ZELIENOPLE — In his more than three decades in the ministry, Daniel Owen has been to many different churches and preached to many different congregations.

But, he feels he finally found the perfect fit.

Owen began his new ministry July 5 at Harmony-Zelienople United Methodist Church, 123 N. Pittsburgh St.

He replaces the Rev. John Jeffries, who after 11 years, was reassigned to the Oakmont United Methodist Church.

“I have never been so welcomed in a church family before as I was here,” Owen said last week.

Owen came to the Harmony-Zelienople church from Asbury United Methodist Church in Erie where he was the minister for the past eight years.

He was joined in the move by his wife, Jan, and daughter, Tori, a student at Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky.

Owen said he was very pleased when he found he’d been assigned to the local church.

“I was very excited,” he said. “This church has a great reputation in the conference.”

The Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church assigns pastors to churches throughout the region. Working closely with the churches, the conference seeks a pastor who will best fit with the church’s needs and history.

Bryant Robey, chairman of the church’s staff/parish relations committee, said he is very excited about the new pastor and believes it’s been a “wonderful start” for the new relationship between the church and pastor.

“To sum it up I’m very pleased with everything about the way the new pastor handles things and handles people,” he said.

Robey said Owen’s sermon and leadership style meshes well with the church’s vision.

“I’m excited to move forward with Dan at the helm,” he said.

George Villegas said the church body has welcomed the Owens family “with open arms.”

“It is always difficult to accept change, however Pastor Dan’s style is a fresh approach that blends well with the Bible-based, God-led church that is Harmony-Zelienople United Methodist Church,” he said.

Owen said he was looking forward to starting small group Bible studies at the church. When he arrived, he was pleased to find the church already had 15 small groups in place.

The pastor said he is now working to “feel my way,” in the church and with his new parishioners, as well as the community at large.

“I want to try to learn the goals and dreams of the congregation and reach out to the members and the community with love and service,” Owen said.

The Zelienople church has more than 700 members, and Owen conducts two services a week. He said the attendance at each is more than 200.

Overall, Owen said he is “really excited” to begin his new journey with the church and its members.

“It’s been a great month, it’s really working out, the fit is really nice,” he said.

Owen has spent much of his life moving to different cities in the East, first as a child when his family moved frequently for his father’s job and in his adult life as a minister. But, he has never been to this area before.

He said he and Jan are enjoying the locale.

“We love this area,” he said. “It’s a perfect blend of small town with friendly neighbors who enjoy the activities, the park, the sidewalks to stroll on with a large outlet mall or a large city only 30 minutes away.”