Our Beliefs
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born, lived, died, and rose again for our salvation. He is Lord and Savior. We believe the Holy Spirit Convicts us of our sins and our need to confess and repent of our sins. When we respond to God’s grace in this way, we enter into a life giving, lifesaving relationship with God.
The Apostles’ Creed summarizes the faith common to Christians across the centuries and around the world – The Trinity, God as the Creator, Jesus as God’s unique and eternal Son by whose death and resurrection we are reconciled to God, and the Holy Spirit. We align ourselves with the traditional teachings of the Christian faith as expressed in the Apostles’ Creed.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
He ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father,
And will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy catholic church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
*universal
Our Staff
Jay Bowers
Pastor
Pastor Jay begins his eighth year at Canaan in July 2025. He has been in ministry over 20 years. Prior to being called into ministry he was an Urban Planner and Grants Administrator in Eastern NC focused on disaster recovery. He did his undergraduate work at UNC-Asheville, attended ECU for graduate studies in Public Administration and completed his M.Div from Princeton Theological Seminary. Jay served two churches in East Ayrshire, Scotland in the beautiful and welcoming communities of Cumnock and Lugar. He and his wife Erin were married at the Old Kirk in Cumnock in 2004. They have two daughters, Martha Glenn and Helen.
Jay enjoys reading, exercising, spending time with his girls, the Baltimore Orioles and the Ravens, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Eagles. He considers it a privilege and God’s grace to be Canaan’s pastor. His life verses are: John 15:5, Ecclesiastes 3:1-14, and Colossians 1:15-17, and Galatians 2:20
Betty Smith
Secretary
Betty Smith serves as the Church Secretary at Canaan UMC. A member for forty plus years, she supports the ministry and mission of the church through administrative organization and service.
With a deep love for the Canaan Church, she manages communications, schedules, records, bulletins, and a wide range of day-to-day operations that support both the pastoral staff and congregation.
Betty loves spending time with her 2 children, family vacations, and traveling with friends. She also enjoys the mountains, the beach, and theme parks. She considers it a blessing to serve the Lord by supporting the life and ministry of Canaan
Jennifer Thompson
Director of Children and Youth Ministries
Jennifer Thompson is the Director of our Children and Youth Ministries at Canaan UMC. She and her husband, Chris have three children whom they are very proud of.
Jennifer is passionate about working with children. She previously worked for 12 years at Midway Elementary School with special needs children.
In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys going to the beach, fishing, crafting and watching Canaan’s kids learn to love Jesus.
Jennifer has been at Cannan all her life. Everyone is like family. She is truly blessed and would love to have you come and be a part of our Canaan Church Family.
Monte Tuttle
Music Director & Organist
Monte Tuttle serves as the Music Director and Organist at Canaan, where the leads the music ministry with passion, creativity, and a heart for worship. With a deep love for both traditional hymns and contemporary music, Monte creates meaningful worship experiences that glorify God and uplift the congregation. In addition to directing the church choir, Monte provides special musical events including cantatas, kid’s music, and seasonal services.
Outside of church, Monte enjoys spending time at the beach with his friends, enjoys all things Dolly, the Theatre. He is grateful to share his love for music in service to God.
Canaan Church History
Following a revival meeting at Old Bethany School House, near Bethany Church, on November 10, 1909, a group of 21 people organized and decided to build Canaan Methodist Protestant Church. A one-room structure was completed, and the first sermon was preached on the fourth Sunday in March 1911. The church was dedicated in July 1911. In the fall of 1912, the church was painted white inside and out.
Four large Sunday School classrooms were built, and a concrete porch was added in 1929. In 1933, a fence was placed around the cemetery bought with funds raised by the Ladies’ Aid Society. Another room was added to the back of the church in 1936. A belfry was erected in the autumn of 1936, and a bell donated by Mrs. W. P. Pickett of High Point was installed. A hand-carved, solid walnut cross was placed on the steeple.
Our name was changed in 1939 to Canaan Methodist Church, which was later changed to Canaan United Methodist Church.
In 1941, a renovation program began. Walls were sheet-rocked, hardwood floors were laid, and new pews were installed. Plans for an Educational Building were made in 1944, and a building fund was set up in March 1945. Work began in 1946. The one-story brick veneer building with a full basement contained seven classrooms, a pastor’s study, a fully equipped kitchen, and an oil furnace large enough to heat the proposed new church. An electric organ was installed, and a piano was purchased for the downstairs assembly room. The educational building was dedicated in the early fall of 1949. A connecting causeway between the old church and the new Educational Building was installed, linking the two buildings temporarily.
In the spring of 1950, the old church was torn away, and construction on the new sanctuary began. During the construction of the new modern brick church, regular worship services were held in the assembly room of the educational building. The first service in the new sanctuary was held on May 6, 1951.
In the tower of the new sanctuary hangs the old bell and, on the pulpit, rests the same Holy Bible. At the top of the church, the cross, moved from the old steeple, glows from the light within. Chimes were installed in 1953. In 1957, a new part was added to the Educational Building, consisting of three floors and ten more classrooms. Canaan celebrated its first fifty years with special activities on Friday and Saturday night and Sunday morning, November 8, 1959. Three charter members were living at this time, and Canaan’s membership totaled 225. The sanctuary was renovated, adding extra seating, the vestibule area was enlarged, and many other changes were made in 1998. Beautiful stained-glass windows were installed that illustrate the life of Christ from birth to resurrection.
The first Fellowship Hall was built in 1961. The current Fellowship Hall was completed in January 1990. In 2003, five classrooms and a large youth room were added to the back, with a storage area beneath. Early Worship Services are held in the Fellowship Hall every Sunday morning. Christian fellowship and the true and faithful dedication of members is the foundation of a church. Canaan UMC has grown in beauty, faith and loyalty for the better things of the great kingdom of God Almighty and will continue to grow because we are faithful in our support and stewardship. We strive to serve God in all that we do, working together to make Canaan UMC the best that it can be by loving Christ and loving each other.