EAST FRANKLIN TWP, Armstrong County — The Rev. Michael Coats took over the Buffalo Charge in July.

The charge, consisting of three churches — Craigsville United Methodist Church, 131 Craigsville Road, East Frankling Township, Armstrong County; McKee Chapel, 412 Fenelton Road, Fenelton, and Fenelton United Methodist Church, 412 Clearfield Road, Fenelton — and its 100 congregants is the first lead position for the newly minted minister.

“Actually I have been a pastor for little over a year,” said Coats, 51. “I’ve worked a number of different jobs.”

“The last job, I worked as a field materials coordinator for Haliburton Energy. I was like a supply sergeant in the military, keeping the crews supplied with uniforms, pump parts and safety equipment in Homer City,” he said.

“Unfortunately, Haliburton picked up stakes and moved operations to Zanesville, Ohio,” Coats added.

But by then, Coats was studying to be a lay speaker for the Methodist Church.

“As I went along, I felt more and more led to the ministry,” he said.

He attended an intense week-and-a-half-long church licensing school and served as an associated pastor for the First United Church of Punxsutawney.

“I’m a licensed local minister. It differs from a United Methodist full elder who attended a seminary in that it’s specific to the church I’m assigned,” he said. “For example, I’m scheduled to perform a wedding next month. I couldn’t do that in Dayton (Armstrong County) where a full elder could.”

He’ll have his hands full with the three churches in his charge without going far afield.

He said the three churches, Craigsville established in 1884, McKee Chapel established in 1881 and Fenelton begun in 1909, were incorporated into the Buffalo Charge in 1979. The charge is named for Buffalo Creek.

Coats is responsible for three services in three churches every Sunday: 8:30 a.m. at Craigsville, 9:45 a.m. at McKee Chapel and 11 a.m. at Fenelton.

“It’s not too much driving. It keeps the services from running long, so I can make all the services on time,” he noted.

And in every service, Coats, who played in a country band back in his home state of New Jersey, is liable to break out his guitar and into song.

“I often use music. Music is part of all I do. I’ll pick up my guitar and share. Music is a wonderful way to speak to a heart and drive a message home,” he said.

“In just about every service I’ve done, music and my guitar have been part of it,” Coats said.

“I use a combination of gospel and secular songs. They provide a snapshot of the human condition,” he added.

Polly Skiles, chairman of the Pastor Parish Relations Committee of the Buffalo Charge, said the congregations are very happy with their new pastor.

“We’re a small, little church here,” said Skiles, a 25-year member.

She noted when the previous pastor, Sheila Ayers, was assigned to a new church, the Buffalo Charge made do with guest pastors and retired ministers filling in until Coats was appointed by the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church and Bishop Thomas Bickerton.

Coats and his wife of nearly 20 years, Debbie, came to the area after visiting a relative’s vacation home in Dayton.

“We fell in love with the area. God was leading us this way,” Coats said.

As he settles into his ministry, he said, “I would like to build the unity of the three churches. I’m also looking forward to working with the Worthington Ministerium Association, joining with other churches to reach into the community and spread the love of Christ to people who may not know of God’s great love.”

“I would love to see more young people involved in the church. I’ve nothing against older people; I’m getting older myself,” he said.

“It’s hard to get people to go to church anymore,” said Skiles.