. May 8 at Oak Hills Christian Church.

Stansfield said he plans to return to England on June 1 and “as far as I know, I’m not coming back to the U.S. I am completely open to God.”