A couple years after graduating in 1919, Choate wrote to The King's Business with these observations about leadership in the church from the church where he was working in Deer Lodge, Montana:
A man can expect his flock to go to the movies after prayer meeting for a while if he is fortunate enough to have a prayer meeting. On the other hand a man who makes good can expect at the end of the year to have most anything that he wants. They will stand for any kind of teaching or preaching if it is seasoned with love. They lead or follow well but you cannot drive them an inch. Mine is the poorest church edifice but the best attended Sunday School and Church in town and the best givers proportionately. I don't get the Society bunch. Thank God.The King's Business, Vol. 12.4, April 1921, pg 333
It would appear that things continued to go well for Choate. Just a month after this in the May Issue of The King's Business, it's reported that he had only been in Deer Lodge for 5 months, but that he has already witnessed a spiritual awakening there.The King's Business, Vol 12.5, May 1921, pg 445