A Methodist Church on Dueber Avenue
Dueber Church has stood at 645 Dueber Avenue SW in Canton, Ohio for generations of Stark County families. The congregation's motto, "Where Hope is Found," captures the simple purpose its members repeat across their printed materials: guiding people of all backgrounds into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Worship, Bible study, and service are the three pillars of that mission, and they set the rhythm of every week at Dueber.
Although longtime residents still refer to the building as Dueber United Methodist Church, the name on the front of the bulletin is simply Dueber Church. It belongs to the United Methodist Church and to its East Ohio Conference, and its members travel from across Canton and the surrounding neighborhoods to gather there. Several of them grew up in the very sanctuary they now sit in, and that continuity is part of what makes the congregation what it is.
Two Sunday Services, One Sanctuary
On Sunday mornings the same sanctuary holds two very different expressions of worship, each running about an hour.
The 8:45 AM service is the traditional service. Prayer is the emphasis. Hymns and traditional music frame scriptural readings, and the order of worship deliberately identifies with historic Methodist practice. Older members, families with young children, and anyone who values a quieter, more reflective hour tend to fill the pews for this gathering.
At 11:11 AM, the contemporary service begins. A worship team leads praise and scriptural choruses rather than hymns, attire is informal, and the atmosphere is relaxed, though prayer and Scripture reading still anchor the order of worship. Both services are open to anyone who walks in.
Living Waters Children's Worship
Children in kindergarten through fifth grade are welcome to leave the contemporary service after it begins and gather for Living Waters Family Church. This gathering is informal, with praise and worship songs, age-appropriate discussion, and activities designed to keep young hearts engaged while their parents remain in the sanctuary.
What Dueber Believes
The congregation's statement of faith rests on three commitments.
The Trinity. Dueber confesses one God in three persons. God the Father has always existed; He created all things for His glory and is eternal, all-knowing, and unchanging. Jesus the Son is the perfect likeness of the Father, who became human, lived a sinless life, died, rose again, and will return to judge the living and the dead. The Holy Spirit teaches, convicts, counsels, and dwells in believers, giving spiritual gifts and new life.
The authority of Scripture. The Bible, written by human authors but inspired by God, is the church's standard for teaching, correction, and training in righteousness. Dueber acknowledges that the Old Testament books were settled before the birth of Jesus, while the New Testament writings circulated among churches for roughly three hundred years before being recognized as canonical by early councils of bishops.
Eternal life. Humans are spiritual beings made in God's image, but sin separates them from Him. Through faith in Jesus, believers receive eternal joy with God and will be raised in imperishable bodies, judged and rewarded according to how they lived. Those who refuse God's way will spend eternity separated from Him.
Children, Students, and Wednesday Nights
Dueber invests heavily in its next generation, both on Sunday mornings and in the middle of the week.
Babies and toddlers receive nursery care during both Sunday services. School-age children join Sunday School classes during the morning hours. At 11:11 AM, kindergartners through fifth graders head to Living Waters Family Church for their own time of praise and teaching.
Springtide Insights is the church's active youth program for middle and high school students. It meets every Wednesday at 4:00 PM for worship, dinner, and Bible study. Youth Director James W. Duck, whom the students call "Duck," leads a program built around ten core commitments: investing time, love, prayer, and mentoring; teaching doctrine and life skills; modeling and challenging the teens; mobilizing them to serve; and launching them into adulthood equipped for life, relationships, service, and leadership. The vision statement, in short, is that every young person who comes through Springtide Insights leaves knowing that God loves them, that He has a plan for them, and that His way really is the best way.
Also on most Wednesday evenings, Hope Family brings the whole church together around the table. From 6:00 to 7:30 PM, families share dinner in the dining hall, then split into family groups for all ages from 6:30 to 7:20, before returning for closing prayer and dismissal. Hope Family runs throughout the school year and is free to attend.
For younger children, Dueber partners with Child Evangelism Fellowship's Good News Club, an after-school program in which trained teachers present Bible lessons through songs, Scripture memory, missions stories, and review games.
Foundry Groups: A Culture of Discipleship
Dueber's small-group ministry, Foundry Groups, is built on an image from metalworking. As the group's own description puts it, the purpose is to reform the participants into the image of Christ, melted down by the fiery presence of the Holy Spirit and molded in Jesus' image through living life as Christ did. Members gather weekly to encourage one another, confess their shortcomings, and hold each other accountable to the Holy Spirit's leading. Groups meet in homes and at the church at times that fit each cluster of participants.
The Adults ministry at Dueber describes discipleship on three levels: worship, by attending one of the two Sunday services; building knowledge, through Sunday School classes and Bible studies for every age; and accountability, by joining a Foundry Group. That three-level rhythm is the backbone of adult life at Dueber.
Celebrate Recovery on Tuesdays
For anyone struggling with hurts, hang-ups, or habits of any kind, Dueber hosts Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered twelve-step program. The meetings take place in the dining hall every Tuesday at 10:00 AM and again at 6:30 PM. The program is open to all who need a safe place to find community and freedom.
Street Hope: Showing Up on Thursday Evenings
Every Thursday evening, members of Dueber park behind the Canton Inn to give away hot food, clothing, and the love of Jesus Christ. The Street Hope Ministry is one of the most visible expressions of the church's belief that serving "the least of these" is serving Christ himself. Volunteers are always welcome.
Helping Neighbors and Joining Hands with Partners
Through its Local Relief fund, Dueber quietly helps church members and neighbors in financial difficulty. Members are encouraged to add "a little extra" to their regular giving when times are good, so that help is there when it is needed. The fund is supported entirely by the congregation.
Dueber also points people to specialized help around the region. The Pregnancy & Parenting Center offers support for those navigating an unexpected pregnancy or parenthood. RAHAB assists victims of human trafficking and sex trafficking. Hammer & Nails recruits volunteers to repair and improve the homes of disadvantaged neighbors. Each partnership reflects a piece of Dueber's outreach philosophy, and the church is happy to connect anyone who needs these services to the right group.
Missions Farther Afield
In recent years, mission teams from Dueber have traveled to West Virginia, Sierra Leone, and New York City. The church also partners with a number of regional and international ministries, including RAHAB, One Mission Society, Samaritan's Purse (Operation Christmas Child), World Gospel Mission, Hammer & Nails, and the Tyrand Coop. Camp ministries include Hollow Rock Campmeeting and Camp Sychar, summer destinations the church encourages families to consider.
Men, Women, Seniors, and a Quilting Group
Adults at Dueber have no shortage of places to belong. Men gather for breakfast on the last Saturday of every month. Senior Adults and the Indoor Friends ministry offer Bible studies, lunches, visits, and support for those who can no longer attend every Sunday. The quilting group meets weekly to craft pieces that both decorate the church and raise money for missions. Young Adults meet for fun, discipleship, and mission work. A weekly Prayer Group gathers in the chapel on Tuesdays for at least an hour of extended conversation with God.
Worship and Music
Music at Dueber is shaped by Organist Michael Calabris, a Cleveland-trained composer and performer who holds graduate degrees from Cleveland State University in organ performance, harpsichord performance, and composition. His works have been premiered by the Cleveland Chamber Choir and recorded internationally. Sunday worship also draws on a volunteer praise team for the contemporary service.
Pastoral Leadership
Reverend Dr. Jonathan George has served as Senior Pastor since 2018. A third-generation pastor and lifelong resident of East Ohio, Pastor Jon holds a Master of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and recently completed a Doctor of Ministry at United Theological Seminary focused on the continuing work of the Holy Spirit. He and his wife Emily, a doctor of internal medicine, have two children, Michael and Adeline.
Char Messenger serves as Director of Discipleship. Raised in the Methodist tradition and on staff at Dueber since 2009, she has also served in three other local Methodist churches and in East Ohio Conference leadership. Her "One to One" vision shapes the discipleship ministry: each person cultivating a one-to-one walk with Jesus, then investing in others for the sake of sharing Christ.
James W. "Duck" Duck has been Youth Director since 2019. He grew up in Dueber's own sanctuary, and his parents have attended the church for more than fifty years. He is known for connecting generations and finding creative ways to keep teens engaged, including a back-to-back win at the Dueber Young Adult Chili Cook-Off.
Giving, Visiting, and Staying Connected
Dueber welcomes gifts in several forms. Offering envelopes are available in the pews and at the main office, with a secure mail slot for after-hours giving. Online giving is available through Tithe.ly. Members can also give appreciated stock, set up online bill-pay through their bank, or make charitable IRA donations. Memorial and honorarium gifts are acknowledged with notes to both the donor and the honoree's family.
Visitors can expect to find a friendly welcome at either Sunday service. The 8:45 AM service is traditional in style; the 11:11 AM service is contemporary and welcomes children into Living Waters Family Church during the sermon. Sermon recordings and a video archive are available online, as are livestreams through Facebook and YouTube. The congregation publishes a monthly newsletter, the Dueber Doings, and maintains a regularly updated calendar of weekly events. The church office can be reached at 330-456-8357 or office@dueber.org.